Join us for a round at Knaresborough Golf Club
For more than 100 years, Knaresborough Golf Club has welcomed golfers. Just five minutes’ drive north of the market town, and a couple of minutes from the A1, it offers an easily accessible yet tranquil parkland escape.
Laid out across hills and around mature woodland, the course can be stretched to 6,778 yards from the back tees. Encircling the clubhouse, the layout rises and falls with the landscape – and drops dramatically in places to provide unique challenges.
Those challenges continue to evolve each year thanks to continued investment in areas including the architecture of the holes and the bunker design; the greenkeeping team and the latest John Deere equipment, which is being added to in 2025; and expert support from organisations including STRI on the putting surfaces, and the The Environment Partnership on woodland management.
Mature trees border the fairways and these are the course’s primary defence from the tee. Accurate driving is rewarded with opportunities to play aggressively into modern green shapes, many of which are designed to catch well-struck shots while their edges repel wide or mishit approaches. Venturing into the trees comes with great risk, and you should avoid trying to overpower the course or cut corners.
At the opening 361-yard par four, you are welcomed by the trees, which flank the route to the green. A generous fairway sweeps downhill from left to right to the main landing area some 200 yards from the tee, before rising to a large green site. Two bunkers, one left and another set low down on the right side, guard a long putting surface which slopes from back to front.
Playing in the opposite direction and back up the hill, the second is a tougher prospect at 393 yards. A generous landing area is again framed by the trees and you must find this to get a good view of the green as the hole turns to the left and rises. Another large green is well defended by sand – including a trap 10 yards short on the right side and another bunker on the right of the green which guards the front half of a long putting surface which is highest in its back left corner.
You get a fantastic look at the green complex from the tee at the 130-yard third hole. Take note of the hazards, there are a lot of them. A large tree looms over the front right corner of the putting surface, while a ditch waits to catch any shots which come up short. A trio of bunkers – one left and two right – along with an intricately contoured green will punish those who are inaccurate with such a short shot.
At the par four fourth, all players must hit a straight shot from the tee, while the longest should play short of a pair of flanking fairway bunkers some 90-100 yards from the green. The green sits below the fairway, and you must steer clear of the bunkers on the right – they’re deep and set well below the surface.
The 161-yard fifth hole, also played from an elevated tee, is as well-defended as the third. A narrow, long green is set into the slope and falls away steeply on its right side. A large bunker guards the first two-thirds of the green on the left, while a cross bunker some 25 yards short will catch any mishit tee shots. Miss this one left or right at your own risk.
A pair of 400-yard-plus par fours follow. The longer sixth hole sweeps beautifully from left to right between the trees. You must be brave to hit driver here and be careful not to run out of room on the left – or catch the fairway bunker 160 yards from the green. Those who do find the fairway will get a view down to the putting surface, which is designed to accept long approaches when struck well – while two cross bunkers will stop balls from bouncing in. The green is also guarded by a bunker on the right and a narrow ditch out to the left.
At the seventh, long drives are rewarded with a view of the green, which is set well below the fairway at the end of a narrow channel between the trees. Cut into the left to right slope, shots into this vast green must be accurate and favour the left side. Any shots which catch the slope to the right will bounce down towards the pond.
The first of two par fives which bring the front nine to a close, the eighth has a huge terraced tee box which gives you a look at the fairway. The practice ground on the left is out of bounds. A three-shotter for most, stay straight here – the boundary continues all the way to the green while a ditch meanders down the right side from the 150 yard marker to the green. The green complex is slightly elevated and wraps around a bunker on its right side. A second trap on the left makes front pins trickier to attack.
At 501 yards, the ninth is in reach in two for some players – though both shots are fraught with danger. The landing area is generous, though be wary of going too far right into the fairway bunkers. The hole then turns sharply to the left and narrows as it passes the corner. A trio of cross bunkers lie in wait some 100-75 yards out, and guard the route to a wide but very shallow green. Just 18 paces deep, it has a single bunker on its right side.
Distance control is vital from the tee at the 10th. A wide landing area lies some 220 yards from the white tee box at this 413-yard par four, and you must judge your line well to avoid running out into the trees on the right. You must also not get blocked out by the trees on the left some 170 yards from the tee. Having made the sharp turn to the left, your reward is a great look straight up the hill to a heavily contoured green site with steep mounds on both sides. The front edge is also steeply sloped and it protects a narrow slither of green which measures 40 yards from front to back.
The final, and longest, par three follows at the 11th. At 182 yards from the back tee, club selection is key as those who come up short of the green will have to contend with the bunkers lurking left and right.
Having stopped at the halfway house, players then head into the hilliest section of the course. The 427-yard 12th is played blind over the crest of a hill and long hitters should be wary of two deep fairway bunkers 170 yards out. A cross bunker sits 45 yards short to penalise anyone who has tangled with the trees and is punching out. The green site and putting surface are heavily contoured with two deep bunkers on the right side, and a third trap a little further up on the left.
The tee shot at the 423-yard 13th is as difficult as it is dramatic. With views across the lake to town, you must once again play accurately to the correct yardage to reach the bottom of the hill while not running out of room or getting caught on the hillside. Having done so, you must then turn left and play uphill to a tiny green plateau cut into the steep hillside. A long, narrow bunker above the green on the left, and a steep drop to the right, can cause havoc if you miss the green.
Having tackled the most demanding hole on the course, there’s some respite at the short par four 14th. Just 268 yards from the back tee, it demands caution with two vast fairway bunkers. The small green, which is highest on its left side, is set atop a steep rise with two bunkers left and a third, deep bunker set well below the surface on the right. Pitching from the fairway will yield more birdie chances than finding any of the bunkers at this hole.
The 450-yard 15th is a formidable par four. The route to the fairway is narrowed slightly by two trees, though there is a lot of room beyond these. Continuing up the hill to the green, you must be bold while playing blind to find a long green framed by four mounds and a single bunker at the front left corner.
The sub-400-yard 16th turns from right to left to reveal a green which slopes steeply from back to front and is framed by bunkers in both its front corners.
The longest hole on the course, the 548-yard 17th is played uphill to a generous fairway with a single bunker on its right side some 280 yards from the white tee box. With its backdrop of pine trees, the green is an inviting target once you get past the cross bunkers. A single trap on the left is the primary defence of the putting surface, particularly when the flag is tucked in the back left corner.
Played downhill back to the clubhouse, the 404-yard 18th is no pushover. A long tee shot which favours the right side is required to get a view of the green as the hole turns to the left. The large green has no major defences other than the trees nearby – and the requirement to move the ball from right to left to find it.
OUR VERDICT
A stunning, yet challenging place to play golf, those who can play sensibly and accurately here will be richly rewarded on every visit.
