
The English Golf Union has now published the 2010 fixture list which itself indicates
that Little Aston and Sutton Coldfield will be the venues for the English Amateur Championship. The 2010 championship wil be held on 26th - 31st July with the opening two days of qualifying
being shared with Sutton Coldfield, the first time we have staged an EGU event.
Sutton Coldfield Golf Club is one of the most prestigious private members clubs in the Midlands. It was founded in 1889 and two years later moved to the present
course in Sutton Park. Sutton Park itself was once part of a royal hunting chase and was given to the people of Sutton Coldfield by Bishop Vesey in the 16th
century.
After the first World War Dr. Alister MacKenzie, a partner in Colt, MacKenzie and Alison, was asked to reconstruct the course. The work was completed in 1924
using the same principles used later at Augusta National and Royal Melbourne. Since then various changes have been made by subsequent committees. Many
holes have been extended through the construction of new tees and the course's length has been increased by over 400 yards. MacKenzie commented on his
proposals "If the suggested alterations are done....... there will not be a single weak hole on the course, and there is no reason why it should not
compare favourably with the best inland course in Britain, and be vastly superior to many seaside ones".
Henry Cotton, after playing a charity match during the second world war, commented that the course was "in the same category as Sunningdale with similar turf
and plenty of heather, gorse and trees in a typical heathland setting".
The nature of the heathland makes this course one of the best if not the best all year free draining course within a radius of 50 miles. In November
each year, two substitute holes of a similar standard to the remainder of the course, replace the 2nd and 9th holes which are subject to weather problems.
For example, in February 2002 some 90mm of rain fell on the course which was only closed for two days ... temporary greens were not used at all during this time.
Although the course is laid out over common ground, the club has hosted a number of important events including the Midland Open and the Second City Tournament
with fields previously including Mark James, Sandy Lyle and Nick Faldo.
More recently Vijay Singh, Sam Torrence and Laura Davies were amongst the players in a pro-am to
celebrate the Club's Centenary in 1989.
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 fifth to seventh holes are three consecutive par-5's. The back nine is tighter than the front nine and
includes the dog-leg eleventh which itself is one of the best holes in the Midlands.
MacKenzie would be pleased that his changes have stood the test of time.