The Belfry - Brabazon - OMG!

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TheSliceMaster

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Played the Brabazon on Tuesday for the first time. Not sure what I was expecting as I have heard plenty of reports that it's not brilliant. Well they are all wrong! Had a superb day and the course was a delight to play. The only other championship courses I've played to compare it to are the old and new at st andrews and the old and new at Sunningdale and I would say that The Brabazon is right up there with them - obviously not as picturesque as Sunningdale (which is simply stunning) but it's a great course to plot your way around and has some superb holes.

What blew me away though was the quality of the course and in particular, the greens!!! OMG, in November these greens were absolutely indescribably good! I would say they were infinitely better now than the greens at my course in summer (burton on trent), and my course is noted for its great greens. They were like putting on the surface of a snooker table they were so smooth and true.

Some great deals around at this time of the year so can recommend a great day out there.

Cheers
 
Played it a few years back just after it had staged the B&H. Wasn't a great fan of the layout and thought it was a bit of a hard slog golf wise for my standard of player but the greens were absolutely fantastic that day too. Initially I thought the practice green might be artificial it was so perfect :eek:

How did you get on at the signature holes, 10 and 18? I made a mess of 10 despite playing safe off the tee and three putted 18 for double after laying up :o but all in all a memorable day.
 
I have to say it was hard to tell whether the greens were articial or real they were so good! Not a pitch mark in sight!

I play off 14 so we decided to play off the yellows to make it more enjoyable - have heard it's tough off the back tees and it was a very windy day. I felt like I played out of my skin - shot an 89 which included three 8s - lots of water! Had 2 birdies, 5 pars, 4 blobs and the rest bogeys I think so was well pleased.

We had a deal that we all had to go for the 10th. I got over the water with my tee shot and was on the banking to the right of the green. Chipped down to about 12 feet and two putted for my par, so well pleased.

On the 18th - wow what a hole! Straight into a tough wind - cleared the water with tee shot - although two of us didn't! middle fairway but didn't try to cut the corner much so had about 200 to the front of the sloping green - pin was about 40 yards on! Decided to lay up - left myself about 170 yards to the pin. Took a 5 iron to the centre level of the green - pin on top level. Completely messed up my first putt and went 25 feet past and off the green! Huge sloping downhill putt back to the hole and it went in for a five! I was running around the green like I had won the Ryder Cup! Great memory!

We had noone in front of us and I was the highest handicapper and it still took us 5 hours so it's quite a brutal course - especially in the wind - hence the 8's !

Great day out!
 
Hi Slice great to read about the Belfry, I played there in May after doing some club testing for (dare I say it) a rival magazine. The greens were 11 on the stimp meter and superb. Like you I cowed up the 10th but hit the fairway on 18 and hit to about 15 feet and lipped the birdie! wow it was great

I have a voucher to play the New course at Sunningdale, can you tell me about it?

Chris
 
Slicemaster,
glad you enjoyed the Brab', I've always rated it myself but many on here don't.
The greens are so true & you hardly have to hit the ball.
They seem to have huge teams of people working on them which must help.
I played Burton on Trent last year, the course was in great nick, your lucky to be playing such a nice course.
 
Hi Slice great to read about the Belfry, I played there in May after doing some club testing for (dare I say it) a rival magazine. The greens were 11 on the stimp meter and superb. Like you I cowed up the 10th but hit the fairway on 18 and hit to about 15 feet and lipped the birdie! wow it was great

I have a voucher to play the New course at Sunningdale, can you tell me about it?

Chris
Click to expand...

Hi Chris

You really are in for a treat at Sunningdale. The course is an absolute gem - it snakes it's way through heather and pines with fabulous views. But it's an absolute brute of a course - very long carries over heather - heather doglegs which if you try to cut the corner and hit the heather you'll never find your ball again! I prefer the New to the Old for the course layout and the majesty of the course, but I played it when I was off 21 and it was just too hard for me. I did enjoy the old as well - bit more room to breath and fabulous bunkering lined with heather!Sunningdale has a great atmosphere and great club house - you'll have a blast! Last time I was there Chris Evans was in the bar and Bernard Gallagher was on the putting green!
 
Slicemaster,
glad you enjoyed the Brab', I've always rated it myself but many on here don't.
The greens are so true & you hardly have to hit the ball.
They seem to have huge teams of people working on them which must help.
I played Burton on Trent last year, the course was in great nick, your lucky to be playing such a nice course.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Burton is a great course and the green keeper is a total star - the greens are fast and true and the year I joined up to 13 on the stimp metre I believe! Great set of members as well so have a really good laugh with them.

Where are you a member?
 
Course ratings are a matter of opinion, so I am very happy for Slice having enjoyed his day at the Belfry, even though I wouldn't pay money to play it again and have turned down free games.

In my opinion, Sunningdale is so much better than The Belfry that it almost like playing a different game. TOC and TNC at St A are very different from one another and from both of the previously mentioned. TNC is possibly the best course of the two, although somewhat less storied.
 
I loved the Brabazon when I played it in the summer. I loved the course and found it a pleasure to play.

I know a few people are not keen on it but I loved it.
 
I loved loving playing it. Loved it!!
:D :D
Click to expand...

Played it a few times, always found it to be a bit of a "slog" but to be fair I was playing off about 23 in those days. Wouldn't mind giving it a bash now.
I remember playing in a two dayer there one year, we played the smaller course first day, had a big competition lined up on the Brabazon the following morning.
Trouble was, there was a big "do" on at the BelAir night club that night and a few of us went in there 'til chucking out time and then carried on drinking in the hotel bar until about 4 in the morning.
Got absolutely slaughtered, nearly missed my 9.00am teeing off time and scored 7 bloody points.
Won the booby prize!!
:D :D :D :D
 
Played it a few times, always found it to be a bit of a "slog" but to be fair I was playing off about 23 in those days. Wouldn't mind giving it a bash now.
Click to expand...

:) :) Are you sure?
 
I have to say apart from the two signature holes (10 and 18) the rest didn't really do it for me. I love the whole atmosphere at Sunningdale and it is a real tough test. Plenty of heather and some of the carries are pretty touch especially if the driving has taken the day off.
 
Is that the Burton-upon-Trent golf club on Ashby road you play at? If so i live just around the corner to there in Brizlincote Valley, i normally play at either Craythorne or sometimes the 9 hole at Branston, cant afford the money to join Burton Golf Club. something like £1200 joining fee then £800 a year after aint it?

Slicemaster,
glad you enjoyed the Brab', I've always rated it myself but many on here don't.
The greens are so true & you hardly have to hit the ball.
They seem to have huge teams of people working on them which must help.
I played Burton on Trent last year, the course was in great nick, your lucky to be playing such a nice course.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Burton is a great course and the green keeper is a total star - the greens are fast and true and the year I joined up to 13 on the stimp metre I believe! Great set of members as well so have a really good laugh with them.

Where are you a member?
Click to expand...
 
I've played it twice and love it. Played last year the day after Noah sailed off in his ark and it was in great condition, not standing water (the Derby was practically floooded the day before) and find the whole venue great.

Just organised a trip for 12 of us to go next March, got a great value 2 night - 3 round offer. The others who haven't played there are like kids before Christmas, they can't wait to take on the 10th..
 
Played the Brabazon on Tuesday for the first time. Not sure what I was expecting as I have heard plenty of reports that it's not brilliant. Well they are all wrong! Had a superb day and the course was a delight to play. The only other championship courses I've played to compare it to are the old and new at st andrews and the old and new at Sunningdale and I would say that The Brabazon is right up there with them - obviously not as picturesque as Sunningdale (which is simply stunning) but it's a great course to plot your way around and has some superb holes.

What blew me away though was the quality of the course and in particular, the greens!!! OMG, in November these greens were absolutely indescribably good! I would say they were infinitely better now than the greens at my course in summer (burton on trent), and my course is noted for its great greens. They were like putting on the surface of a snooker table they were so smooth and true.

Some great deals around at this time of the year so can recommend a great day out there.

Cheers
Click to expand...

Played it once and loved it - how anyone doesnt rate it makes me laugh, awesome track. Knocked it round in +1 had a brilliant day.
 
Slicemaster,
glad you enjoyed the Brab', I've always rated it myself but many on here don't.
The greens are so true & you hardly have to hit the ball.
They seem to have huge teams of people working on them which must help.
I played Burton on Trent last year, the course was in great nick, your lucky to be playing such a nice course.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Burton is a great course and the green keeper is a total star - the greens are fast and true and the year I joined up to 13 on the stimp metre I believe! Great set of members as well so have a really good laugh with them.

Where are you a member?
Click to expand...

I'm at Ashbourne.
When I first joined the greens were awful but we've since got rid of that useless greenkeeper and brought in Hoylake's former assistant greenkeeper. He's made it alot better.
 
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