Historic golf club affected by HS2 starts redesign work

A golf course founded in 1886 which was threatened with closure because of HS2 has started redevelopment work to secure its future.

Whittington Heath Golf Club near Lichfield, one of the oldest courses in England, is set to be sliced in half by the High Speed Rail line running straight through the middle of the course, resulting in the loss of five holes and the demolition of its clubhouse.

However, work will now start on the redesign of the club and course after the Government agreed a deal to pay for a major redevelopment.

The work includes a new clubhouse, greenkeeper’s compound, halfway house, five new holes, a practice range, a new car park, ancillary features, a new access road, and the reworking of five existing holes.

Refurbishment, maintenance and construction services provider J Tomlinson has been picked as the principal contractor to manage the work which will start at the end of this month.

Works will be undertaken in phases, with the new access road and car park to be done first.

It is anticipated that the redeveloped club will be fully completed by late summer 2020. The course will remain open throughout construction.

Richard Harding, captain of Whittington Heath Golf Club, said: “We are pleased to have appointed J Tomlinson to help create a new, sustainable future for our club. We are delighted to see so many visitors coming to see how the new club and course are being developed.”

Darroch Baker, construction director at J Tomlinson, added: “The redevelopment of such a prominent golf club is a very exciting project and we are thrilled to be a part of it.

“We look forward to working closely with the club and the project team to deliver new state-of-the-art facilities that are in keeping with the club’s intricate history.”