Dear Harvey,
It is Make it a Great Monday and truer words have never been spoken than your famous quip, “If you play golf, you are my friend”. I recently felt your spirit on a beautiful fall day in Birmingham, England.
The first I heard of Little Aston Golf Club was that our GM, John Maguire, at The Richmond Golf Club, had won multiple Armed Forces tournaments at the club. I asked our former captain, John Cahill, about Little Aston GC, and the wheels started turning.
John connected me to a friend of his in Birmingham, who connected me to a neighbour, Mike Crossley. Mike generously reached out via email and offered to host me at the club.
Mike (in safari hat below) greeted me at the small local train station, and we were fast friends within minutes. Think about that. Someone tells me about Little Aston. I asked a friend in Richmond, whose locker is next to mine in our clubhouse, about the club. He emails a friend in Birmingham, who emails a neighbour, who emails me and says come on up, let’s play golf.
Mike then arranges for perfect weather and an afternoon four-ball with two of his best mates, both conveninently named Geoff. I don a jacket and tie so we can enjoy a proper lunch in one of the most iconic, old-school clubhouses you will ever visit.
The Uniqueness of Little Aston Golf Club in Birmingham.
- Founded in 1908, its history and the charm of its landscape make it one of the finest Parkland courses in all of the UK.
- The club is set within an idyllic parkland, with mature trees and natural hazards that shape a challenging yet enjoyable round of golf.
- Designed by the renowned golf architect Harry Vardon, the course takes full advantage of the rolling terrain. I remember telling the members how much I loved the way the trees framed so many of the holes.
- Little Aston’s exclusivity is another element of its uniqueness. The club has maintained tradition and prestige, and membership is highly coveted.
- Despite its private nature, Little Aston welcomes guests with exceptional hospitality. Another example of golf being more accessible in the UK than in the US.
- The club also hosts significant tournaments and championships, adding to its renown in golfing circles.
In conclusion, Little Aston Golf Club is unique not only because of its history and exclusivity but also due to the beauty and challenge of its course. With its rich tradition, beautifully designed layout, and an unwavering commitment to providing a premium golfing experience, Little Aston remains one of the crown jewels of British golf.
And I now hope to host my new friends, Mike and the Geoffs, at The Richmond Golf Club soon.
Feeling blessed,
gPage
“Millions of people were charmed by the homespun golf advice dispensed in Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book, a sports classic that became the best-selling sports book of all time. Yet, beyond the Texas golf courses where Penick happily toiled for the better part of eight decades, few people knew the self-made golf pro who coaxed the best out of countless greats — Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, Betsy Rawls, Mickey Wright — all champions who considered Penick their coach and lifelong friend.” – Kevin Robbins, author of Harvey Penick: The Life and Wisdom of the Man Who Wrote the Book on Golf.
