Skipton Flood Alleviation Scheme

Skipton Golf Club opened its newly remodelled and extended 18-hole course on schedule at the beginning of August. On a busy launch weekend, a 12 hole stableford competition from the white tees and with a shotgun start was staged on the Friday evening and was fully subscribed. It formed part of a celebratory opening event for members. The following day, 104 golfers competed in the annual President’s Day stableford competition, the first over the full 18 holes. Ben Topper topped Division 1 with 42 points and a gross of 72, which currently stands as a new course record! Heading Division 2 with 35 points was Oliver Wild. “The weather was perfect and the new course received very favourable comment. In fact, both events proved a resounding success,” said club president Jonathan White. The remodelled course at Skipton, completed during the club’s landmark 125th anniversary year, incorporates two new par 4 holes and a brand-new raised 17th green. Many other improvements and enhancements all around the course include new tee beds and bunkers constructed by local contractor Oliver Sugden, of Sugden Amenities. Major redevelopment work at the golf club was necessitated by the Environment Agency’s Flood Alleviation Scheme for Skipton. It has involved a significant investment, which has been funded by the Agency’s compensation agreement.

Skipton Golf Club is teeing up for the much anticipated launch of its newly remodelled 18-hole course on August 1. The club is this year celebrating its milestone 125th anniversary and the opening of the new-look course represents one of the single most important landmarks in Skipton’s long and proud history. A celebratory opening event for members is planned for Friday, August 3, with the President’s Day taking place the following day. An Open Event for visitors will follow shortly afterwards at a date to be determined. Work is now complete on two brand-new par 4 holes, which will significantly add to the appeal of the well-known golf course, which stands in an area of outstanding scenic beauty just off the A59 on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales market town. The new course continues to offer challenges to all standards of golfers. It becomes a par 71 with three par 3s, 13 par 4s and two par 5s. In addition, the planned introduction of gender-free tees will allow players of all abilities to challenge themselves at their own level. Major redevelopment work, involving significant investment, has been necessitated by the Environment Agency’s Flood Alleviation Scheme for Skipton. It has been funded by the Agency’s compensation agreement. Already in place and well established are a remodelled and enhanced 15th green and an extended 9th hole, now a par 5 following the construction of a new tee. Further work has been completed to improve sight lines on the signature par 3 16th green, which, along with the enhanced 15th, represents Skipton’s very own ‘Amen Corner’- two holes running alongside Eller Beck demanding both accuracy and a steady nerve! Other improvements include a brand-new raised 17th [...]

This year, members and visitors will be playing a totally revised golf course, which will include two brand-new, professionally designed and built Par 4 holes. The planned opening date is 1st August 2018 although keep an eye out for future newsletters for more information on this as we are subject to the vagaries of the British weather. For anybody who knows or has already played Skipton, you will be aware of some of the stunning holes that already exist. Our very own “Amen Corner” - the 14th, 15th and 16th - have been long recognised as three of the best holes in Northern golf. Well, you can take it on good authority that the two new holes to be opened this year are already being classed as the best on the course. You can imagine, then, just how excited our members are about the August opening! But, we have more – far more –than the new holes to look forward to, because this work has allowed us to undertake a total redesign of the course layout, which will see our existing short Par 3 opening hole turned into a short game practice facility and our existing Par 5 second hole become the new first. Other changes for the better are almost too numerous to mention, but include new and extended tee beds, totally new greens on both 15 and 17, and significant drainage and landscaping work completed across large parts of the course. The new layout will continue the tradition of Skipton offering a challenging and enjoyable course to golfers of all abilities, while at the same time providing golfers with some of the most stunning views of any golf course in the UK. [...]