Rudding Park

The Grade 1 listed Regency house of Rudding Park incorporates 21st-century comforts by fusing contemporary design with traditional elegance and offers a range of experiences to suit all tastes. The stylish 90 bedroom hotel also features a spa and private cinema and has achieved numerous accolades, including being voted best UK Hotel in TripAdvisors Travellers Choice Awards 2013.

Rudding Park is a magnificent, historic hotel with lavish banqueting and conference facilities, an impressive golf complex, its own pub, holiday homes and camping. Although we are generally more interested in the golf facilities, the sheer scale and quality of the entire site is worth noting and most definitely needs visiting.

The emphasis is on quality and despite the luxury, it is the quality of the service given by the staff which is the most noticeable and charming feature of Rudding Park. All the staff are very friendly, well-informed and eager to help, but they go far beyond the motions of this often-cited mantra. At Rudding Park, my 8-year old daughter wanted to know the staffs names, so she could chat to them and enjoy their company, because they were so very helpful and friendly towards her.

The site was originally acquired by the Mackaness family in 1972 and much has happened since then.

Rudding Park is in the heartland of the Yorkshire golf scene. Pannal and Harrogate are very traditional clubs with a strong golf background, but having played the courses, there is no doubt that Rudding Park is the best overall test of golf. To measure this we are not using the traditional tests of lengths of holes, major championships played etc, etc. Rudding Park has a more subtle and charming layout than its competitors and at over 6,800 yards is more than enough of a test for any player.

The Hawtree course is great a challenge for some players, but many golfers will find a delightful challenge with the par three course. Known as the Repton Short Course, to honour the original great landscape specialist Humphry Repton, the six hole layout is one of the best of its kind.

This is no pitch and putt course. Designed by Martin Hawtree and consisting of six par three holes, the course has been constructed to USGA specifications. The course comprises one parkland hole, two woodland, two water holes and one island signature hole - a replica of the notorious 17th at Sawgrass, Florida. From busy professionals and scratch golfers to retired couples and young novices, The Repton Short Course has a universal appeal. Martin Hawtree spoke with GRD

'It has been a pleasure to work at Rudding Park both on the original course and more recently on the Repton. I was trusted to honour the historic values of the site and create a first class championship course with a truly splendid backdrop. With the Repton Course, the brief was altogether different. We wanted to excite and challenge golfers of all abilities and we are very pleased with the results. It is hard to produce a golfing layout which is both a challenge for the better player and also capable of inspiring the novice. I think Rudding Park is a truly unique golf complex, as it manages to attract so many different types of visitors and members, giving all an enjoyable golfing experience.'

The driving range has also been very well thought out and imaginatively planned. The 18 bays are spacious and well appointed with Power Tees occupying half the bays (these were the busiest during our visit). European Golf Machinery have supplied most of the equipment including a bespoke ball dispenser, which allows balls to be vended from both the shop and directly onto the golf range. Behind the scenes, the ball washing and collection system has been well thought out, so despite a clay subsoil, customers are never aware of the hard work that goes into producing the spotless balls that they hit from their warm carpeted bay! The Golf Academy is very much devoted to tuition. There are few better-appointed facilities in the UK.

Hawtree also designed the short game area as part of the improved practice facilities. A 110 yard practice hole is surrounded by various chipping and putting greens and sprinkled with bunkers of differing styles. It is a golfers dream and GRD have rarely seen such a comprehensive short game area. All the greens are made to USGA specification and the surfaces are amongst the best in the Europe.

Rudding Park is a fabulous combination of magnificence and friendly service. It is most unusual to see both these assets displayed in such abundance.

Rudding Park has 90 bedrooms, including eight suites and junior suites, four spa bedrooms and a family bunk room. In addition to the hotel, Rudding Park offers luxury lodges individually furnished to a high standard available for rent or to buy. Catering from two to seven guests, these properties provide five star accommodations.

The Clocktower Restaurant combines a cosmopolitan fusion of interior design inspirations from all over the world with a menu of the finest locally sourced dishes. Head Chef Eddie Gray designs seasonal menus around locally sourced ingredients. Visit Clocktower for a coffee in the Conservatory, snack or three course meal in the restaurant. Clocktower is one of the most popular restaurants in North Yorkshire, recognised not only for its excellent menu but also for its friendly and enjoyable atmosphere.