Enville Golf Club Lodge Course

Enville Golf Club (Lodge Course): heathland, pines and a proper Staffordshire test

Cross the quiet road that splits the Lodge Course and the round changes character beneath your feet — heather and birch give way to a corridor of towering pines, and then, for the finish, the land opens out to bare, wind-brushed heath. This is the quieter of Enville’s two eighteens, and many who know both come away insisting the Lodge is every bit the equal of its more famous sibling.

Enville Golf Club’s Lodge Course sits about a mile from the village of Enville, near Stourbridge in south Staffordshire, on the high ground of Highgate Common. It is an inland heathland and woodland layout of 6,472 yards, playing to a par of 71, and forms one half of one of England’s finest 36-hole clubs. Opened in 1983, it rewards accuracy and imagination over raw power, and has hosted Clutch Pro Tour events in recent years.

Key Details

• Location: Enville, near Stourbridge, Staffordshire (DY7 5BN)
• Length: 6,472 yards
• Par: 71
• Designers: Developed in stages by the club; architects associated with Enville over the years include Frank Pennink
• Established: Lodge Course opened 1983 (Enville Golf Club founded 1935)
• Notable Events: Has hosted Clutch Pro Tour events; the club’s neighbouring Highgate Course stages R&A Regional Open Qualifying

History and significance

Enville Golf Club was founded in 1935 by a group of local enthusiasts who met that January and agreed to lay out a course on the common near Enville. Land was leased for 21 years from Sir John Grey of Enville Hall, who became the club’s first president, and the first nine holes and a new clubhouse came into use on 19 October 1935.

The course was extended to 18 holes in May 1938, and over the years several holes were redesigned, adding some 600 yards to the original layout. The clubhouse moved to a former farmhouse in 1969. A third nine holes was cut through the woodland in 1973, and the final nine, laid out in the Lodge plantation, was brought into play on Captain’s Day in 1983.

With those 36 holes in place, the club reorganised its ground into two distinct eighteens — the Highgate Course and the Lodge Course. The Lodge takes its name from that plantation, and shares the same blend of heath and woodland that has long made Enville stand out among inland clubs. It is a member-owned club with a strong sense of tradition, set in undulating country well removed from the surrounding towns.

In 2010 the club added extensive practice facilities — widely rated among the best in the area — cementing Enville’s reputation as a place to play, learn and improve. Today the Lodge is valued both as a fine test in its own right and as the perfect complement to the championship Highgate alongside it.

The course and how it plays

The Lodge is a par-71 layout of 6,472 yards, and it plays in three clear movements. It opens among heather, oak, pine and birch, where the ground is firm and the heath punishes anything loose off the tee. Placement matters more than length here; find the fairway and the course opens up, stray into the heather and you are simply hacking out.

The middle of the round crosses the road into the Lodge plantation, where nine holes are lined by majestic pines. This is the most intimate stretch — tight, tree-framed corridors that demand a straight ball and reward the golfer who can shape a shot rather than smash one. The tall pines swallow anything wayward and frame some genuinely handsome tee shots.

The closing stretch of six holes returns to open heath, where the wind reappears and the character shifts again from sheltered woodland to exposed common. The greens throughout are firm, true and quick, running to subtle borrows, so approach play and pace on the putting surface decide most scores. It is a course that asks for a complete game rather than one big weapon, and its variety is precisely why regulars rate it so highly.

Signature holes and course character

Rather than being defined by one or two famous holes, the Lodge earns its reputation through the way it changes character across the round — and that shifting rhythm is its true signature.

The heathland opening

The early holes run through heather, oak, pine and birch on firm, fast-draining ground. It is classic inland heathland golf: generous-looking corridors that tighten around the heather, where the smart play is to keep the ball in position rather than chase distance.

The pines across the road

The heart of the round crosses the road into the Lodge plantation, where nine holes are lined by tall, mature pines. These tree-framed holes are the most demanding for accuracy, rewarding a controlled, shaped ball flight and offering some of the most photogenic tee shots on either Enville course.

The open-heath finish

The Lodge closes with six memorable holes played back out across open heath, where the wind returns and exposure adds a sting to the run-in. It is a finish that can make or break a card, and it leaves you with the sense of having played two contrasting courses in one round.

Why play Enville Golf Club (Lodge Course)

The Lodge offers a rare kind of variety: heathland, dense pine woodland and open common all in a single round, on turf that stays firm and true through much of the year. It is the quieter of Enville’s two courses, so it often plays a little more peacefully than the Highgate, yet it gives up nothing in quality or challenge.

For visiting golfers it is also a genuine bargain of an experience — a highly rated 36-hole club with first-class practice ground, a warm members’ welcome, and two courses that between them have staged R&A qualifying and professional tour events. Play the Lodge and you understand why regulars talk about Enville as one of the finest inland venues in the Midlands.

Clubhouse and facilities

The clubhouse sits in a former farmhouse converted in 1969 and serves as the social heart of the club. It offers comfortable lounge areas with views over the course and a well-regarded kitchen — visitors regularly single out the quality of the food and the friendly welcome. Clubhouse dining caters for everything from a quick bite before a round to a proper meal afterwards.

Enville’s practice facilities, added in 2010, are among the best in the region: a driving range, chipping and putting greens and practice bunkers give you room to warm up thoroughly or work on your game. There is a pro shop and PGA professional staff on site, with tuition available, plus buggy hire for those who need it.

Green fees and booking

Enville welcomes visiting golfers on weekdays, with both courses generally available from the morning, subject to availability. Weekends and UK bank holidays are reserved for members, though there is usually limited visitor access on Sunday afternoons. Green fees are payable by card, and smart-casual dress is required — no denim or trainers on the course.

Green fees are seasonal: typically from around £80 for 18 holes in the quieter winter months up to about £120 in peak season, with combined 36-hole rates also offered for those wanting to play both courses in a day. For current green fees and tee times, check the official website.

Getting there and parking

Enville sits in open country in south Staffordshire, roughly ten miles west of Stourbridge and easily reached from Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

• By car: Enville lies off the A458 between Stourbridge and Bridgnorth; from there follow signs for Highgate Common. Use postcode DY7 5BN for satnav.
• By public transport: The nearest railway station is Stourbridge Junction, from where a taxi covers the final few miles; local bus services also run through the area.
• Address & parking: Enville Golf Club, Highgate Common, Enville, Stourbridge DY7 5BN. Ample free parking is available on site.

Where to stay

There is no accommodation on site, so most visiting golfers base themselves in nearby Stourbridge, a short drive away, which offers a good choice of hotels and guesthouses.

For a wider trip, the larger towns of Wolverhampton and Kidderminster are within easy reach and give access to more hotels, while the surrounding Staffordshire and Worcestershire countryside has plenty of quiet inns and bed-and-breakfasts for those who prefer a rural base close to the course.

What to pack

Bring reliable waterproofs and a warm layer — the open heathland stretches catch the wind, and Midlands weather can turn quickly in any season. A few extra balls are wise, as heather and the pine woodland punish stray shots. Firm, well-gripping golf shoes suit the fast-draining terrain, and smart-casual clothing is expected to meet the club’s dress code on and off the course.

Nearby attractions

The area around Enville is rich in history and family attractions, ideal for companions or a day either side of your golf. A few halal-friendly options are listed below.

West Midlands Safari Park offers drive-through animal reserves and rides. The Black Country Living Museum recreates streets and workshops of the industrial era. Wightwick Manor is a superb National Trust Arts and Crafts house, while Moseley Old Hall preserves the hiding place of Charles II. Cadbury World tells the story of chocolate, and Ironbridge Gorge marks the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.

Conclusion

The Lodge is Enville’s quieter masterpiece — heather, towering pines and open heath woven into one shifting, absorbing round. It asks for placement, patience and a full range of shots, and rewards them with firm turf, true greens and the calm of deep Staffordshire countryside. Play it once and you will understand why so many rate the Lodge as the equal of anything at this remarkable 36-hole club.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Enville Golf Club’s Lodge Course?

The Lodge Course is at Enville Golf Club, about a mile from the village of Enville on Highgate Common, near Stourbridge in south Staffordshire, postcode DY7 5BN. It sits in open, undulating country roughly ten miles west of Stourbridge and is easily reached from Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Kidderminster. The club has two 18-hole courses, the Highgate and the Lodge, sharing the same clubhouse and practice ground. By car it is signed from the A458 towards Highgate Common; by rail the nearest station is Stourbridge Junction, with a short taxi ride to complete the journey.

How long is the Lodge Course and what is its par?

The Lodge Course measures 6,472 yards and plays to a par of 71, making it slightly shorter than Enville’s Highgate Course, which is 6,703 yards and a par of 72. Despite the modest length, the Lodge is a genuine test: it rewards accuracy and course management over raw distance. The round opens through heather and mixed woodland, crosses a road into a stretch of holes lined by tall pines, and finishes with six holes across open heath. Firm, quick greens mean approach play and putting pace matter as much as driving.

Is the Lodge Course suitable for beginners and higher handicappers?

Yes. With several tee positions the Lodge can be set up to suit a range of abilities, so newer golfers can enjoy it while stronger players still find plenty of challenge. That said, the heather and the tree-lined pine holes do punish very wayward shots, so keeping the ball in play is rewarded. The club’s excellent practice facilities — range, chipping and putting greens and practice bunkers — make it a good place to warm up first. Buggies are available for those who would prefer not to walk the undulating terrain.

What are the green fees at Enville Golf Club?

Green fees at Enville are seasonal. As a guide, expect from around £80 for 18 holes in the quieter winter months, rising to about £120 for 18 holes in peak season, with combined 36-hole rates available for those wanting to play both courses in a day. Fees are payable by card. Because rates change, it is best to confirm the current prices and any special conditions when you book. For current green fees and tee times, check the official website.

Can visitors play the Lodge Course, and when?

Visitors are welcome, most readily on weekdays, when both courses are generally available from the morning subject to availability. Weekends and UK bank holidays are reserved for members, although there is usually limited visitor access on Sunday afternoons. It is sensible to book ahead, particularly in the busier months, and to check availability directly with the club. Smart-casual dress is required, with denim and trainers not permitted on the course. For up-to-date visitor times and tee bookings, check the official website.

What kind of course is the Lodge — links or parkland?

The Lodge is an inland heathland and woodland course, not a links. It combines the firm, fast-draining turf and heather of classic heathland golf with a central stretch of holes cut through mature pine plantation, before finishing across open heath. That mix gives it real variety within a single round: exposed, wind-affected holes on the common and sheltered, tree-framed corridors among the pines. Enville is widely regarded as one of the finest inland venues in the Midlands, and the Lodge shares the same heath-and-woodland character that made the club’s reputation.

Has the Lodge Course hosted any tournaments?

The Lodge has hosted Clutch Pro Tour events, giving it a taste of competitive professional golf. Its neighbour, the Highgate Course, carries most of the club’s championship duties — it has staged R&A Regional Open Qualifying, the R&A Girls’ British Open Amateur Championship and R&A Girls’ age-group events, along with national amateur competitions. Together the two courses make Enville a recognised host venue. When researching Enville, it is worth keeping the two courses separate, as their yardages, pars and event histories differ despite sharing the same clubhouse.

What facilities are there at the clubhouse?

The clubhouse occupies a converted former farmhouse and is the social centre of the club, with comfortable lounge areas overlooking the course. Clubhouse dining is well regarded, with visitors frequently praising the food and the welcome; it caters for a quick bite or a full meal after your round. There is a pro shop with PGA professional staff and tuition on site. Enville’s practice ground, added in 2010, is among the best in the region, featuring a driving range, chipping and putting greens and practice bunkers.

What should I pack to play the Lodge Course?

Pack for changeable Midlands weather: reliable waterproofs and a warm layer are wise, as the open-heath holes are exposed to the wind. Bring a few extra balls, since the heather and pine woodland can swallow stray shots, and wear firm, well-gripping golf shoes for the fast-draining terrain. Remember the club’s smart-casual dress code — denim and trainers are not allowed on the course. If you plan to make use of the excellent practice ground before your round, allow a little extra time to warm up properly.