The Belfry

The Belfry’s Brabazon course occupies a broad stretch of Warwickshire countryside near Sutton Coldfield, created in the 1970s as part of a purpose-built golf resort. Opened in 1977, the course was designed by Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss and quickly established itself as one of England’s principal tournament venues. Its four Ryder Cup matches, in 1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002, have given the Brabazon a particularly strong place in modern European golf history.

The Brabazon is a very different proposition from the natural links courses of the British coast. Broad fairways, substantial bunkering, water hazards and fast, undulating greens give the course a distinctly strategic character, with several holes built around risk-and-reward decisions. The 10th is the most famous example, offering the possibility of reaching the green from the tee, while the closing holes bring water increasingly into play before the demanding finish at the 18th. The course has also been altered and refined over the years, but its original tournament character remains intact. Today, its combination of championship history, dramatic hazards and carefully engineered parkland setting makes the Brabazon one of the most recognisable golf courses in England.