Penn Golf Club

This is an old well-established heathland course on Common land on the outskirts of Wolverhampton. The course is split into roughly two halves with the majority of the back 9 played across a road. The course is quite open and relatively flat but don't let that fool you, the rough is notoriously punishing and in the summer when they sometimes let the rough grow a strong and straight drive is needed to find the fairway with any ball missing the fairway almost certainly lost. The club seems to have a very vague handicap rule not making it clear on the web site whether or not one is need "It is not always necessary to have a valid handicap certificate" is what they say. When you inquire over the phone a similar vague answer is given - I sense they may invoke the handicap rule when it suits them but when I played after a run of several weeks of bad weather they were only to happy have me play. The first tee is a bit daunting as it plays directly outside the pro shop, elevated for all top see. I played a bargain winter rate of £15 compared with over £40 in the summer. I can see why Winter rates were as low as they were - parts of the course, particularly on the back 9, were VERY muddy. To the extent at one point it felt the ground was sinking beneath me! I probably didn't see the course at its best and in places the course felt a bit tatty and under repair. There isn't much in the way of spare ground and I guess this accounts for the fact that a couple of holes seem "squeezed in" particularly the Par 3 7th, where players have to walk back down from to the 8th after playing thus creating a bit of a bottleneck around the green of the 6th, and the tee of the 7th and 8th. Being Common Ground you will see members of the Public on the course and both parties need to respect the others rights to be there. Members and Pro Shop seemed friendly and welcoming.

This course has improved a lot. Greens,aprons and surrounds are now all in superb condition. The course is now easier because they have cut the punishing rough down which makes it a lot better. Nice welcoming club for visitors and a friendly atmosphere for a day out. If you haven't been to Penn for a while you will be amazed.

Superb, it doesn't drain the best so in the recent weather we've had it has struggled however when the weather is good there is not a better course in the Wolverhampton area, fantastic fairways (They are like other courses greens!!!) Superb greens and very tough course, accuracy is vital (But then again, when isn't accuracy vital in golf?!?) Play it, enjoy it, tell your friends.

Penn is a all round good golf course however it does have some bad points .When i played in the winter the course was in poor condition as the fairways were very gritty however i find this acceptible as in the summer the course management is second to none with a really well groomed course.

I played penn on sunday just gone 22nd May 2005. what a pleasure it was I played with two of nicest gentlemen you could wish to meet. the couse was in fantastic condition with beautiful views all round . a great test of any golfer I play off 9 but it beat me . Entering the clubhouse I could not believe how most welcoming the people are, the captain speach was very funny and the respect he got was magnificent. I will close by saying thanks to all at penn golf club for a truly wouderful days golf. Alan from Oakridge G.C Arley Nuneaton

THIS IS A TRULY WONDERFUL COURSE. EXCEPTIONAL VALUE AT £20. THE COURSE HAS FEW BUNKERS, BUT KNEE HIGH ROUGH LINES NEARLY EVERY FAIRWAY. ACCURACY IS A PREMIUM. THE GREENS WERE IN SUPERB CONDITION WHEN I PLAYED. THE COURSE HAS A LINKS FEEL, WITH FIRM FAST FAIRWAYS AND GREENS. HOLES TO NOTE ARE THE DOWNHILL 3RD, THE DIFFICULT DOGLEG 12TH AND THE 17TH.