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Our Story
For a golf club with a long and proud history stretching back more than 130 years, it is fair to say that time has never quite stood still for Bedale Golf Club and the members not just keeping its heritage alive, but moving distinctly forward.
With good reason the club embraces its sobriquet as ‘Gateway to the Dales’ lying quietly as it does just two miles from the bustling A1M, on the edge of the delightful market town at the eastern edge of Wensleydale. Indeed it is plain to see why the club is a popular stop-off point for golfers and groups heading either north to the popular coastal Northumberland courses or onwards to Scotland, and vice versa heading south.
What started life as a 9-hole track founded by a group of nine local gents in November 1894, on land roughly occupying today’s terrain, it first expanded in 1921 before moving completely to a new site off Firby Road, to the south of the town, in 1932. The club remained there until 1967 when it figuratively came ‘home’.
Our story
More than 130 years, and still moving forward
For a golf club with a long and proud history stretching back more than 130 years, it is fair to say that time has never quite stood still for Bedale Golf Club and the members not just keeping its heritage alive, but moving distinctly forward.
Gateway to the Dales
With good reason the club embraces its sobriquet as ‘Gateway to the Dales’ lying quietly as it does just two miles from the bustling A1M, on the edge of the delightful market town at the eastern edge of Wensleydale. Indeed it is plain to see why the club is a popular stop-off point for golfers and groups heading either north to the popular coastal Northumberland courses or onwards to Scotland, and vice versa heading south.
- 1894Founded in November as a 9-hole track by a group of nine local gents, on land roughly occupying today’s terrain
- 1921The course expands for the first time
- 1932The club moves completely to a new site off Firby Road, to the south of the town
- 1967Bedale figuratively comes ‘home’ to the land it occupies today
- 1987Thirty acres of adjacent land are bought and Hawtrees reconfigure the course golfers find today
- 2026AND GROWING550 members and counting, a refurbished clubhouse with a roof terrace over the 1st and 18th, and a TrackMan swing studio. The story continues.
The Beresford-Peirse connection
One constant between that 19th century founding and today, has been the close relationship with the Bedale Hall’s Beresford-Peirse family. Sir Henry, the 3rd Baronet Beresford-Peirse, owned the land the original course occupied and four generations of Sir Henrys later, the 7th Baronet leases the club the majority of the now impressive 18-hole layout.
Occupying what was once a delightful deer park, the course was able to stretch its legs to 6,610 yards when 30 acres of adjacent land was purchased in 1987 and Hawtrees were employed to reconfigure the course golfers find today. One important influence that cannot go unmentioned however is that of 5th Baronet Sir Henry who – amongst other roles – was Director General of the Forestry Commission.
The parkland footprint hosts a stunning variety of trees including several specimens which still attract attention from botanists nationwide.
The course today
Regarding the course, Bedale chairman Graham Lilley and his board very much have their eyes on continued improvements including a programme for irrigating all of the tee boxes. Bedale’s magnificent greens are a source of constant pride, notwithstanding 2026’s punishing summer weather. Visitors never fail to be impressed. Investment in accessing a borehole for water supplies has never been more far-sighted than currently.
Similarly, attention to detail is noticeable in the recently refurbished first floor clubhouse with its roof terrace offering stunning views overlooking the 1st and 18th holes. Enjoying a post-round drink, chairman (and ex-treasurer plus 2024 Captain) Lilley elaborates on the club’s ambitions.
“We have an excellent membership of 550, with a strong ladies base and a growing junior membership, a number which in itself is pleasingly up from about 420 members before covid. However we still have scope to increase those numbers and I’d like to do that, purely in order to further invest in our course.”
A welcome that brings people back
Bedale is popular with returning parties and prides itself on the welcome they get. One initiative which has brought groups back repeatedly is the donation of a ‘Bedale Trophy’ to any group of 24 or more visitors. The club, a member of the Harrogate Union, has strong local relationships with both neighbouring military facilities at RAF Leeming and the Catterick Army base. Indeed along with Catterick and Richmond Golf Clubs it participates in the annual summer Dales Festival of Golf.
Bedale does a couple of things somewhat differently than most clubs, in that ladies can participate in the club’s medals competitions – “they have to play in threes though, no fourballs!” remarks Graham Lilley. And one very popular innovation is to be found in what was previously the professionals’ shop, but has been significantly repurposed.
Steve Pearce and the swing studio
PGA Professional Steve Pearce has been at Bedale man and boy, beginning his journey at the club as an assistant before moving across to the Romanby club, returning to Bedale 10 years ago. Although he doesn’t say it explicitly, it’s clear that Bedale’s swing studio is Steve’s pride and joy.
Courtesy of a major funding grant, this is a swing studio par excellence. Equipped with the latest TrackMan technology and with no expense spared on its outfitting, you can imagine that golfers from neighbouring clubs and towns would flock to experience it, especially once the seasons begin to change.
Come and see for yourself
Visitors and societies are welcome all year round, and the membership is growing. Whichever brings you to Bedale, you will find the same welcome.
Regarding the course, Bedale chairman Graham Lilley and his board very much have their eyes on continued improvements including a programme for irrigating all of the tee boxes. Bedale’s magnificent greens are a source of constant pride, notwithstanding 2026’s punishing summer weather. Visitors never fail to be impressed. Investment in accessing a borehole for water supplies has never been more far-sighted than currently.
Similarly, attention to detail is noticeable in the recently refurbished first floor clubhouse with its roof terrace offering stunning views overlooking the 1st and 18th holes. Enjoying a post-round drink, chairman (and ex-treasurer plus 2024 Captain) Lilley elaborates on the club’s ambitions. “We have an excellent membership of 550, with a strong ladies base and a growing junior membership, a number which in itself is pleasingly up from about 420 members before covid. However we still have scope to increase those numbers and I’d like to do that, purely in order to further invest in our course.”
PGA Professional Steve Pearce has been at Bedale man and boy, beginning his journey at the club as an assistant before moving across to the Romanby club, returning to Bedale 10 years ago.
Although he doesn’t say it explicitly, it’s clear that Bedale’s swing studio is Steve’s pride and joy.
Courtesy of a major funding grant, this is a swing studio par excellence. Equipped with the latest
Trackman technology and with no expense spared on its outfitting, you can imagine that golfers from neighbouring clubs and towns would flock to experience it, especially once the seasons begin to change.
One constant between that 19th century founding and today, has been the close relationship with the Bedale Hall’s Beresford-Peirse family. Sir Henry, the 3rd Baronet Beresford-Peirse, owned the land the original course occupied and four generations of Sir Henrys later, the 7th Baronet leases the club the majority of the now impressive 18-hole layout.
Occupying what was once a delightful deer park, the course was able to stretch its legs to 6,580 yards when 30 acres of adjacent land was purchased in 1987 and Hawtrees were employed to reconfigure the course golfers find today. One important influence that cannot go unmentioned however is that of 5th Baronet Sir Henry who – amongst other roles – was Director General of the Forestry Commission.
The parkland footprint hosts a stunning variety of trees including several specimens which still attract attention from botanists nationwide.
Bedale is popular with returning parties and prides itself on the welcome they get. One initiative which has brought groups back repeatedly is the donation of a ‘Bedale Trophy’ to any group of 24 or more visitors. The club, a member of the Harrogate Union, has strong local relationships with both neighbouring military facilities at RAF Leeming and the Catterick Army base. Indeed along with Catterick and Richmond Golf Clubs it participates in the annual summer Dales Festival of Golf.
Bedale does a couple of things somewhat differently than most clubs, in that ladies can participate in the club’s medals competitions – “they have to play in threes though, no fourballs!” remarks Graham Lilley. And one very popular innovation is to be found in what was previously the professionals’ shop, but has been significantly repurposed.
