This month we head into Yorkshire to visit three of the county’s finest courses
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, it is playable year-round with firm conditions a hallmark of the course.
Measuring 6,377 yards from the back tees, the course 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 the green guarded by multiple bunkers. The par five 18th can offer 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 has four bays allowing you to practice in all weathers.
Catering is top-notch too and societies and visiting groups can expect a warm welcome.
Selby Golf Club, Mill Lane, Brayton Barff, Selby, YO8 9LD, tel 01757 228 622, www.selbygolfclub.co.uk
Whitby Golf Club
The spectacular clifftop course at Whitby Golf Club, which is 130 years old in 2022, is a must-visit.
From its commanding position on the edge of the cliffs, and with views around the North Yorkshire coast to Kettleness and across to Whitby harbour and pier with the Abbey ruins dominating behind, it can be tough to concentrate on getting your ball around the course.
Not too long, nor too difficult, the layout punishes the wildest players with thick rough, while bunkering and run off areas will catch out many players who are not used to firm and fast conditions.
As with all links courses, the true difficulty of the course is defined by the wind – benign conditions will yield good scores here while a stern test awaits should the wind blow.
Whitby Golf Club, Low Straggleton Sandsend Road, Whitby, YO21 3SR, tel 01947 600 660, www.whitbygolfclub.co.uk
Ripon City Golf Club
Set in beautiful parkland, the 6,084-yard course at Ripon City Golf Club aims to challenge players of all abilities while offering a number of scoring opportunities – and a very friendly welcome.
The rolling Yorkshire landscape provides natural elevation changes and frames many of the holes, while a combination of water and bunkers will punish players who are too aggressive or find themselves out of position.
The finest example of this is found at the par three 14th. This 162-yard hole is played over water to a green protected by a bunker at the front left corner. Members and visitors watching on from the clubhouse behind the green make this shot even more daunting.
Improvements to the course in recent years have added to the classic English parkland design, while maintaining the original style of the course and its architecture. The balcony on the clubhouse provides the perfect place to relax after your round.
Ripon City Golf Club, Palace Road, Ripon, HG4 3HH, tel 01765 603 640, www.riponcitygolfclub.com
