Alwoodley in the rankings

Alwoodley is proud to be an established – and upwardly mobile – fixture in several notable course ranking lists.

In Golf World’s list of The Top 100 Courses in the World You Can Play 2022, Alwoodley was ranked at No 57.

The editors said: “A significant rise for the course that set Alister MacKenzie on his way to architectural fame and reverence.

It’s much more than a Mackenzie pilgrimage, though; expect a heathland of excellent variety, strategy and subtlety.”

Golf World ranked Alwoodley at No 10 in the latest update to their list of the best golf courses in England, published in January 2021.

“Alister MacKenzie’s first design has obvious nostalgic appeal but Alwoodley is much more than a homage,” the magazine said. “Routed in an out-and-back configuration, the road home is tough, but there are lighter moments throughout and springy moorland-heathland turf aided by recent renovation and maintenance work.”

Alwoodley rose two places to No 38 in Golf World’s GB&I’s Top 100 Courses 2020, which was published in April 2020.

The Golf World editors described Alwoodley as “the best of a handful of top-notch golf courses that straddle the moors to the north of Leeds” and “a Dr Alister MacKenzie masterpiece packed with a terrific portfolio of heather-framed holes”.

“It is clear that Alwoodley is regarded as one of the best heathland courses in the British Isles”

Meanwhile, in National Club Golfer’s GB&I’s Top 100 Courses 2020, Alwoodley was ranked as the 28th best course in the British Isles.

It is clear that Alwoodley is regarded as one of the best heathland courses in the British Isles – in fact only four inland courses feature above it in the NCG list.

“Our panel all rated Alwoodley very highly,” said Dan Murphy, editor of National Club Golfer’s list, which was published at the end of 2019.

“They particularly valued Alwoodley’s architecture, as the first course designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie, and its consistency as a genuine championship test,” he said.

Golf Monthly ranked Alwoodley at No 48 in their Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2017-18.

Top100golfcourses.co.uk currently rank Alwoodley at No 41 in their Britain & Ireland list and at No 15 in their England list, describing it as “one of the finest and most subtle inland courses in the British Isles”.

The only other two Yorkshire courses to feature in all of the above lists are Ganton, close to Scarborough and an hour-and-a-quarter-drive from Alwoodley, and adjacent Moortown – click here to see a special offer to play both Alwoodley and Moortown on an overnight package that includes accommodation.