User Reviews
for The Belfry, West Midlands, UK
| 5 Stars: | 3 | |
| 4 Stars: | 1 | |
| 3 Stars: | 0 | |
| 2 Stars: | 0 | |
| 1 star: | 0 |
Reviews 1 - 4 from 4
Original version
A resort with light and shadow
Reviewed August 2, 2025
Played end of June 2025, HCP 17
The Ryder Cup course “Brabazon” is a classic parkland course with quite varied fairways and a relatively large amount of water.
Such hazards are present on 14 holes (according to starter Terry, who cheerfully provided our group with some tips before sending them on their rounds). At times, you can elegantly play around the water—but on some holes, you also have to cross it head-on.
The greens are also tricky! They're mostly quite large and often steeply rising or falling, which isn't obvious when approaching from a distance. As always, familiarity with the course would be an advantage...
Bunkers are also plentiful—although mostly not very deep, they are often relatively large. Fortunately, the sand is very fine, making it easy to play out of them.
In general, the condition of the course (tees, fairways, greens) is first-class!
Unfortunately, there is one "minor" limitation: the course is home to hordes of geese. In some places, you have to wade through large patches of bird droppings. The creatures were apparently relocated for the Ryder Cup, but unfortunately, they were reintroduced after the event.
The aircraft and car noise, which is clearly audible on a few runways, also proves to be disturbing at times.
A cart is not absolutely necessary – the course is largely flat and the paths between the holes are not exceptionally long.
Conclusion: Despite the geese and the background noise, it's a fantastic, challenging course (slope 142!) with exciting holes! A near 4 stars. (In the "Golf Bear Ranking": 7 out of 10 points.)
Although the PGA National is located far from the sea and has a few water hazards, its style is more of a links-style course than a parkland course.
The tracks are relatively "barren"; there are only a few trees in the terrain, but they rarely come into play. This also means that you'll always have an unobstructed view of some ugly power poles and overhead lines.
What is very nice, however, is the peace and quiet on the pitch – unlike the “Brabazon”, there is no car noise disturbing the game here.
The layout is rather unspectacular, and most of the tracks don't leave a lasting impression.
The greatest “danger” comes from the numerous bunkers, some of which are quite large but not particularly deep.
There are also a number of moats – unfortunately some of them well hidden – running across the fairways.
The greens are moderately undulating and quite fast – fun to play, especially since they are in first-class condition.
Unfortunately, this contrasts with the tees and especially the fairways, which exhibit large patches of bare ground over long stretches. It gives the impression that the majority of the maintenance is invested in the "Brabazon" course—at the expense of its "little brother," "PGA National. "Although a cart is not absolutely necessary due to the length (no long paths) and hilly nature (relatively flat), the terrain is"typically left-hand "hard - if you want to put strain on your joints, it is better to get a cart.
It's nice that at PGA National, a starter also welcomes the players and sends them off on their round with some tips and anecdotes.
Conclusion: I somehow expected more from a course called"PGA National "– most of the holes are quite unspectacular, and the condition is nowhere near as sensationally good as at"Brabazon. "Thus, only a solid 3 stars. (In the"Golf Bear Ranking": 6 out of 10 points.)
A quick summary of the entire resort:
A huge facility, with a correspondingly large number of guests. Long paths within the resort, the driving range is set back from the road and, like the short game area, must be booked/paid for separately. It's not unusual for such a large building complex to be constantly working on it; from 7 a.m. onwards, the construction noise penetrates the rooms. You have to keep the windows closed, which, due to the lack of air conditioning (a bit weak for a 4-star hotel), leads to very hot rooms in warm weather. The large construction sites also somewhat spoil the fun of the game – one is particularly prominent on the last hole at the PGA National, and occasionally another on the 10th hole at the Brabazon spoils the visual and acoustic aspects. It's a shame that the pond in the resort, where you would normally sit comfortably, has been drained and is full of mud, construction materials, and tools.
Translated by Google.
- Original version
Ryder Cup Place BRABAZON at its best
Reviewed May 22, 2017
We had a flight in sight on Monday, 15:00 am. So we could leave enough time to enjoy the place calmly and without stress after the usual instructions.
The greens I would have imagined more quickly and the sand in the bunkers was also relatively hard.
The fairways are very wide so there is enough space to attack and with the motto "ATTACK the FLAG" it became an unforgettable afternoon
The lanes 10 and 17 and 18 are unforgettable moments
The clubhouse after that was a crowning conclusion
We hope not to have played the last time here
Translated by Google.
- Original version
The Golf Eldorado in England
Reviewed November 30, 2016
A cult Golf Club, with 3x 18-hole courses.
The main square has been "The Brabazon" played on the 4x the Ryder Cup. Golf from absolute finest - square design, landscape, difficulty, care - a good in all categories. Specifically, the 10th hole is the signature hole, a couple with a 4 Green as small as a postage stamp and protected by water. Ballesteros played there in the Ryder Cup directly onto the green. For playable single handicapper also made!
In the clubhouse you can feel Ryder Cup atmosphere designed History! A real must for golf fans!
Translated by Google.
- Original version
Top Resort
Reviewed July 27, 2015
We had the pleasure to play three times in the Belfry Golf Club. The whole plant exudes the old world charm of England. The staff at the front desk and the pro shop - with extensive supply and resource-advice is very friendly, without being intrusive. Very good food offer are in the Club Restaurant. Again, the staff is extremely friendly.
Of the three places we played twice Brabazon, and even the PGA course. Very friendly welcome with a short introduction by the starter, including Star gift.
Brabazon course: if you play the course will be a realized why here four times already played the Ryder Cup. The course requires tactically clever game, every obstacle is placed "correctly". Fast greens partly. In several plateaus and heavily undulated require concentrated putt. Top maintenance condition of fairways, including the tee areas.
PGA Course: as a challenging course with equivalent care condition.
We enjoyed the three rounds despite typical English weather. The tip of the starter "Do not forget, Golf Is Just A Game" has helped us through some difficulty away.
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