Ganton

Ganton is steeped in history and regarded as one of the most esteemed and challenging golf courses in the United Kingdom. Established in 1891, Ganton's history is intertwined with the evolution of golf in England. The course was designed by the renowned golf architect Tom Chisholm, and its layout is often praised for its natural beauty and strategic design. Ganton's sandy heathland terrain allowed Chisholm to create a course that flows seamlessly with the landscape while presenting golfers with a diverse range of challenges. The famous golf writer Bernard Darwin once remarked that Ganton was 'in no way an artificial course'. Since then modifications have been made by the likes of James Braid, JH Taylor and Harry Vardon, Harry Colt, Alister MacKenzie, and Tom Simpson – Vardon was the club's professional between 1896 and 1903. Throughout its history, Ganton has been the venue for numerous prestigious golf tournaments. It hosted the Ryder Cup (opens in a new tab) in 1949, where Ben Hogan captained the winning US side. This event further solidified Ganton's reputation as a championship-calibre course. In 2003, it become only the third club in Britain, after Muirfield and Royal Birkdale, to have played host to the Ryder Cup, Walker Cup (opens in a new tab) and Curtis Cup. Given this fact, it is no surprise that in surveys, Ganton is often rated among the best courses in the British Isles. In recent times leading course architect Martin Ebert has overseen some notable course renovations which have been particularly well received. The most obvious work has been the re-introduction of sand wasteland areas which were once a feature of the course but had been lost over time.

Ganton's defining feature is its bunkering. The course is renowned for its deep and strategically positioned bunkers, which demand precise shot-making and strategic decision-making from golfers. The heather-lined fairways, rolling hills and challenging wind conditions contribute to the course's difficulty and charm. The closely-cropped turf is a ball striker's paradise while the greens are fast and true, but with some evil humps and hollows. The opening three holes are far from straightforward but nor are they excessively daunting. Both the 1st and the 2nd feature blind tee shots, but in both cases it is possible to 'sense' where the fairway lies. The 3rd, depending on the conditions, can be drivable, but it is fraught with danger, with out of bounds down the right and heavy bunkering and gorse across the corner of the dog leg. The fun really begins at the 6th, a tough par four with another batch of cavernous bunkers to avoid. The emphasis at Ganton is on risk and reward, where a gamble has to be assessed as to whether it is worth taking on a bunker or a patch of rough to get closer to the green. The rewards are immense, the penalties draconian. An example is the par four 7th, a sharp dogleg to the right, with the inside angle protected by a clump of greedy bunkers. Play safe and accept an approach in excess of 200 yards or cut the corner to set up a wedge to the rolling green. The last hole on the front nine is a supreme par 5 where the longer the drive, the narrower the fairway is. It is comfortably reachable in two for long hitters but the second shot, especially, must be threaded between bunkers to find the uncommonly small green.

This begins with a short hole that plays into and across the prevailing wind before the 11th, with its generous fairway surrounded by fearsome gorse, moves back towards the clubhouse. Another change of angle takes the 12th sweeping round in the opposite direction. It is a hole that has a distinctly parkland feel to it, especially in autumn. Like the 9th, the 13th is a three-shotter reachable in two but only with a pair of the most accurate shots.  Playing for a five on both holes should not prove too difficult but attacking can be costly if power is not allied to great precision. The last respite before the fearsome home stretch comes in the shape of the 14th, a cracking short four that yields nearly as many sixes as it does birdies. If your score is not made by then, it is unlikely it ever will be because the final four holes demand supreme shot-making. The 15th is a long four that plays every inch, with the small hollow in front of the green making it difficult to chase a shot on to the green. The next hole is almost unique in featuring a drive made blind not by a hillock, nor a clump of bushes, but by the gargantuan bunker that spreads across the entire fairway and into which, it is said, a bus could fit. 15 and 16 run parallel to one another, playing across the prevailing wind, while the 17th is generally downwind, meaning the difficulty lies less in the length than in controlling the shot. The 18th is everything a closing hole should be. From the tee, the wind comes from the left and into the player. The fairway makes an abrupt turn to the left at the driving distance, meaning the approach is played directly into the wind. The green is protected by bunkers left and right and slopes considerably, making three putts a distinct possibility.

Dan Murphy: This eye-catching rise reflects years of hard work during which the club has made both architectural and agronomic changes. Ganton has never looked better.

David Walker: Even better now with the changes – exquisite bunkering, fantastic routing and immaculate condition

Sean Arble: Combine historic, testing golf in comely surroundings with conditioning that in my experience is second to none and Ganton must surely be counted among the best days out in England

Chris Griffiths: A pleasure to play. So much fun

Read more about our panellists here (opens in a new tab).

Where is Ganton Golf Club located?

Ganton Golf Club is on the eastern side of the county of Yorkshire. The course is less than ten miles from the coastline of the country, with Scarborough also within the same distance to the northeast. The city of York is 30 miles to the west of Ganton, along the A64 – the road on which the golf club sits just off.

Seamer is the closest train station to Ganton, sitting seven miles away from the golf club. Trains from Seamer run towards Scarborough in the east, with services also running towards Manchester Victoria and Sheffield. For international visitors looking to follow in the footsteps of the Ryder Cup, both Leeds Bradford Airport and Teesside International Airport are within a 90-minute drive from Ganton Golf Club.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?

Ganton is one of several stunning golf courses in Yorkshire that claim a space on the NCG Top 100s: England list. Fulford is the closest, sitting in the south of York, some 30 miles away, while both Alwoodley and Moortown are around 60 miles from the venue. Seaton Carew is also within 75 miles to the north of Ganton.

What golf facilities does Ganton Golf Club offer?

To the northern side of the property sits a full-length driving range, with members and guests able to practice off turf at Ganton Golf Club. The same area also has a short game area with practice bunkers, while the putting green is opposite the clubhouse.

What are the green fees at Ganton Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Ganton Golf Club changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Ganton, visit their website here (opens in a new tab).

Check out what our expects had to say about Ganton on the NCG Golf Podcast here (opens in a new tab).

Visit Ganton's website here (opens in a new tab).
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