Dinsdale Spa Golf Club, which was founded in 1910, announced to members last week that it would be closing for good on April 1.
It marks the end of 116 years of golfing at the 18-hole Neasham Road course, with the Durham County Golf Union stating it was “deeply saddened” by the news.
While the club is yet to publicly comment on the closure, a letter sent to members and seen by The Northern Echo from owners describes it an, “incredibly difficult decision”.
It states: “There is never a perfect way to make these announcements; however, we wanted to write to you personally to let you know that Dinsdale Golf Club will be closing from April 1, 2026.
“This has been an incredibly difficult decision and not one we have taken lightly.
“Since arriving in 2018, we have poured our hearts into the club, improving the course, enhancing the facilities and rebuilding Dinsdale.
“The club has been far more than a business to us, it’s been a central part of our lives.
“However after dedicating ourselves fully to the day-to-day demands, we have come to the decision that now is the right time to step away and prioritise our families and other parts of life that have taken a back seat for far too long.”
The closure of the club has sent shockwaves across the golfing community in County Durham and Teesside, sparking a string of support messages from other clubs online.
Durham County Golf Union said its thoughts were with staff and members and that it remains hopeful there “may yet be a viable future for the site and that golf could continue to be played there in the years ahead”.
The Teesside and District Union of Golf Clubs added that it was “very sad” to hear the news about the club, saying it has a “long and proud history which will be missed”.
The Northern Echo has contacted Dinsdale Spa for more information.