Sawdon Pines Golf Club

Sawdon Pines is a proper working golf course tucked into the North Yorkshire countryside near Malton, and it's one for golfers rather than casual wanderers. You'll find 18 holes spread across woodland and open fairways - the kind of course that rewards accuracy over pure distance, with enough trees to keep you honest. The setting is genuinely pleasant, with those Yorkshire wolds rolling away in the distance, and the layout makes decent use of the natural slopes.

This isn't a destination for non-golfers, to be blunt. If you're not planning to play a round, there's not much to do here. But if you've got clubs in the car, it's worth ringing ahead to book. The course plays well for mid-to-high handicappers and the membership rates suggest it's not trying to be some exclusive members-only fortress.

Staying at one of the nearby parks - Vale of Pickering Caravan Park is closest at just over four miles out - makes this a decent addition to a golf break. Malton itself is a workable base, with decent pubs and reasonable food options if you want something beyond the clubhouse. Allow a full morning or afternoon for a round, depending on how busy it is. If golf isn't your thing, head into Malton proper or explore the Howardian Hills instead. But for golfers looking for something straightforward and local, Sawdon Pines does the job without fuss.