West Midlands Golf Club

Spectacular 18th hole with its island green

But for us ordinary Joes who don't have access to corporate invitations and view the prospect of paying at least £50 for 18 holes of golf with understandable reticence, are there any places we can go for a knock without taking out an extension on the mortgage?

One such place, I recently discovered, is the relatively new West Midlands Golf Club, located between Meriden and Balsall Common in Solihull just a few fields away from the Forest of Arden estate.

Aerial view of the clubhouse and closing hole

Designed to fit a 234-acre site, the course features undulating parkland and, at just over 6,600 yards off the back tees (forward tee it's around 6,000 yards), can be enjoyed by golfers of all talents and abilities.

The course opens with a couple of shortish par-4s whose only protection is the average golfer's temptation to bite off a little more than they should off the tee. A lake then threatens any pulled tee shot at the enormous 626-yard, par-5 third, which is the first of a string of alternating par-5s and par-3s until the eight and ninth conclude the front nine.

The 11th is a wicked par-3 of 201 yards off the back tees with a green that looks a mile wide but intimidatingly shallow and difficult to hold from with a long iron or rescue club.

Hole 15 is a challenging par-4 at 438 yards but 16 and 17 look to have been squeezed in to make way for signature 18th.

View from the clubhouse restaurant and bar

The clubhouse is an impressive building, doubling as a restaurant and conference venue. There's also a small pro shop and a comfortable, casual lounge area.

Green fees during the summer for a weekday or weekend afternoon round costs just £22.50 (£32.50 for weekend mornings). There's also a twilight ticket after 3pm from April to October and after midday from November to April.