An 18 hole golf course with over 100 years of heritage, this is one of the most the most complete clubs in Leeds
Overview
Summary
Another excellent example of a Dr. Alister Mackenzie Leeds based 18 hole Golf Course.
An 18-hole golf course set in rural Leeds, designed by Dr Alister Mackenzie.
Scattered across the Leeds and Yorkshire region are some of the best golf courses that has been designed by the famous Dr Alister Mackenzie, who is a Yorkshire born golf course designer. Dr Alister Mackenie designed courses such as The Augusta National Golf Club, Royal Melbourne Golf Club and Lahinch Golf Club.
This Garforth based golf course has some fantastic holes and great amenities
Set on the outskirts of Garforth town lies Garforth Golf Club, and just down the road is Garforth Driving Range.
This historic golf course dates back to 1912, when a group of passionate local golfers came together to establish it. A year later, they enlisted the expertise of the renowned Dr. Alister MacKenzie to design the 18-hole layout, and in 1913, the course that members and visitors cherish today officially opened.
Featuring many classic MacKenzie design elements, the course shares architectural traits with some of the world’s most prestigious golf venues, including Augusta National Golf Club, Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Alwoodley Golf Club, and Moortown Golf Club in Leeds.
Famed for its fast greens and demanding finish, the course is beautifully interwoven with Cock Beck and Carr Beck, adding both challenge and charm to the landscape. Cock Beck, in particular, holds a place in history, as legend has it that its waters ran red during the Battle of Towton in 1461, one of the most notorious conflicts of the Wars of the Roses.
This meticulously maintained course showcases exceptional quality throughout. At the 9th hole, golfers can enjoy a refreshment hut offering a selection of hot and cold drinks as well as freshly prepared food.
The clubhouse boasts a well-stocked pro shop, staffed by a friendly and knowledgeable team ready to assist. Spacious and versatile, the clubhouse also serves as a meeting and conference venue, complete with fully equipped kitchens and a well-stocked bar, making it an ideal setting for both business and social events.
Conveniently located between Leeds and York, the course is just 15 minutes from Leeds and 20 minutes from York. With easy access from the M1 (5 minutes away) and M62 (10 minutes away), it serves as the perfect stop for golfers traveling north, south, east, or west.
A hole to remember
Hole #4 is a 444 Par 4 dogleg left with a stroke index of 2. From the tee box the fairway is incredibly generous but either side are dense trees so your drive needs to hit the fairway. The box is situated in an elevated position so you do have a very good line of sight.
The fairway has multiple undulations making it tricky to play from, there is also the contour that changes and curves round to the left, don’t worry about landing to the right of the fairway in the first cut as it’s still playable and could possibly be a slightly easier shot for the less skilful golfer.
You need to steer clear of the right hand side of the fairway as there is a hidden water hazard that runs from approximately 200 Yards and follows the fairway all the way up to the green and beyond.
The green is very generous but is guarded to the right by a large bunker and a water hazard that also runs around the back. If you are cautious player, aim short and left of the green as there is quite a step drop to the rear of the green.
We visited this course in early March and the greens were fast and over the dry months will offer and excellent challenge come mid summer.
