Experience some of the best golf the east of the county has to offer
Golf in the eastern part of Yorkshire offers a fantastic blend of historic clubs, diverse courses and scenic landscapes – from inland layouts set in spectacular countryside to coastal settings overlooking the North Sea. The area is home to many great courses and in this Special Focus we visit five of our favourites…
Allerthorpe Golf & Country Park
Set in scenic Yorkshire countryside just south of the bustling market town of Pocklington on the tip of the Yorkshire Wolds National Character Area and less than 30 minutes’ drive from York, Allerthorpe Golf & Country Park is home to a fun and challenging nine-hole parkland golf course.
Several years ago, the proprietary 18-hole club folded after turbulent times. Now, under the corporate ownership of Prestige Country Parks, Allerthorpe has very much been reinvented with a remodelled nine-hole course stretching to just over 2,800 yards from the back tees with a par of 34.
A beck meanders through the course, which has one very testing par five and three par threes which are all in the final four holes – including the excellent ninth played across water. There are some sharp doglegs too and positional play is key here, while the tree-lined fairways lend distinct shape and character to the course.
As well as the golf course, the park is home to a five-bay covered driving range with a PING-accredited fitting centre and PGA professional tuition as well as a practice chipping area, putting green, and modern clubhouse. Before or after your round, be sure to enjoy the great food on-site in JJ’s Bar & Grill or at the Pizza Shack.
Beverley & East Riding Golf Club
The oldest inland golf club in Yorkshire, Beverley & East Riding was formed in 1889 and its course lies west of town on a parcel of land on the Westwood – an expanse of green shared with the famous racecourse and the cows in the summer.
A fascinating layout with great character, the course is set out across rolling moorland. While it measures just 5,966 yards from the back tees, the thick rough, many changes in playing direction, and the wind whipping across the Westwood can make this a tough test even with modern equipment.
The rough is mostly managed by the cows for a great deal of the season, while the greens are ringed with wires to keep the cattle off – an intriguing quirk to add to this fascinating course.
Being in the right position is the key to good scoring here and approaching the greens from the correct side is often more important than getting close to them with your tee shot.
Burstwick Country Golf
Family-run Burstwick Country Golf is situated in picturesque rolling hills just east of Hull.
The course was designed by acclaimed golf architect Jonathan Gaunt, with farming dad David Key, his son Alan and their family building the first nine holes here in 2003 along with the 12-bay driving range – which is now home to Toptracer technology as well as the Matt Daley Golf Academy. The full 18-hole course – which can be stretched to 6,147 yards from the back tees with a par of 70 – opened in 2004.
The course, which has a single par five and a pair of par threes on each nine, continues to test golfers of all abilities with its brilliant green complexes and bunkering, while six water hazards add further intrigue and challenge to several holes throughout the round.
Meanwhile, Burstwick’s Nineteen Restaurant & Bar is a wonderful spot to relax before or after your round with food served from breakfast until late.
Ganstead Park Golf Club
Opened in 1976 as a nine-hole course and extended to 18 holes in the mid-1980s, today the golf course at Ganstead Park is a delightful place to test your game before relaxing in the modern clubhouse.
An easy course to walk and an enjoyable test on every visit, the layout lies just a few miles east of Hull.
The fairways here are defined by grassy mounds and many mature trees, while several lakes and numerous challenging bunkers ensure the generous greens are never too easy to get to.
The course, now owned by its members, can be played from 5,000 yards and up depending on the tees you use, ensuring players of all abilities enjoy their game.
The team at Ganstead can also tailor a visit to a group’s individual needs, and the club welcomes societies throughout the year.
Hessle Golf Club
Hessle Golf Club has a proud tradition stretching back more than 125 years. The club, founded in 1898, was originally named the Hessle Tennis and Golf Club and occupied part of the old quarry at Hesslewood.
Golf was played on a six-hole course until 1912, when the golf section moved to higher land attached to Hesslewood Hall. In the 1970s, as work began on the construction of the Humber Bridge, the club moved to a new location at Raywell – with Allis, Thomas and Partners retained to design and construct the course in 1972.
Officially opened in October 1975, the course is set in beautiful countryside and presents fantastic playing conditions with its 18 USGA specification greens, which were added in the late-1990s, along with their redesigned approaches and bunkers presenting great challenges and intriguing tests throughout the round.
The club is also home to fantastic practice and teaching facilities, including a 10-bay driving range, while The Raywell Grill is the perfect place to unwind after a game.
