Crosland Heath at Crosland Heath Golf Club

Crosland Heath Golf Club sits on moorland terrain above Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, designed by Alister MacKenzie in 1914. MacKenzie, who would later achieve worldwide recognition for Augusta National and Cypress Point, was then establishing his reputation through a series of heathland and moorland courses across northern England. The layout occupies elevated ground with characteristic Pennine moorland features, and the design reflects MacKenzie's early principles of strategic bunkering and natural contours that would define his later work.

The course plays across rolling moorland with heather, gorse, and exposed terrain typical of West Yorkshire's upland golf venues. MacKenzie routed the holes to work with the natural topography rather than against it, creating a layout where elevation changes and prevailing winds factor significantly into club selection and strategy. The bunkering follows MacKenzie's philosophy of visual intimidation combined with strategic purpose, penalizing poor shots while offering recovery options for skilled players.

As a members' club with over a century of continuous play, Crosland Heath represents an accessible example of MacKenzie's design work during his formative period. The course has undergone modifications over the decades, as most century-old layouts have, but retains the essential character of moorland golf on challenging terrain. The setting provides views across the Colne Valley and surrounding Pennine landscape, and the club maintains traditional Yorkshire golf club culture with an active membership drawn from the Huddersfield area and surrounding towns.