Rudding Park Golf
8.2/10
8.6/10
8.6/10
8.0/10
9.0/10
8.6/10
The Courses
Rudding Park’s Parkland Course — designed by Hawtree and opened in 1995 — occupies the southern reaches of the 300-acre estate on ground that rolls gently through mature oak and lime woodland, with several holes opening onto wider parkland with views across the estate towards the Harrogate skyline. The layout stretches to 6,877 yards from the back tees and plays to a par of 72 — a genuine test that rewards accurate driving and intelligent course management without ever punishing the golfer unreasonably.
The Hawtree Course — a shorter, nine-hole layout opened later — is a well-designed complement to the main course, ideal for an evening nine, a warm-up round or a less demanding option for golfers at a different stage of the game. The two courses together offer considerable flexibility for a multi-day visit.
The golf at Rudding Park is very good. It is not Ganton or Moortown in terms of pure course quality, and makes no claim to be — the design serves a different purpose, providing a genuine challenge within a resort setting that is as welcoming for non-golfers as it is for the most serious players. As a Stay · Play · Recover destination, Rudding Park has few rivals in the north of England.
The Rooftop Spa
The spa is genuinely exceptional and the reason many people choose Rudding Park specifically. Built into the roofline of the hotel, it offers an outdoor rooftop pool, a thermal suite, and a full range of treatments — including sports massage and recovery-focused therapies that are directly relevant for golfers playing multiple rounds. It is the most architecturally interesting hotel spa in Yorkshire, and one of the most interesting in England.
- Book the rooftop spa in advance — it is small, popular and fills quickly, especially at weekends
- Golf and spa break packages offer strong value — book directly with the resort for the best rates
- The Clocktower restaurant is outstanding — reserve a table for the evening after golf
- Use Rudding Park as a base for Ganton and Moortown — both within 45 minutes on excellent roads
- The Hawtree nine is ideal for an early morning warm-up before a full round on the Parkland Course
- Request a room with estate views — the parkland setting is at its most atmospheric at dusk
Rudding Park Hotel & Rooftop Spa
Two courses, a rooftop spa, award-winning dining and 300 acres of North Yorkshire parkland — Rudding Park delivers the complete Stay · Play · Recover experience in a setting that partners will value as highly as golfers. The combination of excellent golf, exceptional spa and outstanding food makes it the natural anchor for any Yorkshire golf break.