Moortown Golf Club

Founded in 1909, Moortown was designed by the World famous golf course architect Dr Alister MacKenzie, who also designed Augusta National, Cypress Point, Royal Melbourne and many other championship courses throughout the world. Well-known around the World as the host of the first Ryder Cup match on British soil, in 1929, Moortown is regarded by many as one of the Country’s finest inland golf courses. Over the past Century the Club has hosted many professional and amateur tournaments with winners that include Sir Nick Faldo, Bernard Gallagher and Sir Michael Bonallack, former Captain of the R & A. Course The founders were fortunate that in 1908 Dr MacKenzie was in the district having nearly completed the layout at Alwoodley, which was already very popular. He joined they meetings, was elected a Vice-President in 1909, and in 1913 he was Captain. As the Club leased more land, and the holes re-shaped, he continued as constructional adviser and Vice-President. deliberations at Moortown, and was soon to realise that here was golfing country par excellence. Features of the original course at Moortown which received much comment were the bunkers, being perfect examples of artificial hazards imitating natural seaside contours. Secondly was the change in green design, where Dr. MacKenzie adopted the larger, undulating seaside greens. Dr MacKenzie often chaired many of the early meetings, was elected a Vice President in 1909, and in 1913 he was Captain. As the Club leased more land, and the holes re-shaped, he continued as constructional advisor and Vice-President. Signature hole 10th – ‘Gibraltar’. MacKenzie used a rocky slope to construct a short hole with contours which would deflect the imperfectly struck shot into an army of bunkers scooped out of the edges of the putting surface. With a number of different pin positions, playing strategy varies daily.