Cavendish Golf Club Derbyshire

Cavendish, which opened in 1925, was designed by Alister Mackenzie, and unlike many early courses has not been altered in response to today’s pressures.

At 5721 yds off the medal tees, the course remains shorter than many, yet still fulfils Mackenzie’s belief that length has nothing to do with the quality of a hole (unlike the current committee at the Augusta National!). At the time Mackenzie laid out Cavendish he was a consultant to the R & A at St Andrews, and perhaps had the challenge of the 11th (High In) on the Old Course when designing the 15th (par3) at Cavendish.

Two of the staff who had helped construct Cavendish subsequently worked with him in California at Cypress Point, the design which convinced Bobby Jones that Mackenzie should be the architect for Augusta. The respected American course architect and writer Tom Doak included Cavendish among only four English Midlands courses in his book on 1325 courses worldwide. He also named Cavendish as one of a small group he rated with the best par under 70.

In his selection of the 18 best holes from courses that aren’t on anyone’s top 100 list, he included the 422yd 10th (par 4) at Cavendish. Over the years, many notable visitors including Henry Cotton and Babe Zaharias have played Cavendish.

So if you choose to visit the “Jewel in the Crown” of Derbyshire golf courses you’ll be following in the footsteps of some golfing greats, and preceding Tiger Woods, who has yet to meet the challenge of Cavendish!