It’s a reminder that golf courses are never static. They evolve with the thinking of the time, guided by committees and greenkeepers all striving to improve both playability and aesthetics.

Standing on the course now, you can feel that layered history. The strategy of the holes still reflects its earlier roots, but the visual framing and playing corridors are now heavily influenced by those decades of tree growth.

And like so many courses today, it also raises interesting questions about modern architectural thinking, particularly around tree management and restoring sight lines. It’s something increasingly recognised within the industry, and it feels like an area where Howley Hall has opportunities to continue evolving, much in line with broader trends seen across highly ranked courses. (Top 100 Golf Courses rankings often highlight this balance between heritage and thoughtful modernisation.)

The Golf: A Course Built on Strategy and Strong Design Features

After a lovely breakfast in the clubhouse, we made the short walk to the first tee. It felt like a busy day ahead, but we were fortunate to be out early, just ahead of a large society group.

From the start, it’s clear that Howley Hall is now very much a parkland course. Trees define many of the playing corridors, but it’s the bunkering that really stands out as a defining feature.

The opening holes set the tone beautifully.

The 1st and 2nd are both relatively short par fours, but they are by no means simple. Instead of relying on length, they are defended by excellent bunkering, and this is where Howley Hall really excels.

The bunker renovation work carried out between 2013 and 2016 under Jonathan Gaunt, with construction by C&C Golfscapes, is evident immediately. The bunkers are not just visually strong, they are perfectly positioned and very much in play for the majority of golfers. It’s strategic golf at its best.

The greens complement this superbly. Large, subtly contoured surfaces with run-offs that encourage different styles of approach play. Angles matter here, where you place your ball off the tee directly influences your chances into the green.

The 2nd is a particularly interesting example, with a wall in front of the green leaving you unsighted on approach. It adds intrigue and forces commitment, a strong early highlight.

Quirks, Character and Memorable Design

The 3rd is one of the most unique holes on the course.

Named “The Crossover,” it shares part of its fairway with the 6th, something that inevitably creates a bit of congestion on busier days, but also adds to the character of the layout.

What elevates it, though, is the setting.

With the old railway cutting down to the left, and the history of the tunnel running beneath the course, there’s a real sense of place. It’s a hole packed with visual intrigue, from the ventilator shaft in the distance to the narrow, distinctive green that bears the influence of Dr Alister MacKenzie.

It’s not without its quirks, but it’s undoubtedly memorable.

That theme continues through the early part of the round.

The 4th is a testing par three, well protected by bunkers and made more challenging by playing across the previous green. The 5th offers a more traditional par four test, with out of bounds right and another excellent green complex rewarding precision. The views across to the Pennines here are an added bonus.

A Strong Front Nine

The 6th brings you back across the shared fairway, this time as a reachable par five in the right conditions. The road crossing the hole adds another quirky element, one that might divide opinion, but personally, I found it added to the charm.

From there, the round builds nicely.

The 7th is a demanding hole with out of bounds tight to the left, while the 8th is another well-framed par three that highlights the strength of the bunkering once again.

The 9th closes the front nine with a risk-and-reward par four, a dogleg left where longer hitters can take on the corner. It’s a fitting end to an enjoyable outward half, though perhaps an area where selective tree removal could further enhance sight lines and improve the overall feel.

The Back Nine: A True Test

The 10th begins the journey home with a long, challenging par four back towards the clubhouse. It’s visually strong, framed by bunkers, but perhaps another candidate for some subtle tree management to open things up slightly and enhance the playing experience.

The 11th and 12th continue the theme of strategic golf, rewarding positioning off the tee and thoughtful approaches into well-guarded greens.

By the time you reach the 13th, you are reminded again of the course’s evolution. The tree planting of the 1970s is particularly evident in this stretch, giving definition to the holes but also reinforcing how much the character has changed over time.

The 13th itself is a strong par five, with bunkers lining the fairway and a decision to be made around the ditch crossing short of the green. It’s a hole that asks questions, rather than dictating answers.

The 14th is another standout par three, precise, well-defended, and demanding respect.

Closing Stretch: A Fitting Finish

The closing holes provide a strong and varied test.

The 15th is a long, demanding par four, while the 16th, the longest hole on the course, allows you to open your shoulders but still demands thought on where to position your lay-up.

The 17th is a welcome change of pace, shorter, but still engaging, and enhanced by views of the ruins of Howley Hall to the left, adding a sense of history to the moment.

And then the 18th.

A proper finishing hole.

Played from an elevated tee back towards the clubhouse, it demands both control and commitment. Depending on the wind, anything from a 9-iron to a fairway wood may be required into the green, which is well protected by bunkers.

It’s the kind of closing hole that can define your round, and ensures you remain fully engaged until the very end.

Conclusion

Howley Hall is, in many ways, a course defined by change.

Spending time both on the course and reading through its history, particularly the detailed work compiled by Jay Whittam, you begin to appreciate just how much evolution has taken place here. His reflections on the development of the course serve as a reminder that golf courses are never fixed; they are living, breathing landscapes shaped by the ideas, priorities and trends of each generation that passes through them.

At Howley Hall, that is evident at every turn.

From its early days as an open, moorland layout to the tree-lined parkland course we see today, the transformation has been significant. The planting of tree’s in the 1970s, the bunker renovations in more recent years, and the ongoing discussions around presentation and playability all point to a club that has continually adapted to the thinking of its time.

And that is perhaps the most interesting aspect of all.

In its current form, it stands confidently as a parkland course, one that offers an enjoyable, strategic and varied round of golf, underpinned by strong green complexes and some of the best positioned bunkering I have played of late.

There are quirks, certainly. The crossover holes, the road intersections, the tree-lined corridors that occasionally feel a touch tight, but these are all part of its personality. They give the course character. They make it memorable.

And importantly, the condition of the course today allows those design features to shine. Playing on firm, fast turf, with greens that reward good approach play and bunkers that genuinely influence decision-making, Howley Hall feels like a proper test, one that has clearly helped develop players capable of performing at the highest level.

When you consider its current ranking, sitting at 43 in Yorkshire, it once again highlights the remarkable depth of golf in this county. In many other parts of the country, a course of this quality would command far greater attention.

Which brings us back to the key point.

Howley Hall might not sit at the very top of the rankings, but that should never discourage a visit. Quite the opposite. It’s a course that offers something a little different, a round shaped by history, influenced by evolution, and defined by its own unique set of characteristics.

And importantly, that story of evolution is far from finished. With planned works around drainage, bunker refurbishment, woodland management, improvements to turf quality and tee levelling, there is a clear commitment to continue refining and enhancing the course. These are not radical departures, but thoughtful steps that build on what is already here, ensuring the course continues to adapt while staying true to its identity.

For those willing to look beyond the obvious names, there is a huge amount to enjoy here. For me, it’s a course that reflects the journey of the game itself, constantly adapting, always evolving, yet still delivering a thoroughly enjoyable round of golf.

If you’re in the area, I would strongly encourage you to make the trip.