I've been playing at Boldmere since I was a teenager. Whilst I'm not there as often as I once was,…read moreI try to get over there at least once or twice a year - just for old times sake, mainly to see if my game is improving to any great degree (It's not). It's not the most interesting golf course in the world, and elements of the front and back nine can be a little repetitive, particularly from around the 15th onwards. However, there are enough interesting and tricky holes to make Boldmere a good place for a round of golf. There is a 3-hole annex on the back 9 that takes you away from the rest of the golf course and into an area that more resembles the nearby Sutton Park (which the course borders). Starting with a deceptively tricky uphill Par 3, you then play two longish holes with more-or-less blind greens before re-joining the rest of the course for the aforementioned slog home. There is a small (very small) par three at the back of the clubhouse that has, over the years, variously been the 17th, 18th and 1st hole on the course. There is very little room to play with here - the car park is to the left and there are trees, houses and a lake to the right and rear. It's a good hole for an extra wager on 'nearest the pin'. Boldmere gets VERY busy in the summer months and sometimes you need to book as much as 6 days in advance. Members get the chance to book 7 days in advance, so very often 6 days is not enough to get the tee-time you want. If you can get a spot it is a pretty decent course to play on.

I like the laid-back aspect of the Boldmere golf course, where you should go if you're looking for…read morea less formal, more relaxed game. Perhaps if you are a beginner, or an 'ex-bandit' getting back into the game, this is the course for you. The course is just offset from Sutton park's expansive lakes, which provides some quite picturesque scenery, and the majority of the 18 holes are par 3/4 if my memory serves me correct. You also have your standard cafe and golf shop situated on site, and my recommendation for you if you're looking for the infamous '19th hole' after your round, would be to head over the road to 'La Reserve', which is a local public house just accross the lake. Furthermore, there is car parking space next to the course, room for just under 100 cars I'm guessing, so that is not really an issue. However, a last work of warning....if you do take my advice and decide to drop into this beautiful course, be very wary of hole 16! A slight slip off the tee can result in you fishing for your ball in the lake! Don't make the same mistake as i did!

I have started to take an interest in golf and although I have not played a round of golf for a…read morewhile, I do love going to the driving range. And the driving range at the Queslett Park Golf Centre is pretty good. The range itself is pretty wide and each bay is very spacious. All the bays are outside with high quality mats and balls. Clubs are available to hire but I have used my father's clubs every time I have been to the driving range here. The course at Queslett Park Golf Centre is nine holes and 70% of the holes are under 100 yards. There are however plenty of water hazards and bunkers. You've been warned. I haven't actually played the nine hole course but I have had look at it. Because the majority of holes are under 100 yards, this is not a bad place to start for an amateur golfer. Golf lessons are available and to find out more visit the website above.

This is a 9 hole municipal golf course that is fun to play. If you want to play 18 holes then you…read moreobviously go around twice, which it least gives you some advantage on the back 9 as you know what you're up against. None of the holes are particularly long, with the exception of the 9th (18th) which in comparison with the others 8 (16) holes feels a bit of a stretch. That's not to say that this isn't a challenging course. There are a couple of deceptively tricky short par 3s and the entire course is covered in trees, making lost balls a possibility. It's quite a hilly course, even though it's in a small area, so it drains reasonably well in the wet winter months - although you'll more than likely be hitting winter greens at the stage, which shorten the holes considerably. There is a putting green and driving net near the clubhouse and a decent parking area. The clubhouse itself is quaint and has an air of the 1950s about it. There is also a pro shop on site should you need anything (including lessons). The best thing about playing this course is the short walk up the hill afterwards for a pint in The Bell! All in all this is a really decent municipal course.

I quite like this one, its really tests those with an accurate shot off the tee. I would definitely…read morereccomend this to beginners, or families looking to take younger kids who have perhaps just started. I say this because its not really a very long course, and those who opt for the driver are often punished. All in all, its great for what it is, a nice 9 holer. However, maintainance of the course is slightly suspect. The tees are often really worn, and the greens are often overgrown on certain holes. But in terms of value, you really cannot complain. A personal recomendation if you're planning on a morning round, is to pop into the on site cafe which serves really great food, simple and great for breakfasts.

Easy walking distance from The Alcester Road and The Billseley pub. I've not played golf here but…read morewent for a birthday party-you can hire then venue out and food, music and a bar can be provided. The gold club offers asocial membership as well as one for full members. Reasonable bar selection, plenty of parking and great views from the club house.

I've played here a number of times as a guest of friends who are members. As someone used to…read moreplaying 99% of my golf on public courses it really is a treat to play here. When compared to public courses the greens here are ludicrously fast and take a fair bit of getting used to - this is surely down to the extra care and attention these greens get. They are fast! In addition to the pace of the greens the holes are really well protected by bunkers, making this a tricky course for the first time visitor. As this is a private club there are certain rules of dress and etiquette that may catch you out. I turned up once in white socks - this is a no-no. I also once made the mistake of walking into the bar wearing a hat, and then making a phone call - both of these are also frowned upon. Thankfully these were the extent of my transgressions and I was invited back by my fee-paying friends. If you get the chance to play here then I would jump at it. It's a different ball game to the public courses and, if you're like me and have no intention of ever joining a club, this is a rare chance to see what the inside of a golf club looks like.

A tough and very challenging golf course. You can play a round of 18 holes at Hill Top Golf Course…read morebut you also have the option of playing nine holes. This is a golf course I have been to twice and being an amateur golfer, I did find it difficult. However I did have fun at the same time. If you are playing 18 holes, it can take at least 3-5 hours to complete. It could even take 6 hours if you are a beginner. There are many holes over the 300 yards mark so it might be worth going to a driving range before coming here. The greens are not in bad condition although I did come across litter on some of the holes I played. Hill Top Golf Course is very popular and the golfers I have spoken to have said they love coming here. The course is a challenge but if you get it right on the day, it could be a day you remember for a long time. You can of course bring along your own golf clubs or hire them from the clubhouse. The choice is yours.

HillTop is a very challenging course where, as the name suggests, you are playing around a lot of…read morehills! This means it can be a tiring course, particularly if you are as wayward a golfer as me and often find yourself taking the scenic route to the hole. There are, however, mitigating circumstances for occasional waywardness as HillTop is quite an exposed course and can be all but unplayable on a windy day. Did I mention it's on top of a hill? Well, that obviously increases the wind factor considerably. Compared to other municipal courses in the city HillTop is relatively quiet so you rarely have a problem getting a tee-time, even in summer months. I suspect that this is partly to do with the fact that it's a little tucked away and off the beaten track compared to other urban courses. It's very near to the West Bromwich Albion ground, so you may want to check their fixtures before you go as you could end up in traffic on your way there and miss your tee-off. The clubhouse is decent and you can get a very good and welcome cup of tea and a bacon sandwich before or after your round. My advice when playing here is to take waterproof or windproof clothing for the weather, and either take or hire a trolley for the hills. Oh, and one hole has an electricity pylon in the middle of the fairway - you don't see that at Augusta.

First go at a gym in a long while. My friend has become a member and I was able to accompany her…read moreon a free friend pass. The gym is situated upstairs with the ground floor consisting of a cafe/bar and locker room with showers. The entrance includes club information on weightwatchers, tribute nights and family discos. The gym has up to date equipment which you can log into and set goals. The big perk is the large open windows facing the golf course providing a lovely view as you work out.

This is one of the best municipal golf courses in the city, and certainly one of the trickiest and…read morelongest. I'm not sure what they do differently at Pype Hayes compared to the other public courses in the city, but this one always seems to be in slightly better nick than the others, and particularly in winter when the others can get very, very boggy and wet. Perhaps the soil is different over there near Walmley and therefore the whole course drains a wee bit better. It's a full 18 hole course and, unlike public courses such as Harborne and Boldmere, you will definitely need to know your way around a driver if you hope to get round with a fairly decent score. It's a LONG course. The greens are always in good condition and are surrounded by often tricky hazards. One of the best things about Pype Hayes is that you turnaround at the club house, so you can nip in for the loo, or for a quick break over a cup of tea before you resume.

Without a doubt this is the best municipal golf course in the city. Whilst Pype Hayes runs it a…read moreclose second for interesting layout and excellent condition, Lickey Hills pretty much has the feel of a Private Golf Club. Rather than paying thousands of pounds to join a bunch of Daily Mail readers obeying obtuse rules you should try this place out. It's situated on the very edge of Birmingham at the end of the Bristol Road and next to the gorgeous Lickey Hills Park, so you're playing in beautiful surroundings and a million miles away from the bustle of the city. The holes are varied and tricky, with a decent mixture of short par 3s and longer 4s and 5s and, as the name Lickey Hills would suggest, you experience more than a few ups and downs. One hole in particular (I forget exactly which one) has a huge open fairway that slopes down to the right. Unless you are Tiger Woods you are unlikely to hit the green in one, so you have the dangerous option of either skirt along the rough to the left and remaining at pin height, or else catching the slope and ending up with a very difficult uphill shot to the hole. Even if you *do* decide to take the upper route, you may still (as I often do) end up with a tricky uphill shot. That slope is vicious! The clubhouse is smart and there is also a pro-shop on site. Whilst it can get busy (particularly in the summer) this course is nowhere near as busy as courses situated in more populated areas of town (Boldmere and Cocks Moor spring to mind here). Having said that, this course is one that people from all over the city and surrounding areas travel to, so I'd advise that you book

Birmingham boasts many pretty impressive golf courses. I've played a round or two at Warley Woods…read moreover the years and I am impressed with the course. Beautifully maintained 18 hole course is looked after by a small, dedicated team, some of which are volunteers. There's a Pavilion which is a public building with a cafe offering a delicious breakfast and toilets. It's home to the Club house and golf coaching is offered by resident professional Greg Lynch. Greg takes on individual clients including groups and he occasionally offers drop sessions. There may be a charge so best to check before turning up. The Pavilion is open all year round except Christmas Day.

9-hole golf course really close to the centre of Brum. Nestled just past Bearwood in the middle of…read moreWarley Woods Park, this is a good quality pay-and-play course for all-comers. Also boasts an excellent greasy spoon café for egg and chips on those chillier days. The holes are mostly a decent length with a couple of gentle par 3's and some more demanding 400+ par 4's. The greens are well-groomed and the bunkers pretty well maintained. Not too much rough to go trapsing through, and the hilly lie of the course means you get a good workout, too. At £7.50 to go round, it's well worth a visit.