Derbyshire has numerous golf courses, which speaks to the sport’s popularity in the county. However, deciding on which golf club to join can be daunting with so many options available.
What follows is an introduction to the best golf courses Derbyshire has to offer. All the golf courses listed below are accessible to members and visitors, so you can confidently plan a golf holiday with Derbyshire in mind. Read on for more information.
Cavendish Golf Club
Watford Road, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6XF
Green Fees From £40
Situated in Buxton, Derbyshire, Cavendish Golf Club opened in 1925. Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire, from whom the course gets its name, commissioned its construction on land owned by his family.
The Duke commissioned Dr Alister Mackenzie to design the golf course in 1923. After designing Cavendish Golf Club, Mackenzie became a world-renowned golf course designer, with his most recognisable work being the Augusta National Golf Course that hosts The Masters annually. Consequently, there are several holes at the Cavendish that resemble those at Augusta.
The length of the course is 5,721 yards, and one of the best layouts for a golf course of under 6,000 yards. Its design takes advantage of its location in the Peak District and has gentle slopes that challenge players.
Though initially a moorland-style golf course, redesigns in the 1990s that included the planting of native trees have transformed the course into a blend of a moorland /parkland-style golf course. The uniqueness of the course has contributed to critics ranking it among the top 100 golf courses in the UK.
Buxton & High Peak Golf Club
27 Town End, Fairfield, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 7EN
Green Fees From £25
Buxton and High Peak Golf Club is the older of the two golf courses in Buxton, the other being Cavendish Golf Club. Founded in 1887, Buxton and High Peak is the oldest golf course in Buxton and one of the oldest Derbyshire golf clubs.
Buxton and High Peak was initially a 9-hole golf course designed by John Morris before its expansion to an 18-hole course in 1893. The club’s first professional was Open Champion Jack Simpson.
Today the club is a 5,993-yard, par 69 golf course that players and critics have described as an inland links-style course evident at the 4th, 5th, and 6th hole. Other unique features at the course include a 1st hole surrounded by several bunkers that help kick off an exciting round of golf.
Burton-On-Trent Golf Club
43 Ashby Road E, Bretby, Burton-On-Trent DE15 0PS
Green Fees From £20
Founded in 1894, Burton-On-Trent sits on 150 acres of woodland that help create a parkland-style golf course. Much of the course has maintained its appearance throughout its 128-year history, except for a redesign of the mature course in 1914 spearheaded by Harry Colt.
The course consists of 6,510 yards which tests players as three of the four par three holes are uphill. Therefore, the club offers golfers some of the more challenging tests in the Midlands area, making it one of the best golf courses in Derbyshire.
Kedleston Park Golf Club
Green Fees From £70
Construction of the Kedleston Park Golf Club began after the end of the Second World War in the 1940s and opened in 1947. James Braid, a renowned golfer in the early 1900s and 5-time Open Champion, provided designs for the initial golf course. However, he was unable to fulfil his vision because of the war.
After the war, John Morrison, a partner to Harry Colt at the Colt, Alison and Morrison architecture firm, helped redesign the golf course based on Braid’s initial plans. The result was a 7026-yard, par 72 golf course set on 155 acres of parkland.
The course has undergone reconstruction to improve the greens to USGA standards and also benefited from a bunker redesign conducted by Mackenzie and Ebert. Today, the course has five sets of tees, with the opening hole being a par five that drops from a high point through trees onto the greens.
Erewash Valley Golf Club
Golf Club Rd, Stanton by Dale, Ilkeston DE7 4QR
Greens Fees From £30
Erewash Valley Golf Club began in 1905 as a 9-hole golf course before its expansion into an 18-hole course two years later. Portions of the club became farmland during World War I, which disrupted the land and contributed to the club’s president Charles Crompton donating 108 acres to the club in 1920 to facilitate its development.
The course received several redesigns, the most significant being in the 1960s when construction of the M1 highway began and disrupted the original flow of the course. Today, the club consists of a 6,448-yard, par 72 golf course and a 16-acre facility set on 165 acres that also includes quarry holes.
Chevin Golf Club
Golf Ln, Duffield, Belper DE56 4EE
Green Fees From £25
Chevin Golf Club traces its beginnings to 1894 as a 9-hole golf course designed by William Lowe. An exhibition march between James Braid and Tom Williamson marked the course’s official opening.
Today, Chevin is an 18-hole par 72 course measuring over 6,000 yards that incorporates a mix of parkland and moorland-style layouts. Set in the Amber Valley, the course includes Chevin Ridge in its design resulting in a friendly golf course with magnificent area views. All of this makes it one of the best Derbyshire golf courses.
Matlock Golf Club
Moor, Chesterfield Rd, Matlock DE4 5LZ
Green Fees From £25
The groundbreaking for Matlock Golf Club happened in 1906, and construction went on under the guidance of Tom Williamson until its official opening in 1907. The golf course at the edge of Peak District National Park is 850 feet above sea level and provides sweeping views of the surrounding lands, including Derwent Valley.
The golf course has a moorland layout and an 18-hole par 70 course measuring 6,091 yards that include wide fairways surrounded by magnificent trees. Given it is shorter than most courses, Matlock compensates for what it lacks in length by demanding better accuracy from golfers. For instance, the par four holes are pretty challenging, as are some par three holes like the tenth hole. Overall, Matlock is an enjoyable course situated in a scenic location.
Final Thoughts
There are numerous Derbyshire golf courses with packages for residents and visitors alike. However, the highlighted ones are golf courses Derbyshire residents and visitors love. They are some of the best in the region and the country, and are worth a visit if you happen to be in the area. Set time aside and visit any of the above-listed courses for an afternoon golfing session.