Enville (Highgate)

The Highgate is one of two courses at Enville Golf Club, which is situated to the west of Birmingham in the West Midlands.

As part of a 36-hole complex, the Highgate features both heathland and woodland holes, providing golfers with the best of both worlds during their round.

The routing for the two courses was decided in the 1980s after it was extended to 36, some five decades after the original nine holes had been laid out at Enville.

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The history of Enville Golf Club dates back to the period between the two World Wars. The golf club was founded in 1935, and began life as a 9-hole course.

Alf Padgham designed the first nine with Arthur Wrigglesworth adding five more before Horace Lewis took the course up to 18 holes just three years after the club had originally opened.

Frank Pennink created a further nine holes before member and professional Ron Hinton took it up to the 36 holes Enville offers today. The 36 holes were then rerouted into the Highgate and Lodge Courses, which remain as they are today.

There are not many half-heathland, half-woodland courses around, especially not in the West Midlands, but both courses at Enville Golf Club have managed to encompass both parts into their 18-hole layouts. With six heathland holes to start, and two more at the end, sandwiching a run of woodland holes, the Highgate Course gives golfers the best of both worlds. Don’t be fooled though, at 6,700 yards, this is no easy track, with two par 3s of more than 200 yards, and par 5s to start and end both nines.

The opening hole on the Highgate Course is a nice gentle opener. A par 5 of just 472 yards, this is a good scoring opportunity to get you underway. Avoid the bunkers down the left side and you might fancy your chances of taking on the green in two. The 2nd is the opening par 3, and at 214 yards, one of the toughest. A bunker on either side of the green, along with a row of trees behind the putting surface, add to the difficulties. You have to wait until the 3rd before you come to the first par 4, and it is a tricky on. Despite only being 315 yards, it is a tee shot played over a long run of heather, to a sharp dog-leg left.

The 4th turns the opposite way to the 3rd, and features a large bunker on the inside corner of the fairway, so make sure you know how far it is to cover that trap if you’re taking it on. A cross bunker 30 yards from the green causes another hazard to those who run the ball up the green. A kidney-shaped green is your target on the par 3 5th, with four bunkers surrounding the surface. The 6th is then the hardest hole on the property, the Stroke Index 1. At 450 yards, it is the longest par 4 on the course, and one where some will require three shots to reach the green. The putting surface itself is guarded two bunkers, one on either side, just to make it that bit more tricky.

Some respite comes at the 7th, a 325-yard par 4 with one of the wider fairways on the course. A large bunker sits in front of the green, along with one to the right, but with a good drive, it should be no more than a flick of a wedge into the putting surface. There is a split fairway on the 8th, so you cannot hit your tee shot too far otherwise it might get caught up in the thick rough which dissects the short stuff. The last hole on the front nine is one of the longest you will find on the NCG Top 100s: England list, with the Highgate’s 9th coming in at 596 yards from the tips. It is a true three-shotter, with a double dog-leg to the right. There are no bunkers, but the fairway is lined with trees on both sides. It requires three very good shots to get home.

The 9th makes the 10th look small, but it is still more than 500 yards, and the second of the back-to-back par 5s around the turn. Bending the other way, round to the left, the green is guarded by trees and a pair of sand traps. Despite being tree-lined, the 11th fairway is relatively wide, while the green is tucked away. You then come to the two toughest holes on the back nine at 12 and 13. The former is a slight dog-leg right, with the fairway angling away from you. To reach the green in two, the tee shot has to find the right side of the fairway, otherwise the trees that encroach on the left will block out your view. The 13th is 445 yards in length, and another slight dog-leg to the right. With OOB down its left side, and thick trees lining both sides of the fairway, this is a very tricky prospect. If you can come away from these two holes with two pars (either gross or nett), then you’re through to the closing stretch.

The Stroke Index 18, and the shortest hole on the course, comes at the 14th. It is just 156 yards, and is played to a large putting surface. 15 is a wide par 4 which allows to you to have a swipe with driver if you’re feeling confident. The green is peanut-shaped, and has just the one bunker to its right. The 16th is the longest par 3 on the course at 215 yards and played over water. However, the water ends some 40 yards shy of the green, so there is space if you come up slightly short.

The penultimate hole on the Highgate is a tricky dog-leg right with three fairway bunkers, and a green tucked away by the road. It also sees your return to heathland golf for the final two holes of your round. The closing hole starts from the very corner of the road, and it is a tough dog-leg left par 5. At 512 yards, it is not the longest hole, but the dog-leg makes it tougher. There is a bunker on the left side of the fairway, the inside corner of the turn, while the large green is guarded by three bunkers and a standalone tree which is almost on the surface itself.

Craig Redston: The better conditioned of the two Enville courses. Probably more parkland than heathland

Dan Murphy: From the perspective of an outsider, I would love to see a composite course made up of the heathland holes from both the Highgate and the Lodge. I do appreciate it would be a little on the short side but I can’t say that would bother me in the slightest

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Where is Enville Golf Club located?

Enville Golf Club is located to the west of Birmingham, just outside the towns of Stourbridge and Dudley, in the West Midlands. The centre of Birmingham – England's second city – is less than 20 miles to the east of the venue. The A449 and A458 run either side of the golf club, with the M6 and M54 also both in close order to Enville.

Stourbridge Town and Stourbridge Junction are the two closest train stations to Enville Golf Club, both around seven miles to the southwest by road. The former runs trains to and from the latter, with Stourbridge Junction operating services to Kidderminster, Stratford-upon-Avon and Worcester, among other destinations. Birmingham Airport, which sits on the opposite side of the city, is around 30 miles from Enville Golf Club. Manchester Airport and Liverpool John Lennon Airport are both within a two-hour drive to the north, with East Midlands Airport a similar drive to the east.

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

The Highgate Course at Enville Golf Club is one of several venues on the NCG Top 100s: England to be situated within the vicinity of Birmingham. Blackwell, Beau Desert, Little Aston, Sutton Coldfield and the Brabazon Course at The Belfry are all within an hour or so from Enville.

What golf facilities does Enville Golf Club offer?

Not only is there the Highgate Course, but Enville Golf Club is also home to the Lodge Course as well, providing members and guests alike with 36 holes of golf.

Away from the two golf courses, Enville is also the home to a full-length driving range with both matted and turf tees, along with three short game practice areas to give the opportunity for plenty of golfers to hone their skills at the same time. There is a putting green by the opening tee box of the Highgate Course.

What are the green fees at Enville Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Enville 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 Enville, visit their website here.