Whittington Heath

There aren’t many courses in the land that have had disruption due to the introduction of HS2 – Whittington Heath is one, but it continues to thrive.

With its history dating back the late 19th Century, and the 18-hole layout was designed by the great Harry Colt in the 1920s. However, in recent years, new holes have had to be designed and the opening five have a different feel to the rest of the course.

However, Jonathan Gaunt’s holes also make it feel like two different courses in one, and that in itself provides a different range of challenges to make it an exciting round at Whittington.

Visit the Whittington Heath website here. 

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1886 saw the founding of the golf club, with the original layout – only a few holes – being set out on Whittington Heath itself. It was known as Whittington Barracks Golf Club, and was only open to military personnel in its early days.

The great Harry Colt was brought in during the mid-1920s. He remodelled the existing layout and extended it to 18 holes, opening in 1927.

The introduction and the proposed route of HS2 – the high-speed rail link between Birmingham and London – runs through the club, so new land has been purchased in recent years. Jonathan Gaunt has since added five new holes to return the course to its full complement once more.

What was once a heath is now almost uninterrupted woodland. There are undeniably attractive tree-lined fairways and plenty of bunkers, especially in the recently added holes by Gaunt. The short holes here are a particularly impressive collection – 172, 184, 144 and 207 yards respectively and a pleasing contrast in their direction of play and nature. There are also some subtle changes of elevation here that add great interest to several holes without being dramatic. Following the recent changes, Whittington Heath now runs to more than 6,600 yards and plays as a par 71, making it a tough test.

It is a difficult start at this West Midlands venue. The opening par 4 is 415 yards from the tips and the Stroke Index 4. It plays as a dog-leg left and with three bunkers in the landing zone for your opening tee shot. The green is also protected by one more trap. The tough opener is followed by the easiest hole on the course. The par 5 2nd is only 515 yards, and although it plays to the right with two bunkers in play off the tee, even if you find those, there is still a good chance of laying up and then knocking it close with your third shot. As early as the 3rd, you will have worked out that avoiding sand off the tee is vital. Three more bunkers are in the landing zone off the 3rd tee, with a further two sitting in front of the long and deep green.

The 4th is the Stroke Index 2. It’s a par 3. It is 197 yards but plays shorter because of the drop in elevation from the tee to the putting surface. Five bunkers guard the green, and will certainly catch your eye. The 5th is the last of the new holes that Gaunt designed, and once again, there are three bunkers in the landing zone of this dog-leg long par 5. In total, there are seven sand traps, with the green being shallow and wide. Going for it in two might not be in the best of your interests.

The 6th is the start of the woodland holes, and it plays as a dog-leg left. Avoid the heather and the trees, and you will have a shot at this long green that slopes from back to front. 7 is the signature hole at Whittington Heath. A par 3 that can be anywhere from 145 to 185 yards, depending on where the flag is, this long and narrow green is guarded by five bunkers, while the heather on the right of the tee provides a glorious view. Driver is not necessarily the play on the 360-yard 8th hole, as staying out of the bunkers is the key. Once again, it is a long and narrow green to find, this time with drop-offs on the right side. The last hole on the front nine is a dog-leg right. At 370 yards, the aim is to get it into play and on the fairway, shy of the two bunkers. From there, either be short or long, but don’t miss on either side if you want to make par...

At 405 yards, and narrower than most of what you have encountered so far, the 10th is the start to a tricky back nine at Whittington Heath. The green sits on a diagonal angle from the fairway, with a longer carry to the left side over the bunker. Bear that in mind when choosing your club for the approach. 11 is the shortest hole on the course at just 140 yards. Four bunkers protect the surface. The 12th is the Stroke Index 1, and features plumes of purple heather down both sides. Don’t let that distract you, though, as this 445-yard par 4 requires two strong shots to get home. There is a little bit of space left, but anything right off the fairway will be in trouble. 13 is the longest of the four par 3s at Whittington, pushing past the 200-yard barrier. OOB is on the right but that should not come into play. The three bunkers around the surface do, however...

14 is a long par-4 that flows downhill and to the right, heather lining the fairway. This green is one of the most treacherous on the property, so enjoy a two-putt and move on. The 15th is another strong par 4, with another well-positioned fairway bunker on its left side. Three bunkers protect the green, but you can run your approach up the front edge. The 16th is entirely downhill, making it feel shorter than its 352 yards. The green continues to slope away from your, so landing your approach slightly short and letting it roll on might be your best option. 17 then takes you back uphill, paying more than its 520 yards on the card. Again, avoiding the fairway bunkers is key to making par, or even birdie on the penultimate hole. Whittington Heath comes to a conclusion with the longest par 4 on the course. The 18th is 470 yards from the tips and with OOB down the right to make it even more tricky. Even a 5 on here is a good score to finish your round.

Where is Whittington Heath located?

Whittington Heath is situated in the West Midlands, and sits between the towns of Lichfield and Tamworth in the county of Staffordshire. The venue is less than 20 miles to the north of Birmingham, with Wolverhampton, Coventry and Leciester all within 40 miles as well. Both the M42 and the M6 Toll Road run close by Whittington Heath, along with the A38.

Both Lichfield City Station and Lichfield Trent Valley Station are within a few miles of Whittington Heath. The latter has a wider range of services, with destinations including Holyhead, Birmingham New Street, Crewe, Wrexham and London Euston. Thanks to its proximity to the city itself, Whittington Heath is only 20 miles north of Birmingham Airport for international visitors to the West Midlands. East Midlands Airport is also within 30 miles, while Manchester Airport is 75 miles north.

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

The West Midlands has some amazing golf courses, plenty of which are on the NCG Top 100s: England list. Little Aston, Sutton Coldfield, Beau Desert and the Brabazon Course at The Belfry are all within 15 miles of Whittington Heath.

What golf facilities does Whittington Heath offer?

Whittington Heath Golf Club has some stunning practice facilities. The driving range, located to the side of the opening hole, is 270 yards long and has both grass and matted tees. There is also a short game area which has two greenside bunkers to practice from, while there are two putting greens – one next to the 1st tee and one by the clubhouse.

What are the green fees at Whittington Heath?

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