Heritage
A heath shaped by racing, the military and more than a century of golf.
A Story Woven Into the Heath
Whittington Heath has never been just a golf course. Long before the first shots were struck here, the land had already played host to racegoers, soldiers and a changing cast of local life.
From the Lichfield races of the eighteenth century to the military presence beside Whittington Barracks, the heath has carried a distinctive sense of place for more than three hundred years.
The golf club, founded in 1886, became the next chapter in that story. Today, Whittington Heath remains a club with deep roots, proud traditions and a course that continues to evolve without losing sight of where it came from.
Three Chapters of Whittington Heath
The history of the Club is best understood through the land itself – a heath shaped first by racing, then by the military, and finally by golf.
1702 onwards
The Racecourse
The Lichfield races moved to Whittington Heath in 1702 and became one of the leading meetings in the Midlands during the eighteenth century.
From 1875
The Military Years
The land was sold for military use in the 1870s and Whittington Barracks became part of the heath’s story, a connection that continues today.
From 1886
The Golf Club
The Club began with a few holes laid out beside the barracks, before growing into one of the Midlands’ most distinctive heathland courses.
A Timeline of the Heath
1702
Racing Comes to Whittington Heath
The Lichfield races moved to Whittington Heath from Fradley. During the eighteenth century, the meeting became one of the leading racing events in the Midlands.
1773
A Grandstand for the Heath
A grandstand was erected by public subscription, marking the status of the racecourse at a time when Whittington Heath was an important sporting venue.
1840-1875
The Brick Grandstand
A new brick grandstand was built beside the main road between Lichfield and Tamworth. After racing finished, the building was later used as a residential home for old soldiers.
1875
The Military Connection Begins
The Marquis of Anglesey agreed to the sale of his land for military use. Construction of Whittington Barracks began soon after, with the barracks laid out around a large parade square.
1886
The Golf Club is Founded
A few holes were laid out on Whittington Heath, a high piece of land beside the barracks. George Simon, a Lieutenant Colonel of the Army Medical Service, became known as the ‘Father’ of the Club.
1905
Civilian Members Take the Reins
The military handed day-to-day control to civilian members. The first clubhouse was purchased, David Fox was employed as Professional, and the Club began to take a more established shape.
1927
H.S. Colt Re-models the Course
Harry Colt was brought in to remodel and extend the course to 18 holes, creating a layout that became regarded as the equal of any in the Midlands.
1945
Recovery After Wartime
Although large parts of the heath were occupied by the military during two world wars, the Club continued. After the Second World War, the course was rapidly recovered through the efforts of professional Fred Fox and others.
1957
The Grandstand Becomes the Clubhouse
The grandstand beside Tamworth Road began serving as the Clubhouse, giving the Club a direct link back to the racing history of the heath.
1994
Whittington Heath Golf Club
The course and buildings were purchased from the Ministry of Defence, and the Club became Whittington Heath Golf Club.
2019-2022
A New Chapter
Faced with the impact of HS2, the Club secured its future through a successful planning application and the purchase of adjacent land. A new clubhouse was built and the course was reconfigured, with six new holes coming into play in March 2022.
The Colt Chapter
In 1927, H.S. Colt was asked to remodel and extend Whittington Heath to 18 holes. It was a defining moment in the Club’s golfing story.
Colt’s work gave the course a lasting architectural identity, creating a heathland layout that made clever use of the land and established Whittington Heath as one of the finest tests in the Midlands.
While the course has changed across the decades, that sense of thoughtful, strategic golf remains central to the Whittington Heath experience today.
The Barracks Next Door
The Club’s connection with the military is not simply part of its past. Whittington Barracks remains part of the landscape and the relationship continues through an annual match between the Golf Club and the Barracks.
The Army Golf Association Championships are also held at Whittington Heath each year, keeping alive one of the most distinctive relationships in the Club’s history.
Past, Present and Future
The story of Whittington Heath has always been one of adaptation. From racecourse to barracks, from military club to civilian golf club, and from the threat of HS2 to a renewed future, the Club has continued to move forward while holding on to the character of the heath.
