Oakdale

In December 1913, the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post reported that Alister MacKenzie had inspected the site for the proposed Harrogate Municipal 18-hole golf course, which was being considered by the Harrogate Corporation on the site of the Corporation Farm.

The decision of the sub-committee of the Harrogate Town Council appointed to consider the scheme would depend upon the public response to their appeal to support such a venture with a twenty-five shillings per annum subscription. The enterprise didn’t proceed as a municipal course, becoming the private Oakdale Golf Club instead.

MacKenzie again inspected the site for the new course and a photograph of him on location was published in the Harrogate Advertiser in June 1914. Almost a year later, on 22 May 1915, the Yorkshire Evening Post reported: “the second nine holes on the new Harrogate course, Oakdale, are ready for use, and were to be brought into play today.

The course has been planned by Dr. MacKenzie on the two loop principle, and play can be commenced at the tenth as readily as at the first tee when considered necessary.”

Set within a generous 120-acre property, the course comprises aspects of parkland and moorland, with the Oak Beck wandering alongside the 10th fairway then in front of the 9th and 10th greens, both of which bring the two nines to a conclusion in front of the clubhouse.