Bloxwich

Bloxwich, Staffordshire

Top-class parkland on the outskirts of Walsall

One course that the large majority of keen golfers in the Midlands will have chalked up on their CV is Bloxwich.

Situated in Walsall, it is accessible from the M6 and the A34 yet offers a surprising amount of peace and tranquillity.

The course is set in the backdrop of the Staffordshire countryside and offers a fantastic day of golf.

The course itself measures 6,296 yards so it is not be the longest course you will ever play on. However, it is not the length that makes this course challenging but is instead the vast numbers off natural hazards that seem to surround every hole.

Another hole you will have to be careful on is the 12th, with water hazards threating every shot you take en route to the green.

Trees and lakes are a common feature of this course so make sure you play accurately or it could be a very infuriating round.

Unusually Bloxwich has five par 3s and four par 5s but the greatest challenge comes from its par 4s. One extremely tricky hole is the 445-yard 9th, where your drive has to clear the lake, before an approach shot to a raised green.

Another hole you will have to be careful on is the 12th, with water hazards threating every shot you take en route to the green.

Although this is a members club, walk-on players are not only very welcome but are encouraged to come along for a round. This is certainly a course that should be experienced, even if only for the beautiful countryside.