Best Golf Courses in Yorkshire

Yorkshire is England’s largest county, and it takes its golf seriously. From the heathland-style test at Ganton — one of the finest inland courses in the entire country — to the moorland splendour of Moortown and Alwoodley outside Leeds, to the sweeping coastal layouts at Scarborough and Filey, the county offers a diversity of golfing experiences that would do any region proud. Yorkshire golfers are famously proud of their golfing heritage, and with good reason: the county has hosted Ryder Cups, Amateur Championships, and a succession of national events that few English counties can match.

This guide covers the best golf courses across Yorkshire, from the internationally renowned to the hidden gems that deserve far more attention than they receive. Whether you are visiting from outside the county or are a local golfer looking to broaden your horizons, there is more here than most people realise. See all England courses in our directory.

Why Yorkshire Golf Deserves Your Attention

Yorkshire’s golfing reputation tends to be overshadowed by the county’s other attributes — the Dales, the Moors, the historic cities of York and Harrogate, the food culture, the cricket — but it sits comfortably among the leading English counties for golf quality. The variety of terrain is a key strength: sandy heathland in the west, open moorland in the north, softer parkland in the Vale of York, and links-influenced coastal golf in the east.

The county also benefits from a tradition of well-maintained, member-focused clubs that have resisted the temptation to price out visitors. Green fees across most Yorkshire clubs represent fair value compared to the south of England, and the culture is generally welcoming to visiting golfers who ring ahead and observe the usual courtesies.

Ganton Golf Club

Ganton, situated in the Vale of Pickering roughly twelve miles inland from Scarborough, is the course that Yorkshire golfers reference when they want to silence doubters. It is widely regarded as one of the finest inland golf courses in England — full stop. The course sits on a belt of sandy soil that is unusual for this part of the country, producing firm, fast-running fairways and the kind of tight, fine-textured turf more commonly associated with Surrey or Berkshire heathland. Heather and gorse are ever-present, the bunkering is severe, and the course demands both accuracy and courage in roughly equal measure.

The roll call of events hosted at Ganton speaks for itself: the Ryder Cup in 1949, the Walker Cup in 2003, multiple Curtis Cup matches, and many editions of the Amateur and English Championships. Ben Hogan, competing in the 1949 Ryder Cup just months after the car accident that nearly killed him, played here. Those kinds of associations give a golf course a particular gravity, and Ganton earns every ounce of it.

Visitor tee times are available on weekdays and at certain weekend slots. Green fees are modest relative to the quality of the course — expect to pay around £85 to £100 for a round, which for a course of this calibre is genuinely fair. Book well in advance, particularly in summer.

Moortown Golf Club, Leeds

Moortown sits at the northern edge of Leeds, on Harrogate Road, and has a history and character that sets it apart from most city-fringe clubs. The course occupies genuine moorland terrain — open, windswept, with heather and acidic rough that punishes anything offline — and the result is a test that feels more like the North York Moors than a suburban golf club.

Moortown’s most celebrated moment came in 1929, when it became the first host of the Ryder Cup on British soil (the previous matches had been played in the United States). The Great Britain team, captained by George Duncan, beat the Americans on a course that was already well-established and highly regarded. The club commemorates this history appropriately, and there is a satisfying sense of occasion to playing a venue with such deep roots in the match’s story.

The course itself remains a thorough and satisfying test: a long, challenging layout that benefits from mature tree growth without being overly tree-lined. The par fours are consistently demanding and the wind across the open stretches adds a links-like variability to proceedings. Green fees are reasonable and visitor access is generally available throughout the week.

Alwoodley Golf Club, Leeds

Alwoodley is the third member of what golfers sometimes call the North Leeds triumvirate, alongside Moortown and Sand Moor. It was designed in 1907 by Alister MacKenzie — who would later go on to design Augusta National and Cypress Point — and the course bears his hallmarks: subtle, complex greens, bold and strategic bunkering, and a layout that rewards intelligent play over raw power.

MacKenzie considered Alwoodley one of his finest works, and it is not difficult to see why. The heathland setting is superb, with heather and gorse framing fairways that offer multiple routes to the pin depending on where you position your drive. The greens are among the best in the north of England — properly undulating, well-paced, and presenting multiple pin positions that change the character of each hole.

Alwoodley is a private members’ club and visitor access is restricted, but it is worth contacting the club directly to enquire. Playing a MacKenzie design at this level of preservation is a genuine privilege.

Lindrick Golf Club

Lindrick straddles the Yorkshire/Nottinghamshire border near Worksop, and while it claims a dual county identity, Yorkshire golfers lay a firm claim to it. The course is best known for hosting the 1957 Ryder Cup — one of only two occasions in the twentieth century when Great Britain and Ireland defeated the United States (the other being at Wentworth in 1957’s format). The match, captained by Dai Rees, produced a famous home victory in circumstances that remain one of the most dramatic episodes in Ryder Cup history.

Beyond its history, Lindrick is a fine heathland course in its own right: sandy soil, heather rough, and a layout that demands precise ball-striking without ever becoming unfair. The atmosphere is pleasingly unpretentious for a club of its historical significance, and visitor access is broader than might be expected. It makes an excellent day trip from Sheffield, Leeds, or Nottingham.

Ilkley Golf Club

Ilkley sits in the Wharfe Valley on the edge of the famous moor, and the course combines parkland-style playing conditions with the dramatic backdrop of Ilkley Moor rising above. The result is a course that feels expansive and slightly wild in character while offering the consistent conditions of a well-maintained parkland layout.

The course is known for its outstanding greens and its challenging par fours. Ilkley is a private club but extends a warm welcome to visiting societies and individual golfers who contact the pro shop in advance. The town itself — famous for its Victorian spa heritage, the Cow and Calf rocks, and a lively independent restaurant scene — makes Ilkley an attractive venue for a day out that combines golf with other pleasures.

Scarborough North Cliff Golf Club

Scarborough is home to two contrasting golf clubs, of which North Cliff is the more challenging and the more scenically dramatic. The course sits high above the town on the North Cliff, with views over the North Sea and the castle headland that are genuinely spectacular on a clear day. The terrain is undulating and the exposed position means wind is a constant factor — particularly on the outward half, which catches the full force of anything coming in off the sea.

North Cliff is one of those courses that rewards repeat visits: the wind changes the character of holes completely from day to day, and the management of the course in challenging conditions is as satisfying as the views. Green fees are very reasonable, reflecting the club’s community focus.

Filey Golf Club

Filey is one of Yorkshire’s most underrated clubs — a coastal layout south of Scarborough with a links-influenced character and views across Filey Bay that make it immediately appealing. The course is not the longest in the county, but it plays with a trickiness that belies the scorecard: the seaside turf runs fast, the wind arrives from unpredictable angles, and the greens demand a deft touch.

Filey town is charming in its own right — a quieter alternative to Scarborough with a long sandy beach and a more relaxed atmosphere — and the combination of golf and a walk along the Brigg makes for an excellent Yorkshire day out. Green fees at Filey are among the most accessible in the county for the quality on offer.

Golf in and Around Harrogate

Harrogate is one of the most attractive towns in the north of England, and it sits within easy reach of several excellent golf courses. Pannal Golf Club, on the southern edge of town, is a traditional parkland layout with mature trees, well-maintained fairways, and a reputation for outstanding greens. It hosted the English Women’s Amateur Championship on several occasions and is consistently considered one of the best courses in the Harrogate area.

Harrogate Golf Club itself occupies a parkland setting with views towards the town, and while it is not as prestigious as Pannal, it offers solid golf in attractive surroundings at a slightly lower green fee. For those staying in Harrogate — which makes an excellent base for exploring the Dales as well as playing golf — both clubs are within a short drive of the town centre.

Further afield, Rudding Park Golf Club offers a modern, resort-style alternative with good practice facilities and hotel accommodation, making it suitable for a full golf break.

Municipal Golf in Yorkshire — Temple Newsam and Beyond

Yorkshire’s municipal golf tradition is strong, and for casual players or those looking for accessible, affordable golf, the options in the major cities are well worth exploring. Municipal golf remains one of the most important entry points to the game, and Yorkshire’s offer is solid.

Temple Newsam Golf Club in Leeds is the standout municipal option in the county — two well-regarded eighteen-hole courses set within the grounds of a magnificent Jacobean and Tudor mansion, managed by Leeds City Council. The courses are busy but well-maintained, and the combination of good golf and spectacular surroundings at a price point that is accessible to all makes Temple Newsam one of the best-value golf experiences in the north of England. Tee times can be booked online with minimal notice.

In Sheffield, Beauchief Golf Club offers a similar municipal proposition — a well-maintained parkland course on the southern edge of the city, managed by the local authority and accessible to all without a club membership.

Pay-and-Play Options

Beyond the municipal courses, Yorkshire has a healthy number of pay-and-play private venues that welcome golfers without membership. Pay-and-play golf has grown significantly in recent years as clubs seek to broaden their appeal, and many Yorkshire clubs now offer flexible booking systems that allow visitors to turn up and play with minimal advance planning.

Rawdon Golf Club near Leeds and Skipton Golf Club in the Dales are both worth considering for those seeking a slightly more characterful alternative to the municipal options.

Green Fees in Yorkshire

Yorkshire represents good value compared to the south of England, and the quality-to-price ratio at clubs like Ganton, Moortown, and Alwoodley is exceptionally strong. As a rough guide:

Municipal courses: £15 to £30
Mid-tier private clubs: £25 to £50
Well-regarded private clubs (Lindrick, Ilkley, Pannal): £50 to £75
Premium venues (Ganton): £85 to £110

Weekend green fees are typically £5 to £15 higher than weekday rates, and societies can often negotiate preferential rates for groups of eight or more.

Getting to Yorkshire

Yorkshire is well-connected by road and rail. Leeds Bradford Airport has direct connections to many UK cities and a growing number of European destinations. From the south, the A1(M) provides quick access to the Leeds area, while the M1 serves Sheffield and south Yorkshire. Manchester Airport — roughly an hour from Leeds city centre via the M62 — provides the most convenient international gateway for many visitors. Golf near Manchester is worth considering if you are splitting a trip between the two counties.

The East Coast Main Line from London King’s Cross reaches York in under two hours and Harrogate in a little over two, making rail a viable option for those basing themselves in these towns.

Best Time to Visit Yorkshire

May, June, and September are the ideal months for golf in Yorkshire. The courses are in good condition from early spring, the days are long in June, and early autumn provides the best combination of firm, fast ground and cooler, more settled weather. July and August can be excellent but are also the busiest period for the major venues.

The moorland and exposed courses — Moortown, Alwoodley, Ganton — play at their best when conditions are dry and the ground firms up, typically from late April onwards. Winter golf is possible but the moorland venues in particular can become heavy after prolonged rain.

Yorkshire offers a compelling case for a dedicated golf trip or simply a day or two added to a wider visit. From the championship prestige of Ganton to the warmth of a summer evening round at Filey, the county’s golfing character is as distinctly its own as everything else about it.

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