Shirley

Shirley Golf Club has been a fixture of Birmingham's southern suburbs since the early 20th century, sitting in the leafy residential belt of Solihull — one of the most prosperous and golf-rich corners of the West Midlands. The club carries the quiet confidence of a well-established English parkland course: mature tree-lined fairways, measured shot values, and the kind of members' atmosphere that rewards regular visitors who take time to learn its rhythms.

Solihull itself borders the National Exhibition Centre corridor and sits close to the Warwickshire countryside, giving Shirley a setting that feels genuinely removed from the urban sprawl despite its accessible suburban address. The parkland terrain is typical of this part of the Midlands — gently rolling, with enough undulation to keep approaches interesting without ever becoming theatrical.

As a private members' club at par 72, Shirley offers the sort of rounded test that suits all levels without pandering to any. It rewards course management and straight driving over raw power, in the tradition of English parkland golf at its most honest.