Experience the best golf North Yorkshire has to offer
England’s largest golfing county, Yorkshire is a jewel in the country’s golfing crown, and its northern reaches of are home to some of its very best courses.
The dramatic landscapes of North Yorkshire provide fantastic settings for golf courses – from the rolling Yorkshire Dales to the coastal clifftops and rugged moorland. There is great history here too – from historic Ryder Cup and professional tour venues to clubs which have welcomed the most important events in the amateur game.
There is also a mix of traditional English clubs which have shaped the game as we know it, and modern venues which drive it forward through the 21st Century.
In this Special Focus, we shine a spotlight on some of the best…
Bedale Golf Club
The classic English course at Bedale lies within walking distance of the historic market town.
Opened in 1894, the course is set in the stunning countryside of the Yorkshire Dales – with tree-lined fairways presenting a tough challenge from the tee as well-bunkered greens test players’ accuracy.
The signature hole, the long par four 13th, showcases the challenges here perfectly – with a tough drive over or around water to a narrow fairway before an approach to a tricky green protected by three front bunkers.
The clubhouse is very welcoming before and after every round, with food served daily, and great views over the first and 18th fairways from the balcony.
For those travelling by car, the course is less than two miles from junction 51 of the A1M.
Drax Golf Club
Offering a delightful experience for players of all abilities, Drax Golf Club is located in the heart of North Yorkshire. Opened in 1990, the course provides an enjoyable round for beginners and casual golfers, while presenting a challenging layout for skilled players.
The narrow fairways, diverse trees and strategically placed bunkers ask players to hit accurate shots from tee to green, and play thoughtful golf rather than aiming to overpower the course. The testing greens are renowned and they ensure each round is a unique and rewarding adventure.
The club is an incredibly friendly one and welcomes groups and societies throughout the year, with the team offering flexible packages tailored to a group’s needs – whether you’re a small gathering or a larger society. From pre-round breakfasts to post-round meals, they can arrange every detail to make your day special on the course and in the spacious clubhouse.
Knaresborough Golf Club
The course at Knaresborough – situated five minutes’ drive north of the market town and just a few minutes off the A1 – is a delight to visit.
Lengthened and improved since it opened in 1920, much of the 6,778-yard course you’ll play today was shaped by Hawtree & Sons – designers of Trump International Golf Links in Scotland – in the 1980s and early 2000s. It has a modern feel, while retaining the best elements of its original design, and is laid out across hills and around mature woodland – rising and falling with the landscape and dropping dramatically in several places to present unique challenges and wonderful views.
The quality of the course continues to improve thanks to expert support from STRI, The Environment Partnership and John Deere as well as the recent implementation of woodland management plans that have enhanced the overall aesthetic, improved turf health, and helped evolve the playing experience.
The course’s primary defence is its mature trees, and accuracy from the tee is rewarded with opportunities to play aggressively into the modern green complexes.
Malton & Norton Golf Club
Home to a complete offering on and off the course, Malton & Norton is set in a quiet location just above the River Derwent, halfway between York and Scarborough.
Here you’ll find three unique loops of nine, all starting and ending at the clubhouse.
The Welham nine features a very tough opening dogleg par five and then climbs to the fourth tee – affording stunning views of the North Yorkshire countryside. The Park loop is a much flatter challenge, though the closing four holes will test even the very best golfers. The newest loop, Derwent, brings water into play on several holes while a couple of sharp doglegs will test players’ positional skills.
As well as the 27 holes, the club is home to a driving range with covered bays, a grass tee area, and a teaching bay. The short game practice area, one of the largest in the region, is also a fantastic place to work on your game.
Pike Hills Golf Club
Located just a few minutes’ drive south-west of the centre of York, Pike Hills – originally formed as Knavesmire Golf Club in 1904 – has been at its current location since 1946 and has since developed into one of the area’s top parkland courses.
The par 71 course can be stretched to a maximum of 6,212 yards with its tree-lined fairways and tricky layout ensuring it is rarely overpowered.
Built around the Askham Bog Nature Reserve – a Site of Special Scientific Interest – the course offers a unique blend of natural beauty and golfing challenge, with players often encountering local wildlife during their rounds. A couple of ponds also come into play, while you are never far away from the dyke which runs from the bog.
Having enjoyed your round, the clubhouse offers a welcoming environment to relax, eat and share the stories of your game. The club is also home to a covered driving range, ensuring you can warm up and work on your game year-round.
Scalm Park Leisure
You’ll find far more to enjoy than just the golf course and 16-bay floodlit driving range at Scalm Park, which is located just west of Selby on a sprawling 50-hectare site adjacent to Forestry England’s Bishop Wood.
Like many modern golf courses and clubs in Yorkshire, Scalm Park’s roots go back to the 1990s agricultural revolution, when working farmers were incentivised to broaden how they used their land. The Lamb family first experimented with a driving range, then developed a nine-hole golf course, and subsequently expanded to 13 and finally 18 holes with a par of 70 to create what we find here today.
The golf offering now sits comfortably within a full-scope leisure facility, with three coarse fishing lakes in and around the fairways as well as a foot golf course and friendly clubhouse. The Lambs, who still run a working farm, also offer a range of opportunities to stay at Scalm Park – from holiday homes which are open 12 months of the year to seasonal pitches and glamping pods.
Scarborough South Cliff Golf Club
Established in 1903, Scarborough South Cliff Golf Club is home to a brilliant layout created by the legendary Dr Alister MacKenzie.
The Good Doctor routed a new 18 holes here in 1921 and the scenic course still bares many of his design influences – not least on the putting surfaces.
The 6,374-yard, par 72 course offers breathtaking views over South Bay and the rugged coastline towards Filey on the clifftop side (holes 4-10) while the inland holes (1-3 and 11-18) are laid out along the bottom of a rolling valley.
The club regularly hosts regional, county and national events – including partnering with Ganton to host the English Amateur Championship in 2016, which was won by Yorkshireman Dan Brown.
The clubhouse meanwhile offers panoramic views, plenty of space to relax before and after a round, and serves food daily.
Selby Golf Club
Founded in 1907, Selby Golf Club is home to a stunning golf course with a par of 71.
Laid out on free-draining sandy soil, firm conditions are a hallmark of the course.
Measuring 6,377 yards from the back tees, the layout is no pushover with three par fours stretching to more than 400 yards – including the challenging 16th, played downhill to a two-tiered green guarded by two front bunkers. The tricky, uphill par three 17th follows with a green guarded by multiple bunkers. The par five 18th then offers a good birdie opportunity when players avoid the many trees and greenside bunkers.
The course at Selby is laid out in two loops, both returning to the clubhouse, making it ideal for evening rounds in the summer or 27-hole golf days. Meanwhile, the floodlit, covered driving range allows you to practice in all weathers.
The catering here is top-notch too, and societies and visiting groups can expect a warm welcome.
