Harrogate has got a brand-new golf course for fans of the sport to try and tame.
Some £15 million have been spent turning a parcel of land at Aldwark Manor into a 6,000-yard Par 70 course, with some unique features – including one-of-a-kind water hazards and challenging elevation changes – brought to life in a picturesque woodland setting with views of the River Ure.
There is, of course, a 19th hole too – the Bunkers club serving food and drinks as well as showing all of the latest sporting action on the big screen.
It’s a welcome addition to the list of the finest golf courses that North Yorkshire has to offer.
Moortown Golf Club
The English Amateur is an event which has acted as a proving ground for the best new talents in UK golf – it’s noteworthy that former champion Tommy Fleetwood and runner-up Matt Fitzpatrick are now prominent in the golf odds for the Open Championship, behind favourites like Rory McIlroy (6/1), Scottie Scheffler (7/1) and Jon Rahm (11/1).
Moortown Golf Club in Alwoodley has played host to the English Amateur, so a number of notables in the Open betting now have enjoyed their formative golf at the venue.
The club also hosted the 1929 Ryder Cup and a variety of tournaments on the European Tour, so you will be in excellent company as you take on what has been described as ‘close to 7,000 yards full of magic.’
If you need any further convincing to hit the tee at this North Yorkshire stretch, the course was designed by world-renowned architect Alister MacKenzie – the brains behind the iconic Augusta National, home of The Masters, and a host of other famous layouts around the globe.
Ganton Golf Club
If you’re planning a quick break to Scarborough and can sneak your clubs into the boot of the car without loved ones noticing, a trip to Ganton Golf Club is a must.
Although around nine miles inland, Ganton still boasts the sort of Links golf credentials as some of the most famous Open Championship courses found on the coast of the UK.
The deep pot bunkers will test the skill (and patience) of even the most level-headed, while the open and exposed nature of the venue leaves players at the mercy of the wind and prevailing conditions – you will feel like you’re competing in your own version of the Open.
A former host of the Ryder Cup and two of the blue riband events in amateur golf – the Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup, Ganton’s position as an inland Links course makes it the perfect choice for North Yorkshire golfers seeking a unique challenge for their next 18 holes.
Fulford Golf Club
Visitors to York are blessed with a variety of golf courses to choose from, but the pick of the bunch, arguably, is Fulford.
Found less than a mile from the city centre, Fulford Golf Club is an idyllic slice of lush parkland barely a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of York’s tourist focal point.
Fulford was designed by Charles MacKenzie – brother of Alister – and was a regular host of a European Tour event in the 1970s and 80s; the incredible moment that the legendary Bernhard Langer climbed a tree to play his lodged ball during the B&H International has been commemorated with its own plaque.
Although relatively short, Fulford still requires plenty of course management to avoid the myriad hazards on the property, while the flat terrain will ensure that players of all skill levels will be able to enjoy its 18 holes.
Golf in North Yorkshire is certainly thriving; Harrogate’s Aldwark Manor is the latest addition to its fine tradition.
