Angels of the North

1) Ganton
North Yorkshire
7,011 yards, par 71
Undoubtedly the finest course in the north of England, Ganton is one of the few courses in the world than can accurately be described as an ‘inland links’. Located some 10 miles inland from the Yorkshire resort of Scarborough, the turf is tight and sand-based, the bunkers deep, the gorse enveloping and the greens sensational. A special course.

2) Brancepeth Castle
Co Durham
6,400 yards, par 70
Within five minutes of the A1 in Durham – perfect to break up a journey between England and Scotland – is this delightfully mature parkland layout. It has enough to engage the scratch handicapper without being intimidating to rabbits. The highlights are the back-to-back short holes played in opposite directions across a large ravine.

3) Silkstone
South Yorkshire
6,050 yards, par 70
It is hard to believe when playing Silkstone you are within a mile of the M1 yet this peaceful, pretty course near to Barnsley in South Yorkshire manages to combine convenience with quality. Currently in the process of a lengthy development programme using new land, it is well worth a visit.

4) Harrogate
North Yorkshire
6,241, par 69
Located just outside the spa town, this is a lovely, mature parkland course that begins in a relatively gentle fashion but has a sting in its tail with five par fours of over 400 yards in the closing six holes. Dating back to 1892, it has benefited from the expertise of Dr Alister Mackenzie.

5) Seaton Carew
Co Durham
6,622 yards, par 72/71
Judged purely on the merits of the golf on offer, Seaton Carew belongs in the highest company of links courses. While the enormous power station at the far end hardly adds to the ambience, there is more than enough exacting but fair action to keep the mind fully occupied. Subtle in places and simply tough in others, this is a golfer’s course.

6) Hornsea
East Yorkshire
6,547 yards, par 72
On Yorkshire’s east coast between Hull and the resort of Bridlington is Hornsea, which has long delighted those visiting golfers in the know. They have come to expect excellent greens on a course that is testing without intimidating. Water features around the turn means sound thinking is rewarded.

7) Wetherby
North Yorkshire
6,692 yards, par 72
A recent programme of improvement has seen this original Mackenzie design extended into a 6,700-yard test. Yet the delightful character of the course still remains, with the River Wharfe never far from play. It also has an impressive clubhouse with fantastic views across the course.

8) Lytham Green Drive
Lancashire
6,305 yards, par 70
Think of Lytham and seaside golf springs to mind but here is an extremely pleasant parkland that offers welcome respite from the worst of the wind. Most of the holes are tree-lined and enclosed and while there are a good few opportunities to make the occasional birdie, there are also some extremely testing par fours. Excellent holiday golf

9) Goswick
Northumberland
6,852 yards, par 71
True links courses on England’s north-east coast are few and far between but there is no mistaking that Goswick is the real thing. Founded in 1890, it has a long and rich history yet still offers excellent vale with its green fees and is rarely to be found in anything other than excellent condition.

10) Garforth
West Yorkshire
6,305 yards, par 70
Conveniently located to the east of Leeds and within easy reach of the M1, this parkland course offers more than you might expect at first glance. Designed by the peerless Dr Alister Mackenzie, it is almost 100 years old and while at 6,300 yards it is of a modest length, the par of 70 indicates that there are no easy pickings.

11) Caldy
Wirral
6,707 yards, par 72
Caldy is within a couple of miles of Royal Liverpool on the Wirral and on a clear day you can see all the way across to North Wales. Another course in our selection to combine holes by the sea with others that have a more inland feel, the course was extended to 18 holes from its original nine by James Braid in 1931 and now extends to over 6,700 yards.

12) Fulford
North Yorkshire
6,840 yards, par 72
Fondly remembered from the 1980s when it was the regular host of the Benson and Hedges International on the European Tour, this course, on the outskirts of York, is a delight at any time of the year but particularly when the fairways get firm and the greens fast. Immaculately presented, it is a brilliant venue for a memorable day out.

13) Driffield
East Yorkshire
6,212 yards, par 70
The Yorkshire Wolds is a region better known by walkers than golfers but Driffield offers an opportunity to combine the two pleasures. It is an extremely pleasant place to play and is the ideal course to stop off at on your way to the Yorkshire coast.

14) Pannal
North Yorkshire
6,622 yards, par 72
A regular venue for Regional Open Qualifying, as well as prestigious amateur events, it has a heathland feel at some points and a parkland style at others. Mature and classy, many of the par fours are doglegs so position is more crucial than power.

15) Rotherham
South Yorkshire
6,327 yards, par 70
This is the kind of course you would not believe existed if you hadn’t been. Turn on to the property and you leave behind the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In its place, a wonderfully grand old clubhouse and an undulating parkland course where every hole offers something different to the others and the greens are a treat to putt on.

16) Seascale
Cumbria
6,495 yards, par 71
If Seascale were located somewhere more accessible it would be far better known. It boasts every last one of the ingredients which go into making a classic links. Stunning in parts, its relentless quality warrants making the journey to Cumbria’s rugged coast. Like Seaton Carew, the power station is no bonus, but its attractions drown it out comfortably.

17) Malton and Norton
North Yorkshire
3,270 yards, par 36; 3,218 yards, par 36; 3,045 yards, par 36
Not many clubs can boast three loops of nine, with each of an equal standard, let alone those fast approaching their centenary. Malton and Norton, which is located between York and Scarborough, offers just that and is unsurprisingly a firm favourite with visiting golfers. The largely flat course sweeps between avenues of trees and 27 holes here makes for an absolutely terrific day out.

18) Fairhaven
Lancashire
6,883 yards, par 74
Once you’ve found your way to Fairhaven, which can take some doing for the first-time visitor, you will be rewarded by a course that is partly seaside in character and partly parkland. With a grand total of six par fives – including three in the last four – there is the chance for big hitters to make a couple of birdies but only if they stay out of the deepest bunkers. One to seek out if youre going to this year's Open Championship.