North Leeds

Joel Tadman visits an area of the UK where you're spoiled for choice when it comes to fine golf courses touched by the design genius of Alister MacKenzie

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If you had asked me a few months ago to name regions of England that can lay claim to a number of top courses, north Leeds in Yorkshire would not have been on my radar. But having since visited and enjoyed much of what it has to offer golfers, it would now be very near the top of my recommendation list.

First up on our June trip was Headingley, which was remodelled by Dr Alister Mackenzie and presents itself as an incredibly fun layout with bags of variety. Manager Jon Hall pointed out some of the recent improvements, including the paths and the excellent new short-game area beside the clubhouse, where you can hit anything up to a full sand wedge, while stressing that the course is playable all year round.

It is sneakily undulating, although there's nothing subtle about the downhill par-4 opener, which drops dramatically to a green guarded by a stream along its front edge that will catch approach shots hit without a proper warm-up. Many holes play down then up to small green complexes, so good iron play is key to low scoring. I really enjoyed the tactical 11th hole with its diagonal ditch across the fairway, and the uphill par-3 13th, where a miss in any direction will leave a challenging second shot to try and save par.