Pike Hills Golf Club

The first thing that strikes you about Pike Hills is how the fairways roll away across genuine Yorkshire countryside just outside York. It's a proper members' club, but they do welcome visiting golfers - you'll need to ring ahead and ideally have a handicap certificate to hand. The course itself demands respect. Eighteen holes wind through open parkland with enough undulation to keep you honest, and the greens are well-maintained if occasionally firm. You're looking at a full round plus refreshments in the clubhouse, so allow a solid four and a half to five hours. Golfers will absolutely get more from this than casual visitors - it's not the sort of place to pop in and have a gander. Fair weather or not, you'll need decent technique and a bit of patience.

What works well is the location. You're barely twenty minutes from central York, which makes Pike Hills a sensible half-day option during a wider North Yorkshire trip. If you're staying at Cawood Park or Wighill Park Glamping - both within easy driving distance - this slots nicely into a golfing break without requiring you to travel miles into the Dales. The clubhouse serves the basics and the staff are friendly, though don't expect fine dining. Spring and early summer are the obvious times to visit, when the course is at its best and the weather less likely to turn it into a mud bath. Winter rounds are possible but bleak. Book in advance; they fill up regularly and won't accommodate walk-ins.