The Belfry Brabazon
Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss carved the Brabazon out of Midlands farmland in 1977, and it went on to stage the Ryder Cup four times, more than any course on earth. A par 72 of 7,255 yards with two of the most famous finishing holes in the game.
Photo: The Belfry Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
No course has hosted the Ryder Cup more often than the Brabazon at The Belfry, which staged it in 1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002. Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss built it on flat Warwickshire farmland in 1977, shaping water, mounding and trees into an American style championship test that has been lengthened and refined into a par 72 of 7,255 yards.
What it lacks in natural drama it more than repays in theatre, above all at the drivable par 4 tenth and the water guarded par 4 eighteenth, holes seared into Ryder Cup memory. As a resort the Belfry is built for the travelling golfer, with three courses, a hotel and the history on tap, an essential stop on any tour of English championship golf.
The Belfry Brabazon at a glance
- Opened
- 1977
- Designer
- Dave Thomas, Peter Alliss
- Type
- Parkland championship
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,255 yds
- Green fee
- About £185 summer
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from The Belfry and leading course databases. The Brabazon was designed by Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss and opened in 1977, a par 72 of 7,255 yards, and has hosted the Ryder Cup four times. Indicative green fees were about 185 pounds in summer and about 95 pounds in winter in 2026, with package and short notice rates often cheaper. Always confirm current rates and tee times directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Brabazon is American in spirit, a flat site transformed by water, mounding and thousands of trees into a strategic, target style championship course. The fairways are framed and the trouble is clear, so the test is in committing to the line and carrying the hazards rather than reading a subtle, rolling landscape.
Its fame rests on two holes. The tenth is a short, tempting par 4 that dares the bold to drive a tree guarded green across water, a hole that has produced Ryder Cup roars for forty years. The closing eighteenth is pure theatre, a par 4 that demands two carries over water to a vast triple tier green beneath the hotel, the stage for some of the matchplay's most famous moments.
Between the signature holes the Brabazon is a fair, demanding resort test that rewards the long, straight hitter and punishes the wayward in water and sand. Play the back tees to feel the Ryder Cup yardage, or move forward and enjoy walking in the footsteps of the game's greats on one of England's most recognizable courses.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public resort course, open to visitors and societies; tee times booked through The Belfry or as part of a stay and play package |
| Green fee | About 185 pounds in summer and about 95 pounds in winter, with package and short notice rates often lower (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve in advance through the resort; combine with a hotel stay and a second Belfry course for better value |
| On the day | Buggies and caddies available; the resort dress code applies; full practice facilities on site |
| Getting there | Wishaw, near Sutton Coldfield, about 20 minutes from Birmingham and its airport |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest, driest parkland conditions |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from The Belfry; resort pricing is seasonal, so always confirm current rates and tee availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The simplest base is the Belfry's own resort hotel, steps from the first tee and the eighteenth green, with the Brabazon, the PGA National and the Derby courses all on site. For many visitors a stay and play package here is the whole trip, golf, lodging and dining without moving the car.
For a wider tour, the resort sits a short drive from Birmingham and central England, well placed to combine with the parkland and heathland courses of the Midlands. It is an easy region to build an English championship golf trip around, with the Ryder Cup history of the Brabazon at its heart.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Belfry.
Build an English golf trip
We book the Brabazon alongside the best of English championship golf and arrange the lodging around your tee times. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Belfry Brabazon questions
Who designed The Belfry Brabazon and when did it open?
The Brabazon was designed by Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss and opened in 1977, built on flat Warwickshire farmland and later lengthened for championship play.
How many times has the Brabazon hosted the Ryder Cup?
Four times, in 1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002, more than any other course in the world, which is central to The Belfry's fame.
What is the par and length of the Brabazon?
The Brabazon is a par 72 of 7,255 yards from the championship tees, a parkland course famous for its drivable tenth and water guarded eighteenth.
How much does it cost to play The Belfry Brabazon?
Indicative green fees were about 185 pounds in summer and about 95 pounds in winter in 2026, with package and short notice rates often cheaper. Always confirm current pricing directly before booking.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.