The Belfry

Course Type
Parkland
Designer
TBC
Par
Brabazon 72; National 72; Derby 69 
Slope
 
Rating
4.5
Golf Professional
TBC
Green Fees
Reviews
9

Course Information

ADDRESS:
Wishaw, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B769PR, United Kingdom
WHAT/THREE/WORDS:
Unknown
TELEPHONE:
01675 470301
DESCRIPTION:

The Belfry, located in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, is home to the famous Brabazon Course, which has hosted the Ryder Cup four times—the most of any course in the world. The 18-hole parkland course has a par of 72 and stretches 7,255 yards.

Designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas, the Brabazon is known for its iconic risk-and-reward holes, such as the par-4 10th, where players can drive the green. The course has also hosted the British Masters and the PGA Championship, with past winners including Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, and Paul McGinley.

Positioned near the M42, The Belfry is easily accessible from Birmingham and Coventry. Local attractions include Drayton Manor Theme Park and the historic Tamworth Castle, making it an excellent spot for both golf and family fun.

Courses Rating

Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value
Overall Course Rating
4.5 / 5

Share your thoughts and opinions on your visit to this club and help other golfers who may be considering playing here!

These reviews represent the personal view of the individual and are not those of The Social Golfer.

Location / Map

The Belfry map and location.

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Course Scorecards

Course Tee Holes Par Rating Slope
The Derby Yellow 18 69 70.2 132
The Belfry - Brabazon Red 18 68 73.6 143
The Belfry - PGA National Yellow 18 70 72.7 142
The Belfry Yellow 18 72 69.3 127
The Belfry - PGA National White 18 68 73.1 138

Regulars At This Course

Gary Johnson
12.0
phil dutton
28.0
Dennis Nock
17.6
Simon Daysh
9.0
Steve Beniston
36.0
Sam Johnston
0.0

Golf Club Reviews

Paul Houghton
18.1
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?
Date Monday, 27, September 2021
Terry Ainscough
36.0
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money

Great course (The Brabazon)

Fantastic course to play. 18 great holes, lots of water and bunkers with tight fairways. Paid £60 for The Brabazon course and it was worth every penny.
From the moment you arrive you are made to feel welcome by all the staff, no matter what part of The Belfry you are in. Great practice facilities with driving range, putting greens and short game area.
Will be going back again.
Date Saturday, 28, February 2015
Brian Scott
1.5
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money

Brabazon Course

It does not live up to the Hype.Some holes very ordinary.
Clubhouse food excellent.
If you want somewhere special try Woburn
Date Saturday, 19, April 2014
Paul Thorne
18.1
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money

The Belfry, Brabazon Course

What can i say, what a beautiful laid out course, every hole is different from the last. Tight cut fairways, tree lined, bunkers well placed for the wayward shot and lots of water in all the wrong places for me. I didnt shoot a good round but came away thinking, wow what a course and the facilities are second to none. A great day and a thank you to my playing partners Daryl, Brian and David for making one i will probably never forget.
Date Saturday, 12, April 2014
Andy Knight
16.0
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money

The Brabazon is at its best.

The Brabazon is in the very best of conditions all round. The fairways have been watered throughout the dry summer and are like a carpet. The greens are very fast and true. A championship course in the minority.
Date Sunday, 09, October 2011
stuart mcgowan
36.0
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money

Brabazon at the belfry

this is only the second time i have played the brabazon and the greens were superb, this time we got a little momento of our visit which i think was a nice touch, i have played the PGA a dozen times or so and think it is a better course, this does not mean that it is, it just means it suits me better they are both great courses and well worth the money. the greens on both courses differ from day to day in speed but read pretty well not that i am an expert at reading greens
Date Wednesday, 20, April 2011
Ian Mullins
19.4
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money

A Special Place.......

When you arrive at this course you just know you are somewhere special...I didnt really know what to expect before leaving home but the first thing I noticed was the atmosphere - you just know ever other player there is there because of their real love of golf!!

Of course, The Brabazon is the real draw and despite watching many Ryder cups on the TV, nothing really beats being on the hallowed turf. However, for me the buzz in the bar and the restaurant will be as memorable as the round - although I wont forget reaching the 18th green in two (albeit the greenside bunker - I didnt care!).

I wont bore you with the course because 4 Ryder Cups in 20 years tells its own story but its sheer quality!

On Day Two we played The Derby which whilst not The Brabazon was still good and just as enjoyable. All in all a great couple of days and a place that all serious lovers of the game should experience.

Book now!

Date Tuesday, 09, March 2010
TSG
36.0
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money

The Derby

Quite friendly and short. Good practice ground.
Date Thursday, 02, July 2009
Paul Langford
20.3
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money

The Belfry...Brabazon

The Brabazon was the toughest course i have ever played the rough was long and thick and there is water everywhere on the front nine after the second.the golf were fast and true.
Got a par on the tenth which felt great and managed to hit a perfect drive at the last right next to Christy O,Connors plack on the fairway and managed to clear the other water in 3 managed to get a 6 which after the round i had had felt great. It was a fantastic experence to play one of the top ten course in the world. But i wouldn't recommend it to many golfers over a handicap of 18.the pro shop is out of this world like a supermarket for golfers and the hotel was very nice lots of celbrity watching also played the Derby which was a very average course which could do with a bit of watering.
Date Thursday, 04, June 2009