Skysports.com recently called in on Ganton Golf Club, long heralded as one of Britain's finest courses.
As part of our continuing journey around the North East's top courses we called in on Ganton, long heralded as one of the finest not just in the region but the country.
Our four-ball managed to choose one of the hottest days of the year to take on this famous old lay-out near Scarborough with barely a breath of wind to report.
As befitting a setting steeped in tradition - the club hosted the 1949 Ryder Cup in which Ben Hogan's American side emerged triumphant - the clubhouse is more genteel than ostentatious and very fitting for its beguiling North Yorkshire setting.
On arrival the reception is warm and professional and a brief tour of the clubhouse underlines the club's proud past - tired cliches about stepping back in time aside, there's a palpable feeling of history around the place.
But, with the legendary Harry Vardon having once been the club professional, perhaps that's hardly surprising.
The club itself was founded in 1891 and, barring the Open Championship, has been home to just about every major tournament this country stages.
Harry Colt
Designed by Harry Colt, his unmistakable touch pervades this wonderful old lay-out with bunkers at every turn - and they are bunkers in the true sense of the word with some of the more cavenous offerings requiring ladders to get in and out.
The team tasked with taking on the challenge of Ganton comprised myself (playing off 18) and partner for the day Adam Carter (also off 18), lining up against the
skysports.com golf desk with Mark Kendall (again off 18) pairing up with Dave Tindall (playing off a highly-dubious 24).
A slow start ensues with a six good enough to claim the honours at the opening par-four, although arguably of greater note was the bunker Dave managed to locate - I personally have never witnessed such a dangerous sand trap on an opening hole, either on tv or in real life - and to his credit he does well to escape in single figures.
After navigating the second relatively comfortably, the third is upon us - a true Colt hole; short and deceptively easy-looking, I quickly dispel such thoughts as two marginally wayward tee shots prove that the devil is in the detail.
Arguably the prettiest on the course, the par-3 fifth hole is classically framed by bushes and water although the two-level green provides another unassuming test should, as our party did, you manage to negotiate the tee-shot.
The architecture for the next hole, a par 5, makes further use the water from the previous hole which comes into play from the tee, whilst down the right a 45-yard long bunker awaits for those who like to live dangerously... or should that be recklessly.
A strong stroke-index 1, the seventh certainly lives up to its billing with Adam's double-bogey six a worthier winner than it may sound.
Rounding the turn, the furthest point of the course, the seamless nature of Colt's design really stands out, the fluid nature of every hole something which can too often appear missing from modern designs.
After a tough ninth, another par 5, the cunning par-3 tenth awaits, an illusory downhill offering which sees two balls swallowed by greenside bunkers - Dave rises to the challenge and launches his to the middle of the dance floor for one of the best shots of the day.
Relentless
The inward nine demonstrates the relentless nature of the course, trouble continues to abound, bunkers and tight fairways remaining the order of the day - indeed there probably isn't a single tee-shot on the whole course where the possibility of spending time on the beach is not around the corner.
While our play is at best erratic, the course and its quality remains constant, although it signs off in real style with the last three holes providing a final flourish.
Beckoning from the 16th tee is one of biggest bunkers you will ever see, literally stretching the width of the fairway and, while some way short of landing range, it retains your attention as you prepare to strike.
The 17th is undoubtedly amongst the most intimidating hole on the course, a terror of a par-3 off the yellow tees at 235 yards - somewhat predictably we all fail to find the green, but I manage to claw something from the hole and in so doing secure victory over the golf desk!
The 18th is a curious yet captivating finish, not long but with the road running through it a well-positioned tee-shot is a must. A short-iron in follows and you finish back alongside the clubhouse - the ideal haven to dissect what is a true test of golf.
Ganton is undoubtedly a gem of the North, old-fashioned in places and unapologetically so; there is no change for change's sake here - and boasting one of the best courses in the land, why should there be.
For more information on Ganton, or if you would like to play - please visit their official website by
clicking here.
