This is a splendid course in urban West Bromwich (Birmingham), only about 1 minute from the M5-convenient for a trip north from the South West or Wales. Could also walk about 2 mins to the West Bromwich Albion football ground and watch the "Baggies"... probably lose.
The terrain is quite dramatic. The bunkers are deep and are real fairway bunkers i.e. in the fairway, not in the rough! Greens are cool too, nicely sited and contoured. Overall a tough course with plenty of appeal, only one or two dullish links (8?, 9). 6500 yds, par 71.
Only real downer is the pylons a small price to pay for this oasis. Some poor tree planting by the clubhouse too.
Colt redesigned (major one) this course in the 1920s. Darwin describes the course in Golf Courses of the British isles before the redo and then again after the redo in "Golf Courses of Great Britain". The course was more heathland in Darwin's day.
Ignore the flags...temp greens because of frost. Still busy, so I had to take shots from the side at some holes.
Card has some funny names for the holes: the 13th which is clind is called "Wheerisit", the 10th "Corseeit" and the 18th "Gooin Wum" which probablu only works with a Brummy accent.
The new clubhouse looks a bit like a Tescos supermarket. Cross bunkers at 18th.
2nd approach
Closer, plateau green.
3rd
Typical diagonal bunkers at par 3 4th.
Superb uphill rolling par 5 5th
Bunkers
Closer
Sloping, natural green site and diagonal stream protecting.
Dowhill par 5.
Approach
Green complex
Short 7th.
Closer
Shot from the 1950s...more open aspect different finish to the traps.
11th...cool green here.
12th
Lovely par 4, 14th even with the lines!
Approach.
Green complex
Rolling 15th
Different angle.