My experience of the Belfry...

[Kellfire]

A few pictures from The Belfry, would highly recommend it to any golfer.

The Ryder Cup course, the Brabazon, where nothing went my way and I think I carded around 10 Stableford points and a mammoth score of 125 or so. I don't know if I was intimidated or what, but everything was just going wrong. I couldn't read the greens at all.

This is the famous tenth hole which is an ultimate risk/reward hole with a drivable green but with very little angle into it. I was here in two and more than happy with my work.

The 18th is a stunning end to the round...

Then we have the PGA National Course, more of a linksy feel than the Brabazon and not quite as spectacular. Still plenty of water in play and a good stern test of golf. I was much better on the Sunday and carded a 104 with 32 points.

As close to a hole in one as I got all weekend at 187 yard 8th hole...

And this was where my tee shot ended up on the 159 yard 11th, which without being spectacular was enough to win closest to the pin on the day with many people taking on the bunker to the front right and losing it to its sandy depths.

Some serious bunkers on this par 4.

The 18th on the PGA National, approaching the Belfry Clubhouse again...

Then a couple of pictures from inside the clubhouse...

 

[Ethan]

Glad you had a good day, but The Belfry really divides people. I think it is dull and characterless beyond belief and the feature holes are just not very good holes at all. I would turn down the chance to play it for free. Actually, I have done so a few times.

 

[HughJars]

Glad you had a good day, but The Belfry really divides people. I think it is dull and characterless beyond belief and the feature holes are just not very good holes at all. I would turn down the chance to play it for free. Actually, I have done so a few times.

Too many people have said similar to you for it to be just personal preference, not a course I am in any hurry at all to play.

 

[Kellfire]

I must admit that I am very vanilla in terms of the quality of courses that I have played so for me this was such a massive step up and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

[Smiffy]

Glad to see you had a good time, and some nice pictures there.
I've played the Brabazon a couple of times in the past, albeit a long, long time ago.
Was chopping around (badly) off 23/24 handicap in those days so I found it a bit of a slog to be honest but still enjoyed it.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It's nice to have on the golfing CV as played especially given its RC history but not actually a great course. I missed out on the GM day there last year and think that in something like that the day would have distracted from the course anyway.

Not one I'd rush back to play in a hurry although if I was offered a free round I'd swallow my pride and take it. Shallow - moi?

 

[Spinn77]

I've been round the Brabazon, and i thought it was excellent. To score well you really have to hit quality approach shots, having hit a decent drive. A good test.

Glad you enjoyed the trip

 

[rickg]

I don't understand all this Brabazon beating ....I've played it a few times and think it's an excellent test and an enjoyable course.

 

[Ethan]

Like I said, it divides opinion. You get Brabazon bashing because many people genuinely do not rate it. You don't get much Sunningdale or Walton Heath bashing because people generally rate those.

Any great course I have played, and I have played a few, I can remember every hole months after. At the Belfry, I could barely remember the front nine at the turn.

It may have some difficult holes, although that is no measure of greatness, but most of it is just rather boring. And the feature holes, the 10th and 18th, are not good golf holes.

 

[dean]

how much is it to play the belfry

 

[Kellfire]

We did it as part of a deal where we stayed a Saturday night, played two rounds and got our meals. We paid £270.

 

[Midnight]

Glad you enjoyed it mate. It is one I want to play next year. How many/if any balls did you misplace?

Cheers

Midnight...

 

[Kellfire]

I lost the entire six complimentary balls they gave me within about 12 holes. Think about ten over the course of two days. Oops.

 

[Macster]

Glad you enjoyed it, but I'm with the massiv, I wouldnt be in a rush to go back i'm afraid.

 

[viscount17]

admittedly I wasn't playing well either day when I visited with GM last year. my recollection of it was that the PGA was the tougher of the two - penal rough, while the Brabazon looked quite polished - though that short stuff off the fairway could easily swallow a ball.

I think the Brabazon 18th is the best closing hole I've played to date, (except for duffing the second shot I played it pretty well, and I still made a 5).

I'd like to play both again, simply to play them better.

 

[Imurg]

Not played the Brabazon but I have played the PGA twice and although its a good track, its not worth £70.
We played on a 2-4-1 so it only cost £35 and that's a much more realistic cost. The Brabazon isn't worth the huge sums they're asking. It's a decent course but not 140 quid's worth.

 

[haplesshacker]

I think the Brab gets it's kudos from it's past history. And whilst it was a great opportunity to play it and the PGA last year on the GM outing. Most of it was pretty forgetable a year down the line. Though I do suffer from short term memory loss pretty badly!

What I remember the most is that I just couldn't do it justice at the time. The score wasn't horrendous, it just wasn't good. Though I didn't come off disappointed with the score.

As a track (both of them), I don't think the price is justified, as I said, past kudos 'an all.

Would I play it again. Yep. At the right deal. But to be honest, it was the company that made it. Steve's (Viscount17) drive on the 18th from what I remember, was spot on.

The greens aren't as terrifying as you'd think, but then again, I prefer faster greens.

It was a great opportunity to play a 'championship' track and I'm glad I did. But ask me to talk through both courses. I couldn't.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'd play there again but it would have to be a pretty good deal or another GM event. I wouldn't go out of my way to make a trip there and would rather play the Hotchkin at Woodhull or find a decnet links course somewhere.