Moortown Golf Club: 2026 Update
On the moors north of Leeds sits one of Yorkshire's very best courses and a genuine piece of Ryder Cup history, the Alister MacKenzie design that staged the first Ryder Cup ever played on British soil. Here is what travelling golfers should know about Moortown for the 2026 season.
Photo: Moortown Golf Club via Google.
The course: MacKenzie on the Leeds moors
Moortown is a classic Alister MacKenzie moorland design laid out on Black Moor on the northern edge of Leeds. It was MacKenzie's first solo commission, and though there is a friendly local rivalry with neighbouring Alwoodley over which course came first, Moortown stands as one of the earliest and finest expressions of his strategic, naturalistic style, all bold bunkering and clever green sites.
The signature hole is the tenth, Gibraltar, a par 3 played to a green set on a raised plateau ringed by sand, one of the most photographed short holes in the north of England. Around it Moortown rolls across heather and moorland turf in a way that rewards the thinking golfer, a course that has aged into one of Yorkshire's true must plays.
Why it matters for 2026
Moortown's place in history is secure. In 1929 it hosted the second Ryder Cup and the first to be played in Great Britain, with the home side winning, a match staged only twenty years after the club's foundation. That heritage, combined with the quality of the MacKenzie design, makes a round here as much a pilgrimage as a game.
For 2026 the appeal is the chance to play genuine championship history on a course that remains in superb condition and welcomes visitors. As the centenary of that first British Ryder Cup approaches, Moortown's standing among golf's historic venues has only grown, which makes it a rewarding addition to any northern England golf trip.
How to plan a visit
Moortown sits on the northern edge of Leeds, easily reached from the city and its airport, and pairs naturally with its celebrated neighbour Alwoodley for a two course MacKenzie day on the same stretch of moor. The wider Yorkshire region adds further inland and links options for golfers building a longer trip.
The best playing season runs from late spring to autumn, when the moorland turf is firm and the heather is in bloom. Treat any quoted visitor green fee as indicative for 2026, check the club's visitor and tee time policy before you travel, and always confirm directly before booking.
Our take
Our take is that Moortown is essential for any golfer who cares about the history of the game, a brilliant MacKenzie design and the birthplace of British Ryder Cup golf, in superb order and within easy reach of a major city. Pair it with Alwoodley and you have one of the great inland golf days in England.
Plan it for the late spring to autumn window, arrange your round through the club in advance, and treat Moortown as a highlight rather than a footnote on a Yorkshire golf trip.
Plan your Yorkshire golf trip
From the MacKenzie moorland of Moortown to its neighbour Alwoodley and the wider Yorkshire courses, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, with no obligation.
Questions
Where is Moortown Golf Club?
Moortown is on Black Moor on the northern edge of Leeds in Yorkshire, England, easily reached from the city and its airport. It pairs naturally with neighbouring Alwoodley for a two course Alister MacKenzie day.
Who designed Moortown Golf Club?
Moortown was designed by Alister MacKenzie and was his first solo commission, a classic moorland layout famous for its strategic bunkering and for the par 3 tenth, Gibraltar, played to a plateau green ringed by sand.
Did Moortown host the Ryder Cup?
Yes. In 1929 Moortown hosted the second Ryder Cup and the first ever played in Great Britain, with the home side winning. That heritage makes a round here a piece of golf history as well as a fine test.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course, designer and Ryder Cup history details verified June 2026 from club and golf sources; conditions, access and green fees change, so always confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.