Danny Lockwood pays a visit to Ripon City Golf Club
Change is in the air at Ripon City, the enchanting golf club which sits just outside one of Yorkshire’s best kept secrets, and possibly the smallest city in the kingdom.
The club gained sole ownership of the course recently, purchasing the front nine from the Church of England and in the process securing its long-term future. Now a true members’ club, the new board and the club’s general manager, Andy Turner, are aiming to cement Ripon City as a must-play course and club all golfers would be very proud to call their home.
New GM Andy, a professional for 27 years, spent nearly 15 of those years as head PGA pro at his hometown club, Knaresborough, before a two-year stint at Ilkley. Having moved into the office, he is looking forward to being part of raising the club’s profile.
“We have a fantastic greenkeeping team and they keep the course in superb condition,” he says. “We’re growing the team this summer too, and there’s a lot of improvements being made – from our new practice nets, balcony furniture and tee box signage to a new assistant joining our highly experienced professional Craig Helliwell.”
The greenkeeping team’s hard work was on show throughout our visit and even in mid-February, on the back of a dismal English winter, we found the undulating greens in unbelievably good shape – fast, firm and rolling true.
Play Ripon City in the summer and you will appreciate the quality, and challenge, of putting surfaces that provide every imaginable test – from MacKenzie-style tiered green complexes to subtly contoured shapes that require an astute read.
First-time visitors will also be impressed by the recently completed re-bunkering project, which has transformed the visual and playing aspects of the course.
Opened as a nine-hole layout in 1908, Ripon City has older roots in nearby Studley Royal Park, where the Marquis of Ripon loaned land to local enthusiasts in 1891. The great Harry Vardon has also been associated with golf in Ripon, though only briefly. In 1993, land was finally accessed to expand the course to 18 holes – with the club welcoming 150 new members, all of whom had been waiting patiently in anticipation.
The new holes – with their broader fairways and USGA-specification greens – were quite distinct from the original nine, which is characterised by dramatic changes in elevation, tricky ditches and gullies, and spectacular views across to the Hambleton Hills – and to Ripon Minster from the seventh tee. A long-term project overseen by architect Howard Swan has been effective in tying the course together, improving holes while introducing the distinctive new bunkering throughout.
As Andy explains, the improvement work goes on – “We’re in the process of clearing out a lot of the trees on the front nine. We need to let more air and light in, and we want to make more of the features on the course.”
On those features, DP World Tour winner John Parry called the par three fifth hole one of the best short holes in the land. It plays across a chasm, with The R&A once called upon to rule on whether it was a hazard or not. It plays as one these days for safety reasons.
A daunting tee shot on the next brings a hole made by a bomb into play – there’s no lack of history or character at Ripon City!
On a summer afternoon, guests and members on the elevated veranda can take in the par three first and 14th holes – plus the 13th, 16th and 18th greens.
With three short holes going out and just a single par five, the front nine has a par 34. The back nine has a pair of par fives and a single short hole for a par of 37 – and a total of 71.
While the club has limited full membership availability – with no joining fee – it prides itself on its provision for guests and visiting parties.
“We consider ourselves a very welcoming members’ club which is flexible. There aren’t any particular days or times when golfers can’t be accommodated,” added Andy, explaining the club’s location close to the A1 makes it popular with visitors travelling from the North East in particular.
Meanwhile, relationships are being strengthened with local schools to improve junior participation, with the work being orchestrated by a five-person junior committee facilitating the Junior Passport programme. The club also has reciprocal agreements in place with others formed in 1908 – an especially busy year for the sport in England.
Ripon City Golf Club (Yellow Tees)
1 – par 3, 138 yards
It’s tempting to bail out right at this short par three with the trouble – a steep bank and water – on the left side. With an audience watching on from the clubhouse, it’s a nerve-testing start.
2 – par 4, 367 yards
You need to know where you’re going on this deceptively wide hole as trouble lurks, particularly on your second shot – where a long and deep natural ditch guards a two-tier green. You can play out of the ditch if it’s dry, but go too far left and you’ll be in trouble.
3 – par 5, 491 yards
Driving up and over to a wide fairway, the hole sweeps down and up again to an elevated, sloping green. Try to favour the left side or your approach may be blocked out by trees. The shot is made trickier by the fairway sloping to the right.
4 – par 4, 347 yards
A straight drive is required here, with a parade of trees guarding the right and the fairway sloping left, before you play into a slightly raised green.
5 – par 3, 146 yards
The green looks a lot smaller from the tee than it does when you climb up to it. Try not to focus on the deep chasm. There’s a bit of room left, but nothing on the right.
6 – par 4, 274 yards
Play up and over again at this short par four with a distinct bomb hole on the left side of the fairway. The hole rises to a back-to-front sloping green, and there’s a great view of the Hambleton Hills to the east.
7 – par 3, 171 yards
A beautiful golf hole, enjoy the view over to Ripon Minster from the tee before playing steeply downhill to a devilish green which slopes away to the left. The water short right shouldn’t come into play, while anything left is gone.
8 – par 4, 282 yards
The fairway bunkers should keep the big hitters honest off the tee here. The fairway is generous and heads down to an inviting green.
9 – par 4, 277 yards
Slightly uphill, holding your approach is the secret to scoring well at this short par four with an undulating green.
10 – par 4, 389 yards
There’s trouble all the way down the left to the corner of the sharp dogleg, but there’s plenty of room on the right. From here, you’ll face a longer uphill shot to a back-to-front sloping green.
11 – par 5, 480 yards
A tough hole from the back tees – long, straight and hard to master.
12 – par 4, 350 yards
An inviting, wide open drive is followed by a challenging downhill approach to a green with water short left as well as bushes and sand.
13 – par 5, 529 yards
Avoid the bunkers on this three-shotter and – depending on the prevailing wind – you can have a birdie chance in front of the clubhouse veranda.
14 – par 3, 149 yards
Another one to hold your nerve on in front of an audience. Slightly longer than the adjacent first hole and played over water, this is a very attractive par three.
15 – par 4, 337 yards
The bunkers are best avoided at this pretty straightforward hole. Pray the greenkeepers are in good moods when positioning the pin on this green.
16 – par 4, 321 yards
The bunkers are the main defence of this short hole which has a reasonably flat green.
17 – par 4, 323 yards
If you need to make up shots, cutting the corner on this dogleg left hole is achievable – but there’s trouble if you don’t make it. There’s also sand waiting for those who don’t go wide enough right. Mind the pond, which is shared with the 12th, as you play your approach.
18 – par 4, 428 yards
A very tough, and long, closing hole – especially if the wind is against you. The fairway invites long drives, but water awaits anything pulled left. A distinctly tiered green features bunkers serving as gatekeepers.
