Golf Asia — January 2018

GOLF ASIA 81

and Harry Vardon, six times winner of
the Open Championship was the club
professional between 1896 and 1903.
In the 1930s the course’s signature
yellow gorse was added and has been
encouraged ever since. This thick
thorny impenetrable shrub that lines the
fairways provides a strong defence in
addition to the 111 bunkers positioned
aggressively around the 18 holes.
Ganton’s largest bunker, 75 yards wide
by 50 yards long, lies 150 yards from the
16th tee and straddles the entire fairway.
We discover that during our round,
staying out of the gorse and sand at
Ganton is beyond impossible. If you only
play one course on your Yorkshire visit

then make sure it is this one.

A few miles from Ganton is

Scarborough, the classic British

seaside town with its long promenade

stretching into a grey sea. On a

typical summer’s day, the popular

beach front is crowded with holiday

makers relaxing in deckchairs, while

children build sand castles and

squeal with excitement on the donkey

rides. Further north up the coast, the

imposing ruins of the 13th century

abbey loom over the old whaling port

of Whitby, where narrow cobbled

streets and red-bricked houses spill

down the slopes of the headland to a

natural harbour punctuated with the

Golfers travel across

the wooden bridge

that spans a coastal

gorge after teeing

off on the 7th-hole at

Whitby Golf Club.