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North Yorkshire, England
Ganton Golf Club
England's finest inland heathland course — shaped by Vardon, Colt and MacKenzie, host to the 1949 Ryder Cup, and a fixture in the World's Top 100.
Course overview
Ganton Golf Club was founded in 1891 as Scarborough Golf Club before taking its current name in 1907. The course was originally laid out by Tom Chisholm on sandy inland soil with natural heathland character — sometimes called an 'inland links' for the way it rewards links-style play through bunkered terrain. Over the following decades a succession of the game's greatest architects left their mark: Harry Vardon (the club's professional 1896–1903), James Braid, J. H. Taylor, Harry Colt, Alister MacKenzie, and Tom Simpson all made significant contributions. The result is a course of international standing: host of the 1949 Ryder Cup, the 2000 Curtis Cup, the 2003 Walker Cup, and the Amateur Championship three times. Visitors are welcome both during the week and at weekends; tee times can be booked online through the club's BRS Golf platform.
The essentials
- Architect
- Tom Chisholm; Harry Vardon, James Braid, J. H. Taylor, Harry Colt, Alister MacKenzie, Tom Simpson (successive remodellings)
- Established
- 1891
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,451 m
- Location
- North Yorkshire, England
Character & atmosphere
A natural heathland course on sandy inland soil — sometimes described as an 'inland links' — with wide, firm fairways, deep heather and gorse rough, and artfully placed bunkers that punish loose shots without being penal. Strategy and controlled ball-flight matter far more than length.
Highlights
Why play here
- Designed by Tom Chisholm; Harry Vardon, James Braid, J. H. Taylor, Harry Colt, Alister MacKenzie, Tom Simpson (successive remodellings), opened in 1891.
Practical guidance
Plan your visit
How to get there
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) and Teesside International Airport (MME) are each approximately 75 km from Ganton. A hire car is the practical choice from either airport, as public transport connections to Ganton village are limited. York — served by frequent direct trains from London King's Cross — is a useful rail gateway before picking up a hire car for the final leg along the A64 towards Scarborough.
Where to stay
Scarborough is the practical base for a round at Ganton, around 10 miles east of the course and easy to reach in under 20 minutes by car. The town has a wide range of hotels, guest houses, and holiday lets across its two bays. There is no accommodation in Ganton village itself, though the club's Dormy House offers a limited number of on-site rooms for golf groups — worth enquiring about for a dedicated stay-and-play visit.
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Home of Ganton Golf Club — a World Top 100 inland heathland course near Scarborough with Ryder Cup heritage going back to 1949.