Scarborough North Cliff
has hosted some
major events but has
yet to surrender.
MARK FLANAGAN
followed in the footsteps
of some of world’s best players.

SCARBOROUGH North Cliff is
100 years old this year.

The club’s original course was situated partly in the area where the town’s famous bandstand is now located, right on the sea front. At six holes it was certainly a modest starter for ten.

But while the old course has seen plenty of impressive musical performances,North Cliff’s now well established home just a few hundred metres up the road has also seen its fair share of dazzling play during the last 80 years. In fact some of the best players of the last 20 years have played the course which despite its coastal location is a classic parkland test, unlike its illustrious, inland, near-neighbour Ganton, which is much more like a true links. The two have joined forces on more than one occasion to host major championships, most famously in 1991 when North Cliff hosted a preliminary round of the British Amateur Championship.

The field that year was a bit special so the Scarborough club had the honour of hosting Padraig Harrington, David Duval and Lee Westwood. Phil Mickleson, who had just helped the USA win the Walker Cup alongside Duval, declined the chance to play. Also in the field that year was local favourite Mike Kelley, who beat Harrington in the knockout stages at Ganton.

Ten years earlier North Cliff was also used in pre qualifying when the Sun Alliance was held at Ganton. So with all that class you might expect this par 72, 6493-yard layout to have one of those course records that leaves you open mouthed in amazement. In fact it is a modest 66, a score achieved by Swedish professional Frederick Andersson-Head and matched this Summer by club champion Danny Taylor. For the record Duval shot a 68.

There are two short par fives and the fairways are fairly generous with room on most holes if the drives are particularly wild. There is no real water danger and because most of the fairways are treelined the rough is not too bad either. If you can stay out of the trees there is a score to be had although you must be able to putt – something my partner did so well, club secretary John Barnfather.

I on the other hand struggled with the pace of greens that were slick and very true.
The course is in fantastic shape with the fairways in particular looking very enticing.
While North Cliff is certainly more Sunningdale than St Andrews there is a small taste of seaside golf.

Firstly there is the view from the putting green which overlooks Scarborough’s famous bay. The day I was there the beach was packed and the noise of excited voices and waves crashing was unmistakable.

Visitors to the town get the chance to walk down the side of the first and can get a great view of the opening tee shot in particular. The first is one of the more curious opening holes you will ever find. It is only 284 yards but the tee shot is blind and the target a difficult one to locate if you go for it with bunkers dotted around the putting surface.

There after you turn 90 degrees and head off into beautiful parkland and the long par four second.

Distance plays a big part on the outward nine with three par fives helping to take the total yardage to 3505 while the back nine is a mere 2988. That is reflected in the respective pars of 38 and 34.

After the second you cross a road and come back the other way until after finishing the 15th. The course was designed by that famous son of Yorkshire James Braid and converted from pastureland.

Virtually all the trees were planted during the the construction phase and in the clubhouse there is a photograph of the sixth just after the course opened and there are no trees.

‘The course is in fantastic shape with the fairways in particular looking very enticing.’

Now it is a different story and the contrast could hardly be more stark. The hole itself is stroke index one and is an awkward driving hole before you hit upto a small, raised target.

The 11th is a beautiful par three, hitting down to a target surrounded by mature trees. It is no surprise it is considered the signature hole and it was also the last one to be altered, back in 1982.

That year they also tweaked the 12th which is now a very awkward dog leg as mature trees make it hard to cut the corner because they are so relatively close to the tee. Low ball hitters will have no chance and their best hope of putting some serious yardage on the drive is a wicked slice.

The 15th is another cracking par three and you get a beautiful view of the North Sea. In many ways it is similar to the 11th but longer and there is less timber to contend with.

The finish is very open with 16, 17 and 18 running parallel to each other and on the last houses encroach on a drive that is slightly disconcerting in that there is little to stop your ball crossing the road if you slice hard.

The other major factor that I have failed to mention until now is wind. That is because it was a relatively calm day for my visit. I was really lucky with the weather all round. On a blustery day the openness of the last three holes will have caused some major headaches and high scores.

As we all know it is strong winds that can destroy your game. But even if it had blown it would not have taken away from a superb golfing experience.