Hope Valley

Host venue for the short-lived Durham Open when Byron Nelson won the fourth of his eleven consecutive PGA victories in 1945, Hope Valley Country Club was formed in 1926 and it's home to a Donald Ross layout, where the architect not only set out the routing for the fairways, he also visited the property on a number of occasions during the build to make sure his plans were being followed exactly as specified.

In fairness, the course has been modified a number of times since it was first laid out. Perry Maxwell redesigned several holes in the late 1930s and then both Dan Maples and John La Foy were subsequently called in at different times to alter the layout. New millennium improvements have since been carried out by Brian Silva, when all the tees and greens were rebuilt and bunkers were restored to their original appearance.

Today, the course stretches to a modest 6,692 yards, playing to a par of 70. Feature holes include short par fours at the 7th and 13th, with both the par fives at holes 8 and 15 offering a good chance of picking up a birdie. A round at Hope Valley concludes on a hole where a lot can happen – a long, uphill par three playing to a false-fronted home green that rarely ever yields a closing birdie.