Coventry

One of a number of cracking parkland courses in the West Midlands, Coventry is one of the most aesthetically pleasing.

Founded in 1887, the club moved to its current location at Finham 25 years later, having spent the first period of its history at Whitley Common.

Tom Vardon was the designer of the new layout, which remains almost unchanged to this day. The course played host to the European Tour for four years in the 1970s.

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The club was originally founded in 1887, with the course laid out at Whitley Common, where the club would call home for 25 years.

The club moved to its current location at Finham in 1912, with Tom Vardon – the brother of Harry – designing the new layout. Harry, alongside James Braid, officially opened the course with an exhibition match.

Coventry played host to the European Tour in the 1970s, as the host of the annual Piccadilly Medal. Peter Oosterhuis, Maurice Bembridge, Bob Shearer and Sam Torrance were the four men to win the event at the West Midlands venue.

Coventry Golf Club is best described as a mature parkland course, with plenty of tree-lined fairways to give the layout a very attractive look. There are subtle undulations to the course, and most holes run either northwest or southeast, so you should get a feel for the wind early on, and then use that to your advantage for the rest of the day. Coventry is a par 73 track, one which has five par 5s. Despite that, off the back tees, the course remains shorter than 6,600 yards.

The opening hole is the first of those par 5s, and at 482 yards from the tips, it is one where most will fancy their chances of getting home in two. However, with the tee shot being your first swing in anger of the day, who knows what might happen...? The next three are all par 4s, and very different challenges. 2 is a dog-leg left, and one that requires a tee shot down the right side of the fairway, so you have a view of the green with your second shot. The 3rd is only 330 yards, and has a generous fairway. This is a real birdie chance early on! The 4th is the hardest hole on the front nine, thanks a narrow landing zone and with out of bounds down the entirety of the left side.

The first of the quartet of short holes comes at the 5th. At 180 yards, and with a bunker on either side of the green, club selection is crucial. 6 is a long par 5, and a three-shotter for most. It is narrow, though there is some space to the right of the fairway for any drives that are pushed away from the trouble on the left. Avoid the bunker in the centre of the fairway with your lay up and you will have just a wedge into the green. The 7th is the shortest hole on the property, at less than 150 yards.

A pair of par 4s bring the front side at Coventry to a close. The fairway on 8 gets narrower the further down you hit your tee shot, and that needs to find the left side of the fairway to have a view of the green. The 9th is just 325 yards, providing a good birdie opportunity. There are three bunkers by the green, along with trees all around the putting surface. Like the front side, the back nine also begins with a short par 5. The 10th is just a yard longer than the opener, and it is an arrow straight hole. Find the fairway, and there’s a chance of reaching in two. The green is the longest on the property, so make sure to find the right section with your approach, whether it is your second or third.

Although only 392 yards, the 11th is one of the more difficult holes on the course. A bit like the 8th, it is a dog-leg right, and a hole where the fairway pinches in the further you get down there. The left side must be found to see the green with your approach. 12 turns the other way, and there are two bunkers on the right side of the fairway, in the perfect spot for any drives that have been kept well away from the thick trees running down the left side. 13 is another par 5 below 500 yards, and if you can avoid the singular fairway bunker down the right side. Trees surround the putting surface, along with a greenside bunker to the front right of the surface.

The finishing stretch throws up some of the toughest holes on the course, none more so that the Stroke Index 1 at the 14th. A sharp dog-leg right, the drive must clear the bunker on the inside corner to give you a view of the green. Three bunkers surround the putting surface, for that added difficulty. 15 is the longest of the par 3s, pushing up to 220 yards from the tips, and with trees all around the surface. 16 is the longest hole on the course at more than 540 yards. Most will require three shots to get home, with thick trees running down either side of the hole.

You get one more par 3 before you finish. That comes at the penultimate hole, and it is a 190-yard challenge. The green is long and there are plenty of possible pin positions on the 17th. Coventry’s closing hole might only be 370 yards and arrow-straight, but it is very narrow. Trees line both sides, as they have throughout the course so far, and the green is guarded by a single bunker to the front left of it.

Where is Coventry Golf Club located?

As you might expect, the venue is just outside the city of Coventry. It sits to the south of the city, with the A46 running past the western boundary of the property. The A45 which runs around the south side of Coventry, it just north of the course as well. The M6, M42 and M40 are all within just a few miles of the golf club as well, providing great transport links. The centre of Birmingham, England’s ‘Second City’, is just 20 miles from the venue.

Coventry Train Station is just a couple of miles from the golf club, with services running via Coventry to London Euston, Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly and Bournemouth among other destinations. Birmingham Airport is only 12 miles from Coventry Golf Club, and it is one of the busiest airports in the United Kingdom, outside of the English capital. East Midlands Airport is also within 50 miles from Coventry.

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

There are several stunning golf courses in the West Midlands, with most of those around the city of Birmingham. Copt Heath and Blackwell, to the south of the city, are the closest venues to Coventry, with the likes of Sutton Coldfield, Little Aston and The Belfry’s Brabazon Course also within an hour’s drive.

What golf facilities does Coventry Golf Club offer?

Along with the cracking championship layout, Coventry also has a great set of practice facilities to offers its members and guests alike. There is a driving range and nets to allow for golfers to warm up their swings, while the short game area and the putting green allow for practice on the final touches before taking to the course.

What are the green fees at Coventry Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Coventry Golf Club 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 Coventry Golf Club, visit their website here.