The Belfry

Rumpokid

Rumpokid

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Just wondering what other folk think of The Belfry as a whole?
Just returned, and found it a little underwhelming to be honest.
We played the Derby, (should have played Brabazon), and to be honest played loads more courses around home,that i would put above this one.Was well below par (not the scorecard), (the9th hole bunkers being totally excavated,hole should have been closed).... Managed to suffer collateral damage to my beloved MP58's (7 iron),due to part of a large meteorite in the 8th fairway bunker..It is still down there, awaiting some form of repair (the club).
However, would love to have a crack at the Brabazon, so would not rule it out again..Mixed bag trip really.....Any views???
 
Belfry is overhyped imo

Derby is a cow field

Pga is quite good

Brabazon is overrated with a couple good holes

Lots of keep deals at the moment though
 
Rumpokid said:
Just wondering what other folk think of The Belfry as a whole?
Just returned, and found it a little underwhelming to be honest.
We played the Derby, (should have played Brabazon), and to be honest played loads more courses around home,that i would put above this one.Was well below par (not the scorecard), (the9th hole bunkers being totally excavated,hole should have been closed).... Managed to suffer collateral damage to my beloved MP58's (7 iron),due to part of a large meteorite in the 8th fairway bunker..It is still down there, awaiting some form of repair (the club).
However, would love to have a crack at the Brabazon, so would not rule it out again..Mixed bag trip really.....Any views???
Click to expand...

my thoughts as well- don't know where all the hype comes from (1 hole I guess). Hundreds of far better courses to play
 
I've never played it myself but the reviews from friends who have haven't been great (I'm talking Brabazon) and that basically you're paying a fair old chunk of cash to play 2 holes, the 10th and the 18th!
 
I much preferred the 3rd I think it is on the Brab. It's a par 5 with water down the left. Cracking hole. If you're in the area I would rate the warwickshire above the Brab. Especially given that it's a ninth of the price.
 
I have only ever played the Derby when we went there 5 years ago for my 30th and I had been playing a year. Was seriously underwhelmed and the hotel felt like it was a bit of a travel lodge. Would like to go back and play the PGA and Brab, just so I have and I understand De Vere have done a serious refurb on the hotel, which could make the accommodation side a little nicer. Will definitely go back, but not to play the Derby.
 
You would have been underwhelmed its November and its a parkland course. You want a nice winter course then play a heathland.

The problem with the belfry at the moment is they have a serious case of disease in the greens on all 3 courses. The pga has pretty much lost the greens. I witnessed a group of 16 yanks walk off after 2 holes and demand their money back.

The management are also milking the crap out the course's to get some of their 27 million back. This has made the belfry a very unappealing place to play for serious golfers as rounds are 5 hours plus and full of morons that dont know what a rake or pitch mark tool is. As a member if fed up and looking elsewhere
 
If your in the area the Forest of Arden less than 15 minutes away is a better course than any at the Belfry and you have the added attraction of the deer roaming about if your game is not what you hope for! ;)
As has been said many times on here the Belfy survives because of the history with the Ryder Cup not because the courses are particularly good. Of the 3 courses I prefer the PGA but I wouldn't say any of them were memorable courses.
 
Stayed and played this year, hotel looks very nice now, pro shop is superb but pricey, locker rooms are very good and as you can imagine it's full of Ryder Cup memorabilia.

I enjoyed the Brabazon, understand where people come from with it but feel lots of comments very harsh, I would still saythey are amongst the best greens ive seen.

The PGA was very good, didn't play the Derby.
 
If the brabazon had never hosted a major tournament then people would sing its phrases all day. When a venue holds multiple ryder cups people expect the garden of eden and get disappointed when the get anything less.

I've yet to play a course that is kept as well as the brabazon in its prime
 
The Derby is a poor golf course the PGA and the Brab are decent enough, I agree with Hovis though people often expect to much when they arrive. Its regularly the case with these big resorts, afterall they are only flags in a field just some fields are nicer than others.

I would rate the Celtic Manor experience much higher than the Belfry experience
 
The Belfry is somewhere that I really need to try again. I played in the first ever GM organised Forum meet there and it was a great deal. Problem is I was a high handicapper with little experience and both courses (Especially the PGA) chewed me up. In fact I made a right numpty of myself playing the PGA with Mike H, I could hardly hit a ball.

On that basis, I would love to give it another try now I can play it better.

My main issue with this, and a few other courses, is the costs associated with the day, especially if you include an overnight stay. Food and drink is massively expensive and, as someone who enjoys quite a few post round drinks, especially if I am staying at the course, this can be pretty off putting when it comes to choice of venue.
 
Derby - like any track anywhere in the country, a typical course for any kind of hacker.

PGA - played it on a windy day and it gave me a real pasting, absolutely loved the test it gave me that day. I rate it higher that the Brabazon.

Brabazon - as others have said, a couple of nice holes but on the whole its an ok track.

When I played them all (at the time) it was the best I'd ever played......I was lucky enough to play the Marquess at Woburn earlier this year. Absolute different class.
 
I was organising our "Captains trip" a few years ago. For the same deal (2 nights DBB + 3 rounds Sun-Tue) I was quoted £189 at Oulton Hall (Leeds), £184 at Slaley Hall and £329 at the Belfry. Guess where we didn't go? I have played the PGA since which was OK but nothing to rave about. Overpriced and poor value for money IMO. Yes the Brabazon has a (little) bit of history and is no doubt a good track and in good nick etc but I can't ever see me choosing to go there when I could go to so many other very similar venues for a lot less.
 
sweatysock41 said:
If your in the area the Forest of Arden less than 15 minutes away is a better course than any at the Belfry and you have the added attraction of the deer roaming about if your game is not what you hope for! ;)
As has been said many times on here the Belfy survives because of the history with the Ryder Cup not because the courses are particularly good. Of the 3 courses I prefer the PGA but I wouldn't say any of them were memorable courses.
Click to expand...

Just goes to show that we are all different.

IMO the Forest of Arden is the most overpriced, uninspiring, poorly designed and badly drained course I have ever had the misfortune to play and I have played around 200 courses in the UK.

As for the Belfry I would agree with a number of others on here.
The Derby - Don't bother.
PGA- OK but rather featureless,
The Brabazon - Good but not great as a design but always in terrific condition

As hovis says the venue perhaps suffers from people arriving with expectations that are too high.
 
sweatysock41 said:
If your in the area the Forest of Arden less than 15 minutes away is a better course than any at the Belfry and you have the added attraction of the deer roaming about if your game is not what you hope for! ;)
Click to expand...

Out of interest does anyone know membership fees at the FOA as I'm thinking of a change?
 
MetalMickie said:
As hovis says the venue perhaps suffers from people arriving with expectations that are too high.
Click to expand...

I have to say the actual venue itself (proshop/bar area etc) was fantastic and probably of the standard I expected of such a well known venue but the owners had spent circa £30m on it and as Hovis said had the Belfry not held 4 Ryder Cups people would probably talk more highly of it than they do now.
 
Fyldewhite said:
I was organising our "Captains trip" a few years ago. For the same deal (2 nights DBB + 3 rounds Sun-Tue) I was quoted £189 at Oulton Hall (Leeds), £184 at Slaley Hall and £329 at the Belfry. Guess where we didn't go? I have played the PGA since which was OK but nothing to rave about. Overpriced and poor value for money IMO. Yes the Brabazon has a (little) bit of history and is no doubt a good track and in good nick etc but I can't ever see me choosing to go there when I could go to so many other very similar venues for a lot less.
Click to expand...

Agree with this. Was looking at booking a stay at The Belfry in Jan, but the price was ridiculous if you wanted to play The Brabazon. Decided to book Formby Hall instead, looks amazing, and was WAY cheaper. Brabazon is definitely on the list of UK courses I want to play though, might not be spectacular, but worth it for those few signature holes for me!
 
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