Founded in 1909 as Benton Park Golf Club, located to the east of Newcastle, the club moved to the present site, just north of the city, in 1947. The course was laid out by five times open champion James Braid, with a set of holes that prove an excellent challenge for all levels of golfing ability. While the course is not long by modern standards and relatively flat and easy to walk, it is by no means an easy touch.

The clubhouse dates back to 1802, built by George Shum who  acquired the land from Robert Storey, a Squire of Cramlington. Shum had been involved in the relief of Arcot, a fortified town in India near to present day Madras, which is the source of the name of the Hall.

Shum married Storey’s daughter, changed his name to Shum-Storey, and several generations of the family lived in the house until it was acquired by Hartley Main Colliery Co in the 1930s. Rented from British Coal in 1947, the house and land was  purchased in 1996, since when considerable improvements to both clubhouse and course have been carried out.

Over the years, Arcot has played host to a number of important events, not least as an Open qualifying venue in 1960 (Open at St Andrews that year) and the Carlsberg Trophy event in the inaugural year of the WPGA (now Ladies European Tour) in 1979.  Arcot continues to host major county events, including the English Women's Golf Association Northern Counties Match Week in June 2008, and the men's County Championship in our centenary year, 2009.