Tamworth Rd,
Lichfield, Staffordshire WS14 9PW
Office
+44 (0)1543 432 317Pro shop
+44 (0)1543 432 261Fax
+44 (0)1543 433 962Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Mike Raj (Head PGA Professional)The Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined and open heathland. Gently undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Woodland and open rural countryside.
Designer:
Current design by English course architect Harry Colt (1927). Five new holes (1 thru' 5) added by Jonathan Gaunt (2022) replacing holes lost to the HS2 high-speed railway.
52.662625
-1.783497
2.5 mi SE of Lichfield / 20 mi N of Birmingham centre.
Whittington Heath
Whittington Heath Golf Club: although five holes needed to be replaced when the UK's ill-fated high-speed railway line (HS2) came slicing through Whittington Heath, enough of the original course remains to make a visit here well worthwhile.
The five open parkland "newbie" holes bear very little relation (in style terms) to the excellence of the remaining 13 Harry Colt-designed heathland holes ... these are the reason to come to Whittington Heath. With its modern and rather tortuous holes "bolted-on" at the start, the easy-going charms of Colt's heathland holes arrive just in time at the doglegging, downhill short par-4 6th.
From the 6th onward the gently undulating heathland layout plays through lightly tree-lined avenues, with heather and wispy fescues frequently defining the well-spaced holes. The generally good-width fairways, straightaway and some doglegging, lead to excellent well-paced greens ... subtly-sloping à la Colt, versus the "Himalayan" roller-coasters found on the first five.
Between the par-4 8th and sharply doglegging par-4 9th, and again between 16 and 17, you'll cross the space where one day high-speed trains might swish past ... at the moment (and for the foreseeable future) there's very little sign of track laying!
Pick of the holes: certainly one of the toughest holes on the back-nine is the long uphill par-3 13th. It plays over the 12th green on its way up to a well-bunkered green; short and left is your safest bail-out option. Also uphill, the signature par-3 7th is also well worth a mention ... apparently one of Peter Alliss's favourite par-3s.
Visitors welcome on weekdays; only members and their invited guests on weekends.
Must book in advance. Proof of handicap required.
Players generally walk this course. One golf cart is available for hire for medical reasons.
Good
Whittington Heath Golf Club is located just outside the city of Lichfield, which is noted for its impressive three-spired medieval cathedral. The city is also the birthplace of Samuel Johnson ("Dr Johnson"), the writer, poet, essayist and moralist who wrote the first authoritative Dictionary of the English Language.
The Club crest features the famous Staffordshire Knot, the insignia of many coats of arms and club crests throughout the county of Staffs. From days of old, one popular explanation for the three-loop knot, is that it was devised by an executioner to hang three convicted felons simultaneously.
As of the early 2020s, Whittington Heath was compelled by central Government to sacrifice five of its holes to the ill-fated High Speed 2 (HS2) railway line. At some undetermined time in the future, the line is supposed to connect Birmingham to the north of England. Beset by financial and environmental concerns, the completion date for the project is a movable feast ... unknown to anyone! Thankfully 13 holes of Harry Colt's original golf course design have survived the steel-track intrusion. With five new holes added, Whittington Heath now has a secure future as a popular 18-hole golf course.
Presidents Cup: Geoff Ogilvy’s International Team take on Brandt Snedeker’s USA Team at the revered Medinah Country Club, near Chicago. The Internationals are trying to halt a run of 11 consecutive American wins. (Sept 24-27).
French Open: Continental Europe’s oldest national championship, dating from 1906, is once again staged on the Albatros Course at Le Golf National, near Paris. Defending champion is America’s Michael Kim. (Sept 24-27).
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.
