Harrogate Golf Club lies between the Ancient market town of Knaresborough and the Conference town of the North, Harrogate. Many mature trees line the fairways making the course play more difficult than its length suggests. The last six holes on the course include five par 4’s of which four exceed 400 yards making this one of Yorkshire’s toughest finishing stretches. Few visitors better par on the subtle greens and fairly flat terrain of Harrogate Golf Club. In short, you can be assured of a warm reception with the right ingredients to make your visit to Harrogate Golf Club a memorable one.

History

March 4th 1892
The first meeting of gentlemen, chaired by Dr Andrew S Myrtle, to discuss the possible formation of the first golf club in the Harrogate area.

April 6th 1892
The committee agreed terms for the rent of fields forming part of the western end of the present Oakdale Golf Club.

June 1892
The nine-hole course opened. After the Duchy of Lancaster built a slaughterhouse close to the pavilion and failure to obtain extra land, the Committee, gave notice to quit in 1897.

May 7th 1898
The club moved to its present site situated in the ancient Forest of Knaresborough and was opened for play only 11 weeks after signature of the lease. The course in 1898 bears little resemblance to today’s layout. The second hole was today’s ninth, the third the tenth followed by a short fourth with the green on the current eleventh tee. There was a great deal of gorse, scrubland and hedgerows that no longer exist. It was not until 1908 that Mr Colt submitted a report and the concept of an outer and inner loop of nine holes each was adopted.

1908-1911
Dr Alastair Mackenzie made changes to the course and went on to assist in construction of courses worldwide, including Augusta National.

1911-Present Day
The course and clubhouse have continually been improved. The current clubhouse offers excellent facilities with major refurbishments carried out in the early 90s and further enhancements in 2002.

The golf journalist, Charles Scatchard, described the course as: “not only one of Yorkshire’s oldest courses but one of its most attractive and best”.