The Belfry - Brabazon

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Hole	White Yards	Par	Yellow Yards	Stroke Index	Ladies Yards	Par	Stroke Index
1	393	4	369	9	353	4	11
2	330	4	321	17	297	4	15
3	512	5	501	13	457	5	13
4	407	4	389	3	353	4	1
5	388	4	359	11	326	4	9
6	387	4	373	5	352	4	7
7	171	3	156	15	116	3	17
8	409	4	383	1	329	4	5
9	402	4	374	7	348	4	3
	3399	36			2931	36
10	301	4	284	8	262	4	16
11	399	4	365	16	337	4	6
12	188	3	179	6	147	3	14
13	363	4	350	18	328	4	12
14	183	3	166	14	143	3	18
15	500	5	488	2	432	5	10
16	405	4	388	12	346	4	4
17	545	5	530	10	469	5	2
18	441	4	418	4	388	5	8
	3325	36			2852	37
	6724	72			5783	73

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The Brabazon course at The Belfry doesn't need introducing. After all, it's unique. This course has played host to more Ryder Cups than any other course on the planet - four in total. The Americans must dislike it, because team USA has only once triumphed here. Additionally, and for only the second time in Ryder Cup history, the 1989 biennial match was halved, but Europe retained the trophy because they were still the cup holders following their win in 1987 at Muirfield Village, Ohio.

The Belfry itself owes much to the vision and determination of one man, Colin Snape. In the mid 70s, Snape was the director of the financially struggling PGA. Over a pie and a pint, Peter Alliss told him that an old hotel on the outskirts of Birmingham was available as a potential new location for the PGA HQ. In 1977, The Brabazon - named after former PGA president, Lord Brabazon - opened for play with a challenge match, Seve Ballesteros and Johnny Miller against Tony Jacklin and Brian Barnes. The Belfry has never looked back and it's still the PGA's home. Alliss and Thomas were given an unremarkable piece of farmland, which required significant sculpting to turn it into a remarkable golf course. For many visiting golfers, The Belfry (and The Brabazon course, in particular) is Mecca. Everyone wants to play here; it's an exciting golfing venue, drawing thousands of visitors each year.

The excitement comes from playing memorable and familiar holes. And, following Dave Thomas's £2.7m makeover in the late 90s, there is more water on The Brabazon than just about any other inland course in the British Isles - take a few extra balls. The course has two outstanding holes, which have been popularised by television - the 10th and 18th. The former is a unique short par four, measuring about 300 yards, with water running along the right hand side of the fairway. It is driveable - you've seen Seve do it - so go on, you've got to go for it.

The 18th is another hole that is totally dominated by water and it's terrifying. This dramatic, par four closing hole, rewards the brave. Cut off as much of the water as you can from the tee, and you will be left with a shorter approach shot, which must carry a lake on its way to a long, narrow, triple-tiered green. This hole has seen more Ryder Cup emotion than any other hole in the world. For this reason alone, to follow in the footsteps of golf's greatest legends, The Brabazon is a must-play course.

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