Buxton & High Peak

Buxton & High Peak Golf Club was founded in 1887 after Jack Morris, the nephew of Old Tom Morris and professional at Hoylake, had set out a 9-hole course on Fairfield Common the previous year. The course was then doubled in size during 1893.

Jack Simpson, the Open champion who had won the event at Prestwick in 1884, was appointed as the club’s first professional but it took a little more time to establish a clubhouse, with this building not appearing until 1905.

Nowadays, the layout extends to 5,993 yards from the back tees, playing to a par of 69. There are only two par fives, one on each half, and three of the holes (#8 to #10) are played on a separate compartment on the other side of the A6 road, on the site of the old racecourse.

Highlight holes include the first of the par threes at the 168-yard 3rd, where the green is protected by no fewer than six small bunkers, and the right doglegging 454-yard 11th, rated stroke index 1 on the scorecard and easily the toughest test on this delightful track.