There is an abundance of high quality golf courses across Leeds and whilst we have put this list together, the key criteria for these would be quality of course, cost and also the full experience. That’s not to say that the cost of the course should matter, but in most cases the more money you pay for a round of golf, will most probably be seen replicated across the entire club from the maintenance of the course, to the quality of the clubhouse and the abundance of a well stocked shop and the experience of the course staff.
Leeds has a plethora of fantastic course but this small but concise list of club come top not only in terms of Leeds courses but some have made the top ten across the country at some point in history.
1. Alwoodley Golf Course
Alwoodley Golf Course is considered to be the very best Golf course that Leeds offers. Founded in 1907, it was the very first golf course designed by the famous Alister Mackenzie. This club is steeped in history and has a room dedicated in celebrating its history with Alister Mackenzie and has some rare memorabilia on show of his.
This course is in the GB&I top 100 golf courses lists, Alwoodley currently resides in position #36 of of 100 and is on plenty of golfers bucket lists of great northern courses to play.
The iconic half horseshoe club house is truly stunning with it’s iconic colour and roof was designed by the renowned architect Charles Morris, the outdoor terrace is the perfect place to grab a cool drink after your round and watch golfers approaching downhill from the 18th hole.
The course itself is beautiful and well managed, it has a combination of heathland and moorland with heather and gorse which provide a stunning range of colours during the summer seasons. The front 9 is regarded as the easier of the 2 nines with the back nine playing into the wind off the Yorskhire Moors.
As of March 2024 prices start from £135.00 per player
2. Moortown Golf Course
This was the first golf course on British soil to hold the first Ryder cup back in 1929 so stepping onto this course is a look back in the history of one of golf’s most favoured competitions. On the day the American team lost the Ryder cup 7-5 to the British team consisting of Stewart Burns, Abe Mitchell, C. A. Whitcombe, Fred Robson. Ernie Whitcombe, Percy Alliss, George Duncan and Henry Cotton. Sitting: Archie Compston and Aubrey Boomer.
The origins of the course dates back to 1909, when Fred Lawson-Brown was inspired by the beauty of the Ganton Golf course and wanted Leeds to have its own equivalent. Luck would have it that Alister Mackenzie was literally less than 2 miles away designing Alwoodley Golf course and was hired to help map out and design Moortown Golf Course.
Just like Alwoodley the course features in the GB&I top 100 golf courses lists, the course is currently 98th of of 100. The course is set across 175 acres of stunning heathland and just like Alwoodley course, the course is covered with heather and gorse which makes this such a beautiful course to play when the flora is in bloom.
As of March 2024 prices start from £75 (off peak) rising to £140 in the peak summer months.
3. Sandmoor Golf Course
This golf course is consistantly ranked as of the finest courses across the Yorkshire region. Just like it’s two neighbour golf courses of Moortown and Alwoodley, this course was designed by Alister Mackenzie so the standard of design and quality of play is of the highest possible standards.
Created in 1926, this course shares not only the same designer as Moortown and Alwoodley but the area and heathland are very similar and this course has stunning vistas of the Eccup reservoir as a backdrop. The course is renowned for its four demanding Par 3 holes: the 8th, 10th, 15th, and 17th. Among these, three (the 8th, 10th, and 17th) were crafted by MacKenzie himself. Each Par 3 presents a unique challenge, differing in length, style, and test of skill.
As of March 2024 prices start from £45 (off peak) and rise in the peak summer month to £110.
4. Leeds Golf Centre
The most modern of the courses and whilst there is no snobbery at any of the clubs mentioned this is probably the most accessible of the 4 mentioned. There are two golf courses here with a championship 18 hole course called ‘Wike Ridge’ and a smaller 12 hole course called the ‘Oaks’.
In comparison to the other clubs in this article Leeds Golf Centre would be classed as a golf destination as there is also footgolf and a Toptracer driving range so it really does cater for the widest possible range of golfing interests and needs (there is also a well stocked shop!).
Situated on the outskirts of West Leeds and touching North Yorkshire, the landscape which surrounds this golf centre is spectacular and is literally picture box Yorkshire, with the rolling hills, farms and scattered villages in the distance.
As of March 2024 off peak prices start from £32.
