Fulford Golf Club moved, due in great part to the enthusiasm and drive of Archie Harrower, from its original site at Naburn Lane to Tilmire in 1935. The course was planned and constructed by Major Charles McKenzie, the partner and brother of the now legendary Alexander McKenzie, who designed Augusta National and Pebble Beach in the USA and Moortown and Alwoodley in Leeds.
The site was first inspected by the prolific Scottish golf course Architect and former open champion, James Braid in 1930, and its suitability assessed. The area consisted largely of heath, scrub, bog, sand and rabbit warrens with, at the Northern end, a narrow strip of arable land coinciding with what are now the fairway of the first four holes.
Considering that the Second World War intervened at an early stage in its development, it was not long before Fulford played a prominent role in Yorkshire golf.
1954 saw it first host the Yorkshire Amateur, won by Sam Brough of Moortown, and in 1967 it had its first major professional Tournament, The Martini International, won jointly by Malcolm Gregson and Brian Huggett. This event allowed such luminaries as former Open Championships Peter Thompson and Bobby Locke to parade their talents to a welcoming Yorkshire public.
The Martini was followed by the even better known Benson and Hedges International event from 1971-1989, when a host of famous names displayed their talents. The fields were comprised predominantly of European tournament players including the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Sandy Lyle, all past winners of the US Masters. However the Bensen and Hedges also gave us glimpses of great overseas players. Greg Norman, Tom Weiskopf, Lee Trevino, Sam Snead, Billy Casper and Gary Player, all played here in one or more tournaments at the Fulford Course, voted as having the best greens on the European Tour in the early 80’s.
Whilst many Tournament Professionals have shown the way to score-witness Ian Woosnam’s course record of 62 – it is a comparatively rare event for an amateur to humble Fulford. The Amateur Course record of 66 is held by G Harland of Sandmoor Golf club, which matched the 66 recorded by the then 16 years old K.J. Miller of Fulford in 1976 before the 6th hole was altered and now equalled by his brother Jamie.
Over the years the club has enjoyed an enviable reputation for providing an excellently conditioned long course, matched by the comfort and friendly reception of its Clubhouse.
The General Manager, our Professional, the steward and caterer will do everything they can to ensure you have an enjoyable day both on and off the course. As a temporary member you will be afforded the same courtesies as the full members.
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