Moortown Golf Club Key Information
You’ll really feel as though you’ve been challenged when you've finished up at Moortown. It’s a tough and often unrelenting course due to its length and the hazards, but it does offer a good selection of teeing options depending on your handicap. Overall, it's a thoroughly enjoyable heathland test of golf. Very peaceful, despite being surrounded by urbanity.
REASONS TO PLAY MOORTOWN GOLF CLUB
– Classic Alister MacKenzie design
– Great heathland layout just a few miles from Leeds centre
– Historic club, venue for 1929 Ryder Cup
RANKINGS
UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2025/26 - 69
Moortown Golf Club is one of the most historic and characterful courses in our Top 100 golf courses UK&I rankings. It was the venue for the first Ryder Cup match to be held on British soil, back in 1929. Despite the USA being strong favourites, the home side triumphed in that contest by 7 points to 5.
Over the years, the club has played host to countless championships, including the English Amateur Championship and the Brabazon Trophy. It's one of the very best golf courses in Yorkshire.
Bobby Locke, Henry Cotton and Bernard Gallacher have all won professional events at Moortown.
One of the most remarkable things I always find at Moortown is the peace and serenity to be found on the fairways despite its proximity to urbanisation. Apart from the occasional sound of traffic you’ll easily forget you’re just off the A61, only minutes from the centre of Leeds.
The course is a classic English heathland layout. The original design was by the great Dr Alister MacKenzie in 1908.
Large undulating greens and deep bunkers are evidence of his contribution.
With heather, birch trees, burns and bushes to contend with, a round here requires precision and careful strategy. The club has worked hard on the course in recent years and made a number of improvements, particularly to the par-3 4th. They also added several new teeing grounds.
There are many excellent holes at Moortown, but my favourite, the par-3 10th “Gibraltar,” deserves special mention. MacKenzie built the green into a rocky slope and the natural contours send any shots slightly off target towards the gaping bunkers left and right of the putting surface.
Following the 10th, the next four play up-and-down alongside one another on a plateau, featuring the lovely par-4 11th, gettable par-5 12th and the charming par-4 13th.
The finishing hole is a tough one, doglegging right and slightly uphill towards the clubhouse with bunkers to avoid down the right and thick moorland rough down the left.
The clubhouse is a real classic oozing history and character.
What's new for 2025/26? What our panellists said…
Over the last few years the club have been removing trees and this makes for great vistas where you can see a number of holes across the property. Further plans for improvements look promising. Playing in the twilight here is really very picturesque. Moortown is a strong test of golf.
This is a great club and course. It is clear they are all proud of it. A strong challenge and excellent conditioning.
There is the oddest installation in the form of a bird detractor. This is various speakers mounted across the course that emit a cacophonous racket at regular intervals. Quite a distraction.
The clubhouse is a fascinating shrine to the 1929 Ryder Cup.
Many will visit as it includes early Dr Alister MacKenzie designs and influences. Fairways appear wide and inviting, but they are not; squeezed by the challenging rough and well placed bunkers which draw in balls from afar.
Moortown Golf Club Location
Contact the club through their website to make a booking
Moortown Golf Club scorecard
Best Courses Near to Moortown Golf Club
For all the best courses in the area, check out our guide to the best golf courses in Yorkshire.
Best Places to Stay Near Moortown Golf Club
Radisson Blu Hotel Leeds City Centre - Book now at Booking.com
A great location in the centre of Leeds. This is a comfortable hotel with fitness facilities and swimming pool. Dine at the on-site FireLake Grill House and Cocktail bar, which features an open kitchen crafting grilled specialties, unique starters and handcrafted drinks. It's five miles from Moortown GC.
Headingley Lodge - Book now at Booking.com
Stay with a view out over Headingley Stadium cricket pitch - A superb location for sport lovers. And the rooms are comfortable and well-appointed to boot. It's a real experience to stay, effectively in the stadium. There's good parking too.
Moortown Golf Club Course Gallery
Moortown Golf Club Historical Top 100 Ranking UK&I
- 2025/26 - 69
- 2023/24 - 68
- 2021/22 - 66
- 2019/20 - 63
- 2017/18 - 60
- 2015/16 - 60
- 2013/14 - 68
- 2011/12 - 66
- 2009/10 - 60
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Moortown Host the Ryder Cup?
In 1929 Great Britain, led by George Duncan, took on the USA, captained by Walter Hagen, at Moortown Golf Club in Leeds. The Americans were favourites but the home side prevailed by 7 points to 5.
What other significant events has Moortown hosted?
Moortown has played host to the English Amateur Championship, the Boys Amateur Championship, the English Ladies Championship, The Ladies British Amateur Open Strokeplay, the Brabazon Trophy and the Home Internationals amongst other amateur events.
It has also been a venue for Regional Qualifying for The Open Championship.
