Play the Mackenzie Trail

Nine courses created by Augusta’s designer have joined forces to celebrate his work

Augusta, Cypress Point, Royal Melbourne... Alister Mackenzie was responsible for designing them all, as well as many less famous venues closer to home. Now, some of them have joined forces to create the new Mackenzie Trail.

There’s nine venues on the Trail, all within 60 miles of each other. And, as Mackenzie himself would have approved, they are all accessible and affordable – you can play each one for less than £50. Play them all and you’ll even receive a certificate.

All the courses opened between 1912 and 1928 – Walsall was the last course he designed before he moved to the USA to continue his career – and each is a member of the Alister Mackenzie Society of GB&I. A spokesman told us: “The idea came from visitors who played at Cavendish (in Derbyshire) and enjoyed it so much, they then asked if there were any other Mackenzie courses in the area we could recommend.”

So what can you expect from these courses? Well, many show off the Mackenzie design traits he took to Augusta, such as big bunkers, a nice variety of pars and the use of natural slopes on and around the greens. But all offer a warm welcome and great round.