Copt Heath

Copt Heath is one of a cluster of golf courses in the West Midlands to have a spot on the NCG Top 100s: England list, located just south of Birmingham.

Harry Vardon and Harry Colt are the two men to have designed layouts at Copt Heath, with the latter’s 18-hole course remaining almost unchanged since 1913. The course plays host to the McEvoy Trophy each year, having done so for more than four decades.

The course might be flat, but there is plenty of variety when it comes to its 18 holes, and the bunkering will give you nightmares at times.

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The history of Copt Heath Golf Club dates back to 1908. The club was founded by Alfred Lovekin, who owned the land that the course sits on.

After originally starting life as a 9-holer, Harry Vardon was brought in to extend the course to 18 holes. 1913 saw Harry Colt, arguably the greatest golf course designer in history, redesign the layout at Copt Heath, and his course has remained almost unchanged ever since.

The club is the home of the annual McEvoy Trophy, and has been since its inception in 1981. Named after Peter McEvoy, a two-time winner of the Amateur Championship, the 72-hole boys amateur tournament takes place every spring. Peter Baker, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose are just some of the big names to have won the McEvoy Trophy in the past.

Copt Heath is relatively flat, but there is plenty of trouble around to keep you on your toes. Almost 100 bunkers line the fairways and greens, while the course has long been renowned for its conditioning. From the moment you wander out towards the first tee it is apparent that you are in a golfing playground. It's essentially a flat parcel of land, and there is very little rough. You might think it would lack variety but that is simply not the case. I guess you can thank the designer for that, allied to the presentation of the course. From the back tees, Copt Heath plays at 6,540 yards, so it is not the easiest track in the world, and there are some glorious holes that you will encounter on your walk round.

A pair of tough par 4s get you on your way at Copt Heath, both of which are at least 440 yards in length. The 1st is tight, with three fairway bunkers on the right encroaching into the short stuff. Three more by the green make it a tricky opening hole. The second plays as a slight dog-leg right, with your tee shot being hit through a narrow funnel of trees. The hole opens out slightly towards the green, but three more sand traps lie in wait of anything wayward. The 3rd is the first of the par 3s at Copt Heath, and at 193 yards, it is also the longest. Four large bunkers will take your eye, but the green is large enough to be found with even a long iron. Although tight, the 4th is a gentle hole at just 360 yards. Driver might not necessarily be the play, especially with the thick trees, and out of bounds beyond that, on the right.

The 5th is a lovely Colt short hole. The design theory is of a very short par 3 with an oversize green that is severely contoured so that the green is effectively partitioned off. Finding the green is relatively straightforward but if you want to have a look at a two, and take a three-putt out of the equation, then you need to find the right portion. It is followed by the hardest hole on the property, the par 4 6th. Another slight dog-leg right, the fairway narrows the further you hit your drive, so accuracy is the key over distance. The putting surface is guarded once again, with trees as part of its defences as well as sand.

The 7th is the first of just two par 5s on the course, and at only 485 yards, this is a definite birdie chance. The drive is down the right side of the fairway if you want to give yourself a chance at reaching the green in two, otherwise you will be blocked out by the copse of trees on the left. Five large bunkers are in play for those laying up, but the green is inviting. The 8th is another scoring opportunity at just 336 yards. One of the more generous fairways on the course lies in front of you, and it only requires a long iron or hybrid off the tee. The final hole on the front nine is a tougher par 4, but again with a good drive, this could be another chance. Just shy of 400 yards, and with a bunker on either side of the fairway, the tee shot must be straight. The green is large, and of course, guarded by sand.

The back nine begins with a trio of par 4s, all of which have different challenges. The 10th is the shortest of those on the card, but might feel like the longest due to the sharp dog-leg left. The tee shot must be played out to the right to give yourself a chance of seeing the green. 11 is arrow straight, with a cross bunker 25 yards short of the green, so anyone looking to run it up to the putting surface will have to think twice. 12 is a slight dog-leg right, with a large tree in the centre of the fairway. Avoid that, and the two obligatory fairway bunkers, and you can take the green on. The 13th is the only par 3 on the back nine. At 167 yards, it is a mid-to-long iron for most, with a green flanked by four bunkers on its left and two large trees on its right.

The 14th provides another good birdie chance before you get into the tricky closing stretch at Copt Heath. At just 320 yards, the play is a long iron or fairway wood to the wide part of the fairway, leaving yourself with a wedge in hand for your approach. You must be accurate with your shot to the green, though, as there are five bunkers, including a huge cross bunker in front of the putting surface, awaiting anything mishit. The longest hole on the property is the 15th, at 540 yards. The last par 5 on the course plays as a dog-leg right, and this will be a three-shotter for the majority of golfers.

At 440 yards, the par 4 16th is one of the toughest holes on the course. A high draw with your driver is the play (if you can) off the tee. Three fairway bunkers sit somewhat on their own, but they pinch the fairway width in. The penultimate hole has a wide fairway, but the green is then guarded with five bunkers. The 18th is the easiest hole on the property, according to the Stroke Index. It is just 332 yards from the tips, and gives golfers on final chance to put a circle on their card. There are five fairway bunkers, but if you can avoid those, it should be no more than a flick of a wedge to find the putting surface. A cracking way to finish, especially if you need a score!

Where is Copt Heath located?

Copt Heath is located to the southeast of Birmingham in the West Midlands. It is just outside the town of Knowle, with the M42 running past the western boundary of the course. The centre of Birmingham is only ten miles by road, with Coventry even closer to the east of Copt Heath.

Solihull and Widney Manor are the two closest train stations to the venue, both within three miles. The former is the larger of the two stations, with trains running through Solihull to Birmingham Moor Street, Stratford-upon-Avon and London Marylebone among other destinations. International travellers will most likely fly into Birmingham Airport, which is just six miles to the north of Copt Heath. East Midlands Airport is also within an hour’s drive, 40 miles to the northeast.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?

Copt Heath is one of several golfing venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list that is based in and around Birmingham. Blackwell, Little Aston, Sutton Coldfield, Enville (Highgate), Beau Desert and the Brabazon Course at The Belfry are all within an hour’s drive from Copt Heath.

What golf facilities does Copt Heath offer?

Along with the golf course, Copt Heath is also the home to a full-length driving range. The practice facilities also include a short game area with practice bunkers and a putting green, along with an indoor swing studio which can be booked.

What are the green fees at Copt Heath?

The price of a green fee at Copt Heath changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Copt Heath visit their website here.

Visit the Copt Heath website here.

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