Sutton Coldfield Golf Club was formed in 1889 and the Reverend W.C.R. Bedford was made the first Captain, with two fellow ministers of religion appointed onto the committee.
The club’s initial course was a 9-hole layout located at the Town Gate of Sutton Park but it was soon abandoned for a layout forming part of the current course located on the other side of the park, closer to Streetly Station.
In 1919, Alister MacKenzie was approached to revitalize the layout and his suggestions resulted in all the holes being altered or replaced over a fifteen year period, with the revised course finally opening in September 1934.
The following extract is taken from The Centurions of Golf by Mike Berners Price:
“Sutton Coldfield provides a good combination of woodland and heathland golf. Mature oaks provide tight lines on holes nearer the clubhouse, whilst in mid-round the fairways are more open but fringed with thick gorse and heather.
Unusually, the 5th to 7th holes are three consecutive par fives. The back nine is tighter than the front and includes the dogleg 11th which is one of the best holes in the Midlands, and the par four 12th which features a stream in front of the green.
MacKenzie would be pleased that his changes have stood the test of time.”
