A ‘hidden gem’ is an over used description but it fits perfectly for Ganton. Despite its rise on golf-course rankings in recent years, few people seemed to have played it. Be warned, this course is not for the faint hearted. I've played it several times and it’s battered me into the ground on most occasions. It's a connoisseur's course for serious players; it's no good for a friendly knockabout. The best advice here is simply don’t go in the rough; if you are lucky enough to find your ball, you will only be able to pitch it back into the fairway. A strong, low-handicap player would be well advised to leave their woods in the car. Control of driving distance off the tee is vital as you can run out of room very quickly. The course is made up of a curious mix of holes: the 251-yard par-three 17th is essentially a par four (the prevailing wind means it’s a struggle to get anywhere near the green from the tee), whereas the par-five 13th can be reached with a drive and a short iron, such are the wonderful vagaries of the place. It's a Marmite course, you'll either love it or hate it, but there is no doubting the pure quality of the test.

THE JEWEL IN YORKSHIRE'S CROWN SET IN THE VALE OF PICKERING. JUST A SHORT JOURNEY FROM THE EAST COAST THIS IS ALMOST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE! AS GARY PLAYER SAID GANTON IS GOOD ENOUGH TO HOLD AN OPEN SUCH IS ITS QUALITY-LIKE ALL GOOD COURSES IT REWARDS STRAIGHT HITTING.TRUE TO SAY IT HAS ITS DEFENCES BUT NOT TO ITS DETRIMENT-NO THIS COURSE IS UNDOUBTEDLY 'HARD BUT FAIR' AND EVEN TO A YORKSHIREMAN IT REMAINS GREAT VALUE!

GO AND PLAY!