Oakdale was designed by the legendary golf course architect Dr Alister MacKenzie and opened on 1st August 1914. Following earlier successes at Alwoodley, Moortown and other local courses he then went on to design such jewels as Royal Melbourne in Australia, Cypress Point and Augusta National in The United States of America. MacKenzie courses are revered by golfers all over the world.

The course is arranged in two loops of nine holes, a particular MacKenzie feature for an ideal course, in order to create different wind conditions throughout the round.

Pictured left are some of the spectators who attended the opening ceremony on August 1st 1914.

Oakdale became the venue for many professional tournaments, including the North British in July 1948, where spectator grandstands were used for the first time in Great Britain. The tournament attracted the largest entry in a major professional event in 1948. The first prize of £500 was won by a certain Roberto de Vicenzo with a score of 277.

The 1950’s saw Oakdale hosting major tournaments featuring some of the world’s top players including Peter Thompson, Dai Rees, Bobby Locke, Roberto de Vicenzo and Harry Weetman. Oakdale members play annually for a trophy named in honour of the club’s professional between 1914 and 1958, the much loved Archie Yates. Archie served his apprenticeship under the great Harry Vardon. The trophy is a wonderful link with the past and a reminder of the traditions of Oakdale.

The original 18 hole layout largely remained the same until 1983 when holes 4-6 and 12-15 were redesigned on added land following consultation with golf course designers Hawtree & Son. This brought into play land that bore traces of the first golf played in the area some 120 years ago.

Pictured is a view from the tenth tee. Not too dissimilar from the present day.

The present layout is a true challenge of golf with the Oak Beck coming into play on four of the eighteen holes. Water is also found near to the eleventh tee and twelfth green, just to keep you on your toes before the homeward holes starting with the fourteenth, stroke index one.

It is a wonderful sight to stand on the eighteenth tee and see the elevated clubhouse with views of the Harrogate Duchy Estate knowing that you only need a par four over the Oak Beck to end a memorable days golf.