whos played the Belfry

[Simbo]

been looking at one of these deals from yourgolftravel and was wondering about the courses, we are definately wanting to play the Brabazon, but is it worth paying the extra 50 quid and playing the PGA National instead of the derby???

 

[RGDave]

Hmm. The Belfry is not cheap. I played the Brabazon years ago for £200 4-ball. (if only....)
There are normally some excellent deals to stay overnight and play two courses. Is it worth paying £50 more to get on the national rather than the derby? no. Not unless £50 means nothing to you. I wouldn't play the Belfry on a pay-and-play basis full stop, but there are some mighty fine deals.

 

[Simbo]

1 night 2 roiunds, brabazon+derby. dinner bed and breakfast, £170?? good deal or not?

 

[RGDave]

1 night 2 rounds, brabazon+derby. dinner bed and breakfast, £170?? good deal or not?

Very good i.m.o.

I haven't played the derby, but I walked it with a girl friend who's dad was on the senior tour. I think you could get on for £40. The National is £75.

End of the day, you are playing the Brabazon for way less than the normal rate, even if you only value the room/food at travelodge rates!

I might even go for it myself in the summer.

 

[Oddsocks]

We have just booked the PGA and brabazon with a nights stay dinner and breaky for £250 or £240 a head

 

[haplesshacker]

We had a GM couple of days there a couple of years ago.

Played the PGA and the Brab. Well, didn't so much as play it, I went round a golf course with some clubs!!!

TBH, I think I must have missed the sense of occasion. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the golf, though I would say that the PGA is a tougher and tighter course than the Brab, and if you have your good game with you, is a good course to play.

The Brab itself, despite it's history, was surprisingly 'ordinary'. The greens weren't as terrifying as I'd thought either.

What made it was playing with old and new friends and the organisation that GM put into it.

Sorry. Didn't mean to put a downer on it.

 

[kinhell]

Give the Derby course a miss. It's pretty average. The PGA is a a great course with strategically placed bunkers to catch you out. Definitely play the PGA. They used to take 2 for 1 vouchers too.

 

[Crow]

I'd suggest the opposite to kinhell so it shows it's all down to your preference.

The PGA has a few interesting holes at the start and finish but there's a big section in the middle where I find it very dull, up and down holes with no distinguishing features. It might be a good course to test yourself on but if you're looking for enjoyment then look at the Derby. The PGA has narrow fairways, deep rough and, as has been said, penal bunkers, it's very easy to rack up a BIG total.

The Derby on the other hand is shorter, more varied and to me more memorable. There isn't a great deal to choose between them greenwise and I have to say they're all Belfry greens are excellent, fast, firm and true. If you want to enjoy your day and save a bit of money at the same time then play the Derby, before the Brabazon if possible!

 

[Simbo]

sounds liket he brabazon/derby would be better for us as there will be a few higher handicap players goping

cheers for the input

 

[Grumps]

i played the pga and brabazon with a night in the hotel about 3 years ago in a national railway assoc comp . we payed £105 each then got rembursed £80 from our social dept so all in the weekend only cost £25 .
i prefered the pga to the barb course personally

 

[Aztecs27]

Went to a wedding there yesterday and was gutted I wasn't out on the course. The hotel needs updating but the golf courses and gardens were perfectly maintained and manicured. I will definitely be going back to play the brabazon at some point.

It's clear they are holding onto their now lost reputation, but it's cool to see the plaques on the wall to see the team rooms that were used in the Ryder cup. I wandered into the European team room and you could literally feel the history.

I also made sure I used every urinal so I can say I pee'd in the same urinal as Seve et al did.

 

[Junior]

PGA is far better than the Derby, although its a fairly week finish. £170 is a decent enough deal and the Brabazon has some great holes.

These days though, i think i would prefer to pay less, and have a decent day out (36 holes) at a course near me like Formby or Hillside... normally £90 / £100 odd for the day.

 

[Gazp]

Take loads of dosh with you....you won't get much change out of a fiver for a pint !!

 

[Aztecs27]

Take loads of dosh with you....you won't get much change out of a fiver for a pint !!

Very, very true! Certainly helps when there's a £1600 free bar though!

 

[Gazp]

Crikey...you'll get a sandwich as well for that

 

[Aztecs27]

 

[Losttheplot]

I played the Brabazon last summer in the middle of the heat wave. The course was in fantastic condition and the greens were quick and I mean seriously quick!!! Not even Beau Desert last year was as quick and they were lightning fast.

Played the PGA 3 years ago and thought it was a tough challenge. Very good course. Never played the Derby.

Sounds like there's some great deals at the moment.

The 2-4-1 vouchers were charged at a day rate, not a round of 18 rate. A bit ripe I thought!

 

[viscount17]

played the PGA and Brabazon with hapless and endorse his sentiments. as they were set up the PGA was brutal, really penal rough, which is what made it tougher to play. I know a few who have played in a much more benign state and to whom the Brabazon was tougher.

I did find that you could lose a ball just as easily in that short enfolding 'rough' on the Brabazon as in the knee deep stuff on the PGA.