Here at Cleveland Golf Club, we’re incredibly proud to stand as Yorkshire’s Championship Links. When you step onto our sandy soil, you’re not just playing a round of golf; you’re stepping back to the very origins of the game.
For any dedicated golfer, understanding the difference between the lush inland Parkland courses and the rugged coastal Links is key. But here in the North East, our links pedigree isn't just a footnote—it’s the defining feature that makes playing here a unique, year-round adventure.
Links golf is the foundation of golf itself. Born on the sandy coastal strips where the land meets the sea—the term 'links' literally refers to this rising coastal ground.
Unlike parkland courses, which are often heavily sculpted with deep rough, abundant trees, and lush turf, links golf is about playing with and reacting to the natural environment. It demands creativity and forces you to use the ground as your partner.
Creative Play is King: On firm, fast links fairways, the ball doesn’t stay where it lands. This means you must embrace the "running game." Forget hoisting your approach shots high onto soft greens; here, you learn to land the ball short and let it roll, using bumps, swales, and slopes to feed it towards the pin. It’s a strategic challenge that tests your imagination more than just your striking power.
The Natural Defence: Instead of trees, your main hazards are the classic elements: deep, unforgiving pot bunkers dug into the sandy soil, hardy indigenous grasses like fescue, and the ever-present coastal breeze.
This is where the North East links courses truly separate themselves from their inland counterparts.
The fundamental difference lies beneath your feet: links courses are naturally sand-based. This incredible natural drainage means that even after days of heavy rain, our courses are often in magnificent, firm condition when inland parklands are playing slow, soft, or even closed.
For the dedicated golfer, this is the ultimate benefit. The sandy base keeps the fairways and greens firm, offering that signature fast roll regardless of the season, ensuring your game remains challenged and your practice effective all winter long.
If links golf has a defining feature, it’s the wind. Because links courses—especially those as open as ours near the North Sea—lack tree cover, the wind dictates play in a way parkland courses rarely can.
The beauty is in the variability:
A round played with a following wind on the outward nine might require a complete tactical switch for the inward nine playing directly into a headwind.
The same hole played on a calm morning versus a blustery afternoon will demand entirely different clubs and trajectories. You might hit a 9-iron one day and need a low-drilled 4-iron the next! The course is never the same twice, offering endless variety and a true test of ball control.
We are fortunate to be part of a fantastic stretch of classic links golf in the North East. Clubs like Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, and those further north boast a similar natural defence against the elements and a commitment to the traditional game.
At Cleveland Golf Club, designed by greats like Old Tom Morris and Harry Colt, we offer that authentic, championship challenge. Come and experience Yorkshire’s premier links where the heritage is deep, the turf is firm, and the wind ensures you’re using every club in your bag, all year long!
Ready for the true test? Book your tee time at Cleveland and experience the links spirit!