Review's of The Belfry
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money
One off the Bucket list - Brabazon
Even to a non golfer, the Belfry resonates with the Ryder Cup. Like Wembley it has iconic status. This fixture had been cancelled 5 times either due to weather or the pandemic. Just pulling into the Belfry complex you get a feeling of size and grandeur. The complex is vast it does take some time to get your bearings. The staff are very helpful. I had a buggy, but those that don't their bags are loaded onto shuttle vans and driven to the tees. They offer overnight storage for all your equipment so you don't leave it in your cars.
I had two rounds booked. One on the Derby and one on the Brabazon. The Derby is a gentle course pretty forgiven, but with very slick greens. I really enjoyed it at 6100, its a mature Parkland course, with widish fairways. I heard some poor comments as to the Derby, but I really enjoyed it.
A drinks van meets you at the tenth, with a few over priced refreshments.
The club shop at the Belfry has Harrods prices. A shirt will set you back £80, I chose a Stroke Saver at £6 for a souvenir.
The Brabazon is amazing. You have to have your photo taken on the first tee with the famous sign behind you. You are standing on the Tee were four Ryder Cups have been held. Teeing off as Woods, Nicholas, Faldo and Seve once did. Its simply amazing. I managed to par the first which settled me down. The fairways are like carpets, the greens were slower than the Derby but ran true. At 6500 off the yellows the course is not overly long as to modern standards, Dechambeau would be driving onto most of the greens, but for most average golfers most of the holes do give you a chance of at least a bogey. Hole 3 is tough with masses of water and a tiny green. Hole 6 is a monster with water all down your left hand side. Hole 7 is all carry over water. The half way house does the best sausage rolls I have ever tasted, mine was bought for me so I cannot tell you a price, but I bet it was not cheap! Hole 10 the signature hole is where Seve Ballesteros famously drove the green, walking off with a bogey here I was more than pleased. The course just does not have a bad hole. I thoroughly enjoyed playing it. I even cleared the 230 rough carry on the 18th even though I did miss the green!
The Hotel is very accommodating, the food was not overly expensive but the drinks were, £5 for a coffee!! The rooms where excellent all air conditioned. All I would say is that there was a lack of handrails within the hotel and externally, which as an ambulant person I was disappointed in. The hotel staff were superb carrying my bags, ever so friendly.
My trip was subsidised and was only £150 including buggies. Certainly one of my favourite locations I have visited in recent years. If you get a chance to play it do, I hear the PGA National is a cracking course as well, maybe I will return and play that one next time?
