Sandwell Park Golf Club

Sandwell Park Golf Club was originally formed as the West Bromwich Golf Club. But for a bit of traffic noise from the adjacent M5 motorway, this excellent Harry Colt design is a delight to play.

As you tee off downhill at the 1st (Colliery Way), with the hill of Great Barr in the distance, the good-width fairways of this classic Colt layout start to unfold. On your way round you'll encounter plenty of gentle elevation change, with mature trees of many varieties defining the holes.

Opulent sized bunkers loom large around the greens and along the fairways. Colt's classic cross-bunkering also puts in some notable appearances. And, as is oft the case with Colt, the greens are typically circular with mischievously subtle slopes.

Arguably the most interesting holes are saved for the back-nine, where the elevation changes are more noticeable. At the par-5 10th (Corseeit) you might just catch a glimpse of the West Bromwich Albion football stadium on your right. The par-4 15th (Badgers Walk) may look tight from its elevated tee, but there's far more room "in the dip" than you'd imagine. The gentle uphill par-4 18th (Gooin Wum) is played to a generously wide fairway and a green that sits just below the attractive, mock tudor-style, single-storey clubhouse.

Pick of the holes: the picturesque collection of par-3 holes typically play downhill to well-bunker defended greens. At the par-3 16th (Peter's Folly), a two-tier infinity green is attractively encircled by mature oaks, pines and birch ... one of many delightful holes.