Although members club Sandwell Park GC situated a nine iron’s distance away from junction one of the M5 in West Bromwich has always held a long-standing reputation for having one of the most highly regarded Championship standard layouts in the local area, they have flown under the radar a little in recent times in regard to visitor and society golf. With a new management team in charge, things are changing rapidly and there’s no better year than this to make a major mark.
There’s a fresh younger feel to the club already. The new man at the helm is Andy Smith, a PGA qualified professional who at Sandwell is concentrating fully on the operational side of the club and ensuring it becomes more financially sound too. There was work to do when he took over in the summer of 2023, turning over a fresh page, he has since then re-organised the management structure and is busy welcoming some new faces to the greenkeeping, catering and coaching ranks.
MG REVIEW – Editors Phil & Mandy
In 2020 to tie in with their 125th anniversary, Sandwell Park joined up with world famous golf course architects Mackenzie & Ebert. The intention, not just to run a series of course improvements but also to restore the layout back to its original Harry Colt designed heathland origins.
The course begins strongly, ushering you into the challenge with three nice looking but tough par fours, everything in full view, gently undulating tree-lined fairways heading up towards similarly challenging greens and surrounds. The bunkering is always noticeable too and well placed, all of the traps are set to be redesigned to merge neatly into the restored heathland environment here.
More great sights from the tee and two par fives run in succession at five and six, the former offers the better birdie opportunity, shorter in length and a little more width too. Next, there’s a particularly gorgeous looking short seventh hole, the putting surface flanked by a pair of long rounded traps, snaking their way around on either side. It’s a good club selection too from the exposed slightly raised tee.
The ninth takes you neatly back to the side of the clubhouse making a two hour round here an easy alternative.
The beginning of the inward half offers a little more openness than before, work is ongoing to remove the trees between 11 and 13 to give that area a real linksy feel.
Fittingly, situated as we are in Sandwell Valley the back nine becomes all the more challenging and spectacular looking too when you come across 14 and 15. Both have a good carry to negotiate towards low lying valley bed fairways, then you’re looking at raised tabletop greens for your approach shots, super golf holes.
The signature and picture book short 16th is named Peter’s Folly, dedicated to legendary BBC commentator Peter Alliss who shot a six on this par three when he played an exhibition match to mark the re-opening of the hole back in 1970. Although I proudly managed to halve that score, it’s easy to see how a big number can be racked up, it’s a tough tee shot down the bank and the green is well defended with steep banking awaiting at the rear, I imagine that’s where Peter ended up! My ball clung on for dear life at the edge of the green, Mandy’s lost itself in the undergrowth, my lone triumph of the day!
Gently uphill to the beautiful looking clubhouse on 18 which also features the green fronting captain’s bunker, this has to be the largest of such in the region! Managed to miss that but three-putted on the huge putting surface, that mistake is easily done and final words must go to the quality of the greens here, simply superb and occasionally too much for your average mid-handicapper to conquer. Everything here is setting itself up for a high quality and reliable Championship standard track as more events come around, but also one that amateur golfers can thoroughly enjoy too. Senior players also appreciate the generally easy walking involved and easy access to the clubhouse and car park at the end of each loop of nine.
SuperMex comes to Sandwell – Lee Trevino plays a round, July 1974
Rob Lydon – Course Manager
“The long term plan is to get the course back to Colt standard, from when he designed it. Lots of winter work has already gone on and there’s more to come in order to bring it up to a completely functional 12 months of the year layout. Half of the bunkers have been re-designed in heathland/links-style and we’ll encourage the growth of traditional wild grasses in their surrounds, the remainder will follow in the next 12 months. New pathways and better on course signage are on the way too, we’re looking forward to taking it up to the next level, this course deserves that.”
Andy Smith
“We’ll be giving the clubhouse a lick of paint, but the playing experience is what the golfers are looking for. If the product is right out there, then the new members we’re hoping to attract are only going to be encouraged to return and spread the word around as well. So the course improvements will carry on and we’ll continue to invest further in the coming months.”
Be a part of an exciting future
JOIN THE CLUB – Membership packages start from just £375 with Play More Golf.
MEMBER’S GUESTS AND VISITORS – Welcome seven days a week
SEVEN DAYS OF SOCIETY GOLF – Book a package for 2024 or even early for 2025, weekdays and at weekends from 1pm onwards.
FUNCTIONS/SOCIAL EVENTS – For all occasions, our new catering team are waiting to speak to you, function space for over 100 guests and private rooms available.
