Ganton Golf Club Key Information
Ganton is a great course blending heathland with a feel of the links that will test the very best players. It’s a historic venue with big ambition and vision to move forward. To do well at Ganton, you must drive well and hit unerring irons, otherwise your day will be a long and frustrating one. In addition to over 100 bunkers, there’s deep rough, trees, and gorse to contend with.
REASONS TO PLAY GANTON GOLF CLUB
– Interesting blend of course stylings - heathland with a touch of links
– A club with a great history, host to the 1949 Ryder Cup
– An ambitious club always looking to make improvements
RANKINGS
UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2025/26 - 32
Ganton is not only one of Yorkshire’s finest courses but also a long-term resident in the upper echelons of our Top 100 Golf Courses UK & Ireland rankings.
It oozes old-school class, dating back to 1891 when Tom Chisholm of St Andrews first laid out a course that would go on to host significant events, including the Ryder Cup of 1949, in which the USA ran out 7-5 winners, and the Walker Cup of 2003.
It remains the only inland course to host the Amateur Championship, with golf’s unpaid elite visiting in 1964, 1977 and 1991.
In part, this may be due to the land being blessed with many links characteristics, since many aeons ago it was right by the North Sea.
It may also be down to nearly every bygone golfing great lending a design hand over the years, including Harry Vardon (club professional from 1896 to 1903), James Braid, JH Taylor, Harry Colt, Dr Alister MacKenzie and Tom Simpson.
I have played Ganton several times over the years, most recently last year when I was delighted to see that considerable work had taken place after feeling its conditioning had slipped a little on my previous visit about four years earlier.
Everything was back to tip-top condition, with the refurbishment of the bunkers particularly noticeable, along with the huge sand scrapes that had appeared in a couple of places.
Some might rail against the idea of an inland links, but I think Ganton probably comes closer to justifying that tag than any other inland course I have played.
Sir Michael Bonallack, Britain's greatest amateur, said of Ganton, “The journey from tee to green on every hole is one of the most enjoyable golfing examinations that a player is ever likely to experience."
There are too many great holes to list, but the 6th, with a hint of Gleneagles, stands out, as does the very pretty par-3 10th, where the green is heavily bunkered and contoured, but also slightly concave, meaning that only the worst of miscues will suffer, while minor ones may gather back in.
The club is forward-thinking and keen to keep improving. In recent years, it has been doing extensive work to take the layout back to how it was in years gone by. It has turned to historical photos to carry out the restoration and worked on revetted bunkering, gorse clearance and the creation of sandy waste areas. Martin Ebert has advised on gorse clearance and course pathways, also altering the bunker revetting to make them more natural-looking in places.
What's new for 2025/26? What our panellists said…
When I played Ganton in September 2021 I was so impressed with the course that I said at the time, “Ganton has to be the best inland links in the country bar none.” Perhaps there was some misplaced enthusiasm in my new role as a panellist but I do think in the three-year gap to my next visit it has just got even better. The layout offers such variety, and the holes are so challenging that a par feels like a real achievement. The club has added some new sand scrapes to the 8th and 18th holes, cleared the penal gorse, realigned some fairways, opened up the views, refurbished its cavernous bunkers and the end result is just a joy. I think I should soften my comments but echo what the club website says: “Ganton is one of the finest inland links courses in the British Isles”.
Ganton is a classic layout that has stood the test of time and still provides a significant challenge to all standard of golfers. It has a proud history of hosting prestigious events and will continue to do so as the quality of its test remains – especially if the wind blows. Protection is provided by punitive rough and many bunkers, which are real hazards. The recent introduction of 'pandies' or sand scrapes has enhanced the aesthetic of the course and makes it look and feel like an inland links course.
Ganton Golf Club Location
Ganton Golf Club scorecard
Best Courses Near to Ganton Golf Club
Best Places To Stay Near Ganton Golf Club
Vardon House, the Dormy House at Ganton - Book now
With 5 en-suite bedrooms (3 x Twin Rooms and 2 x Single Rooms) Vardon House can accommodate up to 8 golfers. All the rooms have televisions, hairdryers and tea/coffee making facilities.
The Wrea Head Hall Country House Hotel and Restaurant - Book now at Booking.com
An elegant country house is set in acres of private grounds on the edge of the North York Moors National Park, boasting breath-taking views across the Yorkshire countryside. Rooms are all individually styled and the 1881 restaurant offers fine dining.
The Plough, Scalby - Book now at Booking.com
A short drive from Ganton, The Plough on the High Street in Scalby is a brilliant inn with brilliant pub food and great accommodation. There are eight en-suite rooms and there are self catering properties available too. If you like staying in village pubs - this one is tough to beat.
Ganton Golf Club Course Gallery
Ganton Golf Club Historical Top 100 Ranking UK&I
- 2025/26 - 32
- 2023/24 - 34
- 2021/22 - 34
- 2019/20 – 28
- 2017/18 - 25
- 2015/16 - 19
- 2013/14 - 20
- 2011/12 - 23
- 2009/10 - 27
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Bunkers does Ganton Have?
There are over 100 cunningly placed bunkers at Ganton, some of which are simply huge, both in breadth and in depth.
When did Ganton host The Ryder cup?
Ganton welcomed the Ryder Cup of 1949 on 16-17 September. A US side led by Ben Hogan and featuring Sam Snead and Jimmy Demaret, beat Great Britain by 7 points to 5. The British team was captained by Charles Whitcombe.
