Cavendish

England’s Peak District might not necessarily be the first place you would think of when it comes to good golf courses, but Cavendish is right up there! 

You know there is going to be quality to the course, considering the name behind the design. Dr Alister MacKenzie was the man who laid out the course on the rolling Derbyshire hills. 

The club opened in 1925, and in its century-long history, there have not been too many changes to the golf course since. It is short, but demanding. 

Visit Cavendish’s website here.

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.

1925 saw the opening of Cavendish Golf Club, with Dr Alister MacKenzie being sought after by the Duke of Devonshire to create a golfing masterpiece at Cavendish. 

MacKenzie, already of Alwoodley and Moortown fame, would then go on to design the likes of Cypress Point and of course, Augusta National, during his time in the United States.  

Cavendish has been called the ‘Inspiration for Augusta’ as the topography of the Georgian land was not dissimilar to what MacKenzie had encountered in Derbyshire.

At first glance, it isn't obviously ideal for golf and yet MacKenzie emphatically proves otherwise. In fact, this moorland course provided a canvas for MacKenzie to show his genius – the greens in particular are draped over the landscape with such sympathy, yet are also the course's primary line of defence. Measuring well under 6,000 yards, yet at the mercy of the vicissitudes of Mother Nature in this unforgiving landscape, you will find yourself in for a tough day out in the Peak District. 

Cavendish may start modestly with a pair of short back-and-forth par 4s but very quickly gathers pace. In fact, the opening three holes are a good chance to get under par early. All three are straight and short, with not much danger. The 3rd is the easiest hole by Stroke Index, measuring just 285 yards off the tee – making it drivable for some! 

As early as the 4th, a dramatic short hole played downhill and over water, there is the sense of something special. It is a great test of club selection and accuracy, despite only being 120 yards. The 5th green, standing proudly above the fairway, is further proof, at the end of the hardest hole on the property. Thereafter come any number of MacKenzie's trademark design twirls and you can only admire the maestro's knack for combining generous fairways with incredibly demanding angles of approach should you not pay due attention – or possess the requisite expertise – to the tee shot. 

The 6th is another tricky par 4, dog-legging slightly to the right as you get towards the green, which is surrounded by trees and sand. The 7th is another birdie opportunity at just 312 yards, and with a very generous fairway. If you can survive the tough 8th, you come to the second short hole at Cavendish, the last on the front nine. 9 is another very short hole, at less than 140 yards, and played to a large, round green, which has just a pair of trees to the left and a bunker in front to avoid. 

Perhaps the 10th leaves the strongest memory – a long par 4 that swings gracefully to the left and then calls for a challenging approach over rocky territory to the green. The trick here is to drive long and left – further left than you might think – to bring the green within some kind of range. 11 is another dog-leg left, but this time requiring a straight tee shot before you get to the turn. It then travels across a stream to get to the green. The 12th is a gentle par 4, before the 13th – the longest par 3 on the card at 185 yards from the tips. The green is kidney-shaped, and angled diagonally away from you, making it difficult to find with a long iron. 

The closing stretch begins with the only par 5 at Cavendish – the 14th. It plays as a strong dog-leg around the boundary of the property, with anything left off the tee pushing out of bounds. If you can find the fairway, the green might be in reach in two, but again, anything pulled left will be in danger. 15 is the shortest hole on the course at just 116 yards, and one of two par 3s in the final four. The other comes at 17, with the long par 4 16th in between. Five greenside bunkers protect the putting surface, with anything long of the green in danger of finding the stream. 

Cavendish's closing hole is pretty special too. Again, the angles are not obvious with an outrageously uneven fairway distracting from the real challenge of playing right off the tee – but not too far right – to give yourself a realistic chance of attacking the green. It is a dog-leg right , with the green sitting next to the clubhouse and car park. Find the fairway and you do have one final chance at putting a circle on the card, but it is not an easy one. 

Sean Arble: Can golf get any better than this for the price?  Does golf need to be any better than this at any price?

Steve Carroll: MacKenzie at his quirkiest. The greens are a joy to play

Greg Webber: Sits neatly in the natural terrain and has a fabulous set of greens complexes. A serious golf course but still a fun place to play

Read more about our panellists here.

Where is Cavendish Golf Club located?  

Cavendish Golf Club is situated in the Peak District, with sits just south of both Manchester and Sheffield. It is located in the county of Derbyshire, with those two major cities both being around an hour from the golf club in their respective directions. Cavendish sits just outside the town of Buxton, with the A53 and A6 both nearby to provide good road links. 

Buxton Train Station is just a mile from Cavendish Golf Club, with the station sitting on the end of a line from Manchester Piccadilly. Trains run in both directions, to and from Buxton, every hour. For international visitors to the region, Manchester Airport is just 20 miles to the northwest of Cavendish, and it is the busiest airport in the country outside of London. 

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?  

Cavendish may be the only golfing venue on the NCG Top 100s: England to be located in the Peak District, but there are still over venues on the list within close order. Prestbury is the closest, just 15 miles to the west. The likes of the JCB Golf & Country Club, Sherwood Forest, Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell) and Lindrick are within a 90-minute drive from the Derbyshire club. 

What golf facilities does Cavendish Golf Club offer?  

Along with the glorious moorland golf course, Cavendish also has some decent practice facilities to offer both members and guests alike. There is a small Piccolo Course, along with a short game area and putting green. The club also has a Swing Room indoors, with the option to undertake a lesson if you fancy it.  

What are the green fees at Cavendish Golf Club?  

The price of a green fee at Cavendish Golf Club changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. 

For more information on current green fees at Cavendish, visit their website here.