Belfry, Celtic Manor or Brocket Hall?

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Alan Fines

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I am after everyone's opinion on the best experience from the above courses.

We are a fourball staying for one night playing two rounds.

I would appreciate everyone's opinion on the courses, facilities and rooms.

We only go away a few time a years so I want to make the best choice.

Cheers,

Alan
 
Belfry is awesome, I had a really great day there with Lump in the summer.

I am assured by someone who knows that Brocket is a bit special!!
 
Never played Brocket Hall.

Of the other two - I would say if it is Summer - both venues are brilliant. Pay for the 'famous' course and one other. It is worth it IMO. If it is Winter - the 2010 is a bog. Rooms and food great. Bar prices - silly.
 
Alan Fines said:
We are going at the end of March?
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Can't predict the weather! I played CM the 2010 and Montgomery when it had not been raining tooooooo much (its Wales, so it always rains a bit!). We choose to play Montgomery on Day one - before the main event on Day 2. We took a buggy on the Montgomery as it is quite hilly and we did not want to be exhausted on the 2010. Had a great time. Truly memorable. At my level - the 2010 is a big beast of a course - especially in the wind.
Belfry - we played the Brabazon on Day 1 and then the PGA on day 2. Again - absolutely fantastic time.
I would imagine that you will end up playing both at some point - so go for whichever one you fancy the most. Im sure you will get to the other eventually - top quality venues.
 
Alan Fines said:
I am after everyone's opinion on the best experience from the above courses.

We are a fourball staying for one night playing two rounds.

I would appreciate everyone's opinion on the courses, facilities and rooms.

We only go away a few time a years so I want to make the best choice.

Cheers,

Alan
Click to expand...
Is budget an issue, What are you looking at spending?
 
Even as a member of the belfry I would say celtic manor. As good as the pga and brabazon are they look pretty somber in the winter. You need to wait until late may until the belfry
Comes into its own. Saying that, they offer great winter rates so you'll have to way it up. If you choose the belfry then bring some vasaline so when you get a ass raping at the bar its more bareable.
 
I wouldn't cross the road to play the 2010 again. The winter deals seem good, but it's an unplayable bog. The Monty is more fun IMO but not worth a special visit.

I'd go for brocket, never played it but it has to be better than the other two.
 
hovis said:
Even as a member of the belfry I would say celtic manor. As good as the pga and brabazon are they look pretty somber in the winter. You need to wait until late may until the belfry
Comes into its own. Saying that, they offer great winter rates so you'll have to way it up. If you choose the belfry then bring some vasaline so when you get a ass raping at the bar its more bareable.
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Having played both I appreciate what you say about the Belfry but I fear that in late March Celtic Manor could well still be a little boggy.

VFM may still be slightly better at Belfry since deals continue to be available whilst the owners continue to spend their £28 million.
 
I love Celtic Manor. The hotel is very nice, but it can be quite pricey. They do some good deals though.

I went to the Belfry about 4 years ago and the hotel was a bit of a dump TBH and I believe they are in the process of revamping it under the De Vere label?

TBH I would probably go for Celtic Manor, but it may be a little out of your budget unless you are going midweek (assuming that £200 is all in)
 
woody69 said:
I love Celtic Manor. The hotel is very nice, but it can be quite pricey. They do some good deals though.

I went to the Belfry about 4 years ago and the hotel was a bit of a dump TBH and I believe they are in the process of revamping it under the De Vere label?

TBH I would probably go for Celtic Manor, but it may be a little out of your budget unless you are going midweek (assuming that £200 is all in)
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The belfry have completely re vamped all the hotel as part of there 35,000,000 facelift( half of it was pulled down) and I have to admit it looks the dogs.
 
The belfry is ok, the PGA and Brabazon are nice to play once.

Brocket hall courses are both interesting layouts, however be warned they have lost their exclusivity and are really really busy, accordingly the condition has dropped and attention to detail simply isn't as good as it once was.

Any reason why your homing in on these courses, they are alright but there is better to be had.
 
I walked round Brocket Hall on Christmas Day for a pre-lunch stroll it the family and the condition was pretty good. Proper tees and greens all round and the fairways were in pretty good nick. Quite a few playing as well!

I played the Palmerston a couple of years ago and did a little write-up of you do a search. The Melbourne looked a good test too.

Think it has a good vibe for a special occasion and would be my choice (having been to the two others although not played all courses)
 
Golf course wise Brocket Hall ahead of the other two for me (Dads a member at Brocket so Im lucky that I get to play it quite a lot). Most say the Palmerston is better than the Melbourne course though both are excellent and there is little to choose between them (theres also excellent practise facilities and a cracking little par 3 course). Personally not a huge fan of either Belfry or Celtic Manor courses but I know there are plenty that rate them more so than I do and obviously they have "history" on their side

Where Brocket falls down compared to the other two is the additional facilities. Obviously there is the restaurant in the golf club and the bar (which are likely to be quite quiet on a weekend evening) but other than you only have the extremely pricey Auberge Du Lac restaurant on site. If you only want dinner and a quiet night then great, if you want any more than it may not be the best venue (your alternative is to head into either Wheathampstead or further afield St Albans but the travelling not ideal imo (if you want pub or curry house recommendations let me know lol)
 
Never done Brocket. Have done Belfry in all weathers and have always enjoyed it. Played 2010 once in May but never stayed at the hotel or played either of the other courses there (the club house is on a different level!).

If your looking about £200, have you considered Woodhall Spa?
 
fundy said:
Golf course wise Brocket Hall ahead of the other two for me (Dads a member at Brocket so Im lucky that I get to play it quite a lot). Most say the Palmerston is better than the Melbourne course though both are excellent and there is little to choose between them (theres also excellent practise facilities and a cracking little par 3 course). Personally not a huge fan of either Belfry or Celtic Manor courses but I know there are plenty that rate them more so than I do and obviously they have "history" on their side

Where Brocket falls down compared to the other two is the additional facilities. Obviously there is the restaurant in the golf club and the bar (which are likely to be quite quiet on a weekend evening) but other than you only have the extremely pricey Auberge Du Lac restaurant on site. If you only want dinner and a quiet night then great, if you want any more than it may not be the best venue (your alternative is to head into either Wheathampstead or further afield St Albans but the travelling not ideal imo (if you want pub or curry house recommendations let me know lol)
Click to expand...

Second this :thup:

Also maybe somewhere like St Melion is worth considering
 
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