There were at least two attempts to open a golf course in Bamburgh before the current iteration north of the village in 1904. The course at Redbarn Links is featured on the 1890s Ordnance Survey opposite the Armstrong Cottages.

The course was pretty orthodox and wasn't composed of the features we would come to expect today. There are no bunkers, and it doesn't even appear there were any specially landscaped sections for each hole. Such was often the case for these link courses as seen at Amble also. There was a small hut on the lane into Redbarns which may have posed as a clubhouse.

The course was very short lived, perhaps around 6 years before closure ready for the new course north west of the castle, funded by Armstrong who took on the castle in 1896.