Thirsk & Northallerton Golf Club

The course sits just outside Thirsk, a proper test of golf that's been going since 1896. It's an 18-hole layout that rewards straight hitting - there's water to catch the careless, bunkers that genuinely punish, and enough elevation change to keep things interesting over nine miles of walking. The fairways are well-maintained and the greens run quick, especially come summer.

If you're a mid-handicapper with time on your hands, you'll have a decent day out here. Beginners might find it a shade frustrating; high handicappers will spend half the round fishing balls out of the water. The clubhouse does the job - nothing fancy, but decent enough for a sandwich and a debrief. You're looking at around four hours for a full round, maybe three-thirty if the course isn't rammed.

It's members' territory primarily, though visitors can play if you book ahead and meet their visitor requirements. Green fees aren't cheap, but nor are they outrageous for North Yorkshire. The real value is pairing it with a stay at one of the nearby parks - Hillside Caravan Park gets solid reviews and sits just three and a half miles away, so you could easily make it a golfing weekend without spending your evenings in the car.

Worst time to visit? Midwinter, when the course gets waterlogged and the light goes at half three. Spring through autumn is when it properly sings.