West Bradford Golf Course.

West Bradford is located in Bronte Country, just 6 miles from the village of Haworth, 14 miles from Leeds city centre and 21 miles from Harrogate. The course sits on the outskirts of the ancient village of Allerton, which was recorded in the Domesday Book as "Wilsden-cum-Allerton".

Manicured Fairways at West Bradford Golf Club

Manicured Fairways at West Bradford Golf Club

A Classic Parkland Golf Course.

West Bradford is a classic Parkland golf course, although it wasn't always Parkland in style. When it was first founded 124 years ago in 1900 it was a Moorland style course, set over 90, and then 100 acres of former grazing pasture, with very few trees to be found. The layout of the course was originally designed by James Young, and the construction of it was entrusted to James Carter & Co. of London, who had developed the Old Course at Sunningdale Golf Club a few years earlier. It has since found its style, and the classic Parkland golf course style of tree lined manicured fairways suits it perfectly.

Hawtree + Son Redesign.

In the 1940's the Committee instructed Hawtree + Son (now Hawtree Ltd), to redesign the golf course. Hawtree + Son had previously redesigned Royal Birkdale and Royal Aberdeen, and went on to design the two championship courses at Foxhills. The father/son team of F.G. Hawtree & F.W. Hawtree made significant modifications throughout the course and introduced two brand new holes, hole 4 and hole 5. The course layout designed by Hawtree + Son over 60 years ago has remained unaltered ever since.

The golf course runs alongside Chellow Dene Reservoir - a former Victorian water supply reservoir, turned nature reserve - which is now listed as a Site of Specific Scientific Interest. Chellow Dene is a popular local walking spot that is teeming with wildlife, and is particularly well known for its herons and owls.

Chellow Dean Reservoir runs alongside the golf course.

Chellow Dean Reservoir runs alongside the golf course.

Golf Course Characteristics.

The golf course length is 5,747 yards from the White Tees, 5,534 yards from the Yellow Tees. The course has a par of 69 and a standard scratch of 68.

The golf course itself is set in 100 acres of countryside, which is regularly crossed by Roe Deer from nearby woodland. It features six par 3's, nine par 4's and three par 5's. The shortest hole on the course is 5, a 158 yard par 3, the longest hole comes straight after at 6, a 512 yard par 5.

'The Chella' the well guarded 14th green

'The Chella' the well guarded 14th green

The 124 year old course at West Bradford is undoubtedly one of the finest and most characterful golf courses in the West Yorkshire region. It was designed to offer variety to the playing golfer, and it doesn't disappoint. Variety playing the course at West Bradford comes both in length of hole - long par 5's and short par 3's are evenly spread throughout your round, and in the type of golfing challenge offered - which varies dramatically from hole to hole, and from one green to the next.

The contoured, sloping 1st Green.

The contoured, sloping 1st Green.

West Bradford is a thinking persons course that will challenge both long hitters and short hitters alike. In particular approach shots to the often sloping, always beautifully contoured greens must be well planned. The well tended surfaces tend to run slow uphill and fast downhill, and a poorly planned approach leaving the golfer with a difficult downhill putt can be punishing. That being said the course as a whole, despite its narrow fairways, is not particularly punitive for the high handicapper, and the course at West Bradford can be enjoyed by golfers of all abilities.

It's an overused term to say that the course provides "a good test of golf", but its an accurate description of the course at West Bradford.

Looking down the fairway towards the 17th Green.

Looking down the fairway towards the 17th Green.