Ganton Golf Club

Ganton Golf Club sits in the Vale of Pickering between York and Scarborough, around nine miles inland from the Yorkshire coast, and it's widely regarded as one of Britain's best inland tests.

It's got serious pedigree too. Ganton has staged top-level amateur championships including the Walker Cup and Curtis Cup, and it's also linked to Ryder Cup history (the 1949 matches), so you're very much walking in the footsteps of proper players.

Now, here's the bit that surprises people. Ganton often gets called heathland, but in my opinion it plays much closer to links golf. The original layout was conceived by St Andrews professional Tom Chisholm when it was known as Scarborough Golf Club, and you still feel that coastal influence in the way the ball runs. Expect firm turf in summer, gorse framing the holes, deep bunkers that make you think twice off the tee and a breeze that can change club selection in a heartbeat.

From a playing point of view, this is a strategy-first course. Accuracy matters more than brute force, and you'll score best if you can flight it down, shape it both ways when required and plot your way around the bunkering. Miss the fairway and you can quickly be negotiating thicker rough, while approaches into raised or angled greens demand a committed strike.

Ganton regularly features in Europe's top-course lists, and if you're building a Yorkshire golf break, it's a name that belongs near the top of the wish list.

Who is this for?
Golfers who want a genuine championship venue with a classic inland-links feel and major tournament history.

Who is it best for?
Low to mid-handicappers who enjoy firm conditions, proper bunkering and a course that rewards thinking your way round.