Help the course that inspired Augusta survive coronavirus

The golf course that’s credited with providing the inspiration for Augusta National is at risk of falling victim to coronavirus.

A ‘Save Cavendish Golf Club’ campaign has been launched on Crowdfunder – with club chiefs appealing to “raise £25,000 to sustain the club through this difficult time”.

Explaining their plight, the Derbyshire-based layout say “Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the club with the closure of the clubhouse and the cancellation of all spring parties.

“The disruption to golf is likely to continue well into the summer. Throughout this period, even without revenue coming in we have still had to maintain the facility, so that when the restrictions end, we do have a course to play.”

Hailed as one of the world’s great short courses, Cavendish was the work of legendary architect Dr Alister MacKenzie, who also designed Cypress Point, Royal Melbourne and, most notably, Augusta National.

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Cavendish’s sloping greens, elevation changes and demands on accuracy have often drawn comparisons with the famous home of the Masters.

Last month, NCG reported how architect Jonathan Gaunt – a member of the club’s greens committee – was putting in place a multi-year masterplan to restore lost contours, views and shapes in the run up to the centenary in 2025.

Now Cavendish, which ranked 55th in NCG’s list of top 100 courses in England, are appealing for donations to see them through lockdown.

The club have already passed £5,000 in barely 36 hours but the nature of Crowdfunder means the club’s project will only be funded if at least £25,000 is pledged by June 2.

Ben Pritchard, the club’s head of marketing, said: “We’re dealing with all the financial difficulty that will be faced any club in this situation – six weeks of no business.

“We had two open competitions that were fully booked and the income from those has been lost as well as revenue from the start of the golf season. It has hit us quite hard.”

A £30 donation will see the benefactor given a voucher for a round of golf (a discount of £15 on green fee prices), while £100 means a voucher for a fourball and the donor’s name engraved on the club’s ‘Supporter’s Wall’.

Amounts can range all the way up to £5,000, which will see the club hold a competition in that person’s name or business, and receive 50 places, as well as a club goodie bag and a prominent place on the Supporter’s Wall.

Pritchard added the club were keen to ensure anyone who donated was given something back for their money and continued: “It’s an all or nothing campaign. Unless we hit that target, we won’t get a penny. We wanted to encourage someone to get something out of it.

“It’s a difficult time for everyone, not just for Cavendish, and people [who help] are going to be rewarded.”

To donate to Cavendish, and help them hit their target, visit Crowdfunder.

Have you played Cavendish? Let me know in the comments what you thought of it, or tweet me.

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