A 9 hole golf course hidden near the A1, surrounded by woodland with the backdrop of the SSE Thermal Power Station.
Overview
Summary
A great little 9 hole Golf Course hidden away in rural Wakefield.
A 9-hole golf course set in rural Wakefield, overlooking the power station.
Recently redesigned buy Simon Gidmon in 2017, but the course was first established back in the 70’s and was split into 2 parts around the cooling stations. Since it’s redesign and reopening it’s now built into mature grounds and is 6300 yards in total. This is a 9 hole but does operate a 2 tee system offering slight variations to drive from offering 18 holes when required.
This Wakefield based golf course has some great holes and offers a good challenge for both beginners and medium handicaps.
Although the amenities at this course are quite compact, you can still expect a warm welcome along with the usual offerings from a local shop, food service, and a well-stocked bar area. There is also ample car parking available, making access convenient from the moment you arrive.
Ferrybridge also provides a practice area; however, there are no range balls available to hire and no ball retrieval systems in place. Despite this, it is still a useful space to hit a few marked balls before teeing off. There is also the option to hire electric golf carts, and on our visit there were a large number parked outside. Even so, we would recommend calling ahead to reserve one before you arrive to avoid disappointment.
The course is built across a slope, with holes #1, #9, and #2 making excellent use of the elevated ground. The views from these holes are fantastic, offering a clear perspective across the entire course. As mentioned, the course is set within mature surroundings, and a significant effort has been made to plant trees between each hole. In the coming years, this will add even more greenery as well as increased difficulty, as a wayward shot could easily see your ball land on an adjacent fairway.
There is a well-balanced mix of holes, consisting of three Par 5s, eleven Par 4s, and four Par 3s. The layout also includes five doglegs, along with a picturesque yet challenging water hazard that comes into play on Hole #7 and Hole #16.
Getting to the course can be somewhat tricky, as there is no specific postcode available. A sat nav may direct you to attempt a very dangerous left turn off the motorway, which in reality leads only to a gate for a farmer’s field. Instead, it is best to use Ferrybridge Power Station as your destination, as there is clear signage from that point and a safe access route via a bridge over the motorway. Directions can also be downloaded from the course’s website or downloading this PDF and we strongly recommend doing so before setting off.
In conclusion, this is a course that is only going to improve over the coming years. The staff are incredibly friendly, and its convenient location on main routes from Wakefield and Leeds makes it an easy and appealing choice for your next round of golf.
A hole to remember
Hole #5 is a Par 4 318 yards slight dog leg left. The tee box is in a raised position and the tee lies on a lower level so for the brave and the strong this hole is actually reachable with an accurate drive and a good dry day and plenty of run on.
Aim for the left of the two large bunkers as behind these traps is a huge collection of bracken / trees on a heavy slope and if your ball drops into that area there is no option but to drop and take a penalty, because your ball is gone.
The green is viewable from approx 100 yards out
It’s not seen from the ridge but there is a deep bunker protecting the right hand side of the green. The best approach is to aim for the slope to the left and roll or bounce off the backend towards the flag (pending on it’s placement).
