Played by NCG: Moor Allerton
Where is Moor Allerton?:
Moor Allerton Golf Club is a 27 holes on 220 acres of undulating countryside in three distinct loops of nine. The club is between Wike and Scarcroft in West Yorkshire, 7.5 miles from Leeds.
Reason for going:
I love to play challenging golf courses and Moor Allerton is definitely one of them.
What to expect:
With three sets of nine to choose from, you’re spoilt for choice. Each nine provides its own difficulties from water hazards to elevated greens and undulated fairways.
Moor Allerton has a mixture of long par 5s and shorter, par 4s. Most of the fairways are relatively wide but the undulated ground makes approach shots extremely tricky. The 1st and 10th hole share the same fairway but both second shots have to be hit across a stream onto the sloping greens. It’s not the easiest of starts…
The par 3s look extremely approachable, especially the 24th. However, each green has very cleverly placed bunkers meaning any mis-hits will be punished.
The 27th hole is a daunting but also stunning par 5. Teeing off high above the fairway, you need to hit a straight and long drive to clear the bushland and avoid the trees to the right and left. If you’ve done that, your second shot is much easier. From here, a lay up is definitely recommended as the approach to the green faces the challenge of hitting up onto the green across the marshland. With bunkers to the front and left side. Hitting short isn’t an option.
My best bit:
Walking onto the 27th tee and being able to see a large amount of Yorkshire’s countryside, the view was incredible. The hole I enjoyed playing the most was the par 3 4th. It was a tricky green to hit due to it being quite narrow and with a deep bunker at the front. Luckily, I hit a perfect iron to within 4 feet of the hole.
What to look out for:
The water at 5 and 14 on the par 5s can easily turn an enjoyable birdie into a double or triple bogey…
When I go back:
I’ll definitely have more commitment playing the par 5s. Any shots that you don’t give 100% will land you in trouble… As I found out…
[course view=”list” id=26063]
Tom Irwin
Tom is a lifetime golfer, now over 30 years playing the game. 2023 marks 10 years in golf publishing and he is still holding down a + handicap at Alwoodley in Leeds. He has played over 600 golf courses, and has been a member of at least four including his first love Louth, in Lincolnshire. Tom likes unbranded clothing, natural fibres, and pencil bags. Seacroft in Lincolnshire is where it starts and ends.
