Rolling fairways put the emphasis on placement

Woodhall Hills has been offering golf services to east Bradford since 1905, but the course is much improved since those pioneering days.

Most recently, as the area has been developed around it, a large perimeter fence has been put up around the course to keep non-golfers out and this has been of great benefit to the club.

Not that you feel hemmed-in on this spacious course set in rolling moorland.

There is plenty of room, with some longish walks between trees, so that you definitely feel out in the countryside.

One characteristic of the course is its rolling fairways, which require you to play for position rather than simply blast away.

Ilkley Gazette: Woodhall Hills Golf Club

There are some short par fours, protected by tricky ditches, bunkers or undulating greens, but these are balanced by some long par fives, three of them over 500 yards.

The 12th is notoriously difficult, with a ditch 120 yards short of the green and a gully in front of the tee, which means you cannot run the ball up to the hill.

The club has made great efforts to improve its facilities in recent years with the addition of numerous trees, which are just beginning to come into play and which add greatly to the requirement for accuracy off the tee.

The 16th is also a genuine par five, uphill to a sloping green.

Professional Richard Hedley’s official title is professional/manager, and he is in charge of all golfing operations at the club.

FACT FILE

Name: Woodhall Hills Golf Club

Address: Woodhall Road, Calverley, LS28 5UN

Website: woodhallhillsgc.co.uk

Telephone: (0113) 2562857

President: Rod Wood

Club pro: Richard Hedley, pictured

Annual fee: £735

Visitor fee: £26 Mon-Fri, £30 weekend

Course length: 6,184 yards

Par: 71

Signature hole:12th – long par five with ditch short of the green

Shop: Yes

Ilkley Gazette: Woodhall Hills Golf Club professional Richard Hedley
Ilkley Gazette: Woodhall Hills Golf Club