Ipswich (Purdis Heath) Golf Club Suffolk

The 18-hole course at Purdis Heath was designed by James Braid – a name synonymous with high-quality golf architecture. Probably best known for the King’s Course at Gleneagles, Braid also had a large hand in the renovation of such classic courses as Carnoustie, Royal Troon, and Turnberry.

Making the best possible use of the natural contours of the heathland surroundings, Braid designed the Purdis course so that its shape resembles a horseshoe which loops around two duck decoy lakes at the centre of estate. The outward holes set off in an anticlockwise flow with the inward holes returning in the opposite direction. The result is that the golfer has to contend with the challenge of coping with winds from varying directions as each hole is played.

The course, built by Messrs Hawtree and Taylor (the five times Open winner who took part in the opening exhibition match), today remains substantially as it was when it was officially opened in 1928 and it compares favourably with the finest inland courses in England.