Captain's Day

Olton Golf Course

West Midlands, England

Olton Golf Club is an 18-hole parkland course located in Solihull in the West Midlands, approximately one mile from Solihull town centre and within a few minutes of Junction 5 of the M42. The club was founded in November 1893 by James Power Heaton, with a nine-hole layout initially laid out by Lindsay G. Ross, a professional from Sutton Coldfield, on farmland at St Bernard's Road, Olton. The course was extended to 18 holes in 1901 before the club relocated in 1903 to its current site on the former Elmdon Hall Estate, secured through the influence of new member Major W.C. Alston, who owned the land. The current course measures around 6,254 yards and plays to a par of 70, with a course rating of 71.5 and a slope of 135. The layout is set across approximately 95 acres of mature parkland and carries the influence of Harry S. Colt, whose design principles shaped the character of the course. Significant alterations were made by Hawtree and Son from the late 1940s through to the early 1950s, with further consultation from Hawtree on the creation of a practice area in the 1970s. Ditches crossing the fairways feature on a number of holes, and the course places a considerable premium on accuracy rather than length alone. A notable practical feature is six of the opening holes starting in close proximity to the clubhouse, allowing members to play abbreviated rounds of two, three, four, five, six, or nine holes, an unusual arrangement within British club golf. The greens are consistently cited as among the finest in the country, combining pace and true roll with subtle undulation. The bunkers have undergone substantial renovation in recent years. The club is regarded as one of the leading private members' clubs in the West Midlands and serves as a regular venue for regional and county-level competitions.