Jim,
Pannal is one of the Harrogate courses which has a very good pedigree and Oakdale is a course that I always enjoyed playing too. Harrogate itself is a lovely place but if I was coming in from outside Yorkshire then I would suggest that York is the place to stay if you can get near or in the old town. If staying in York then I would suggest Fulford and Strensil as the obvious choice for staying local neither of which seem to get any mentions on here even from Sean A. Although with Leeds so close and both Alwoodley, Moortown and recently threaded Sandmoor on the nearside they could be a good choice to.