Perched on the edge of Ilkley Moor in West Yorkshire, Ilkley Golf Club is the sort of place that reminds you why moorland golf has such a loyal following. The championship course sits high above the town, properly exposed to the elements, with big Wharfedale views out towards the Dales. I'm a sucker for a skyline walk like this, and Ilkley delivers it in spades.
The best bit is how the layout leans into the land. You'll play across heather, gorse and bracken, on fairways that rise and fall enough to make club selection and shot shape matter. On a breezy day it can feel like links golf moved inland, and you'll score better by thinking your way round rather than just swinging harder. The greens tend to run quick, and the firmness of the turf means the ball doesn't always sit down where you expect.
It's hosted some serious names over the years, including Colin Montgomerie, an honorary life member who has a course record of 64 to his name. That tells you the standard when everything clicks, but it also shows how tight the margins are when the wind picks up and the heather starts grabbing anything offline.
The club has a strong reputation among visitors, partly because it's accessible from Leeds and Harrogate but mostly because it offers the kind of moorland test you don't find everywhere. If you're building a West Yorkshire golf tour, Ilkley is an easy one to slot in and it'll give your group a very different test to the parkland options nearby. Include Ilkley on your next Yorkshire golf break and we'll help line up tee times that fit the rest of your itinerary.
Who is this for?
Golfers looking for a traditional moorland experience in Yorkshire, with strong course conditioning, memorable views and a layout that rewards strategy over distance.
Who is it best for?
Mid to low handicappers who enjoy links-style golf inland, and anyone building a trip around the classic courses of West Yorkshire and the Dales.
