Handsworth 2026

One of Birmingham's long-standing golfing gems, bouncy summer conditions, a Seve-like eagle chip on the 18th, and a winning score of 48 points that made the most of every ounce of run in the fairways — Handsworth served up a really memorable day.

Course Highlights

Handsworth Golf Club is one of Birmingham's long-standing golfing gems. The course offers a surprisingly peaceful escape, with tree-lined fairways and a layout that rewards accuracy as much as ambition. Guests often praise the club's welcoming atmosphere, its well-kept greens, and the sense of heritage that comes from playing a course shaped by generations of local golfers.

The clubhouse is a real focal point too — relaxed, friendly, and ideal for everything from a post-round drink to larger celebrations. A proper home-away-from-home feel that Golf Pairs days thrive on.

Weather Conditions

The course, like everywhere at the moment, was burnt solid — proper firm and fast conditions from tee to green. But real credit to the greenkeeping team, who had given extra care to the delivery of quality putting surfaces. The result was some excellent roll and beautiful breaking putts, with cries of ecstasy and frustration heard from all ends of the course in equal measure. Classic summer golf on a course playing at its running best.

Memorable Moments

The shot of the day belonged to Marcus Klepka, who produced a genuinely brilliant piece of short-game magic — a "Seve" like chip shot from 57 yards on the 18th that found the bottom of the cup for eagle. The kind of moment that lives in the clubhouse for years to come.

Tournament Highlights

The bouncy, running conditions rewarded anyone who could keep the ball on the short stuff — and the leaderboard reflected it. A brilliant winning score of 48 points topped the field, with second and third just a shot and two behind. Genuinely tight scoring right at the top.

Winners

Huge congratulations to Aaron Billington and Martin Sanders, who took the top spot with a superb 48 points. A fantastic round in firm-and-fast conditions and a thoroughly deserved win.

In the runners-up spot were Dean Carpenter and Richard Phillips with a brilliant 47 points — just a single point off the top of the leaderboard, and a score that would have won plenty of other days.

Rounding out the top three were Matthew Dale and Michael Jones with 46 points, sealing 3rd place on a better back nine — a great effort right in the mix.

On the Course

Plenty of action away from the main leaderboard too:

• Men's Longest Drive (18th) — Henry Wallace (an incredible tee shot that left just 117 yards in on a par-5!)
• Ladies' Longest Drive — Gillian Lamming (a beauty of a drive)
• Nearest the Pin (6th) — Matt Williams (a brilliant 2 feet from the hole)

Well played to all three for stepping up when it mattered.

A brilliant day at a true Birmingham classic. Thanks to everyone who played, to Handsworth Golf Club for hosting us so well, and huge congratulations once again to Aaron and Martin on their win — and to Marcus for a Seve-like moment we'll be talking about for a while yet. Onto the next one.

Leaderboard can be found here.