The Belfry

The Belfry; Brabazon Course: Home of the British Professional Golfer's Association, The Belfry is a relatively young course whose character is still developing. Nevertheless, this former potato field has achieved high status in a relatively short time. The 6,975 yard, par-72 layout was created by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas in a resort area of the West Midlands near Birmingham and two hours northwest of London, England. Thomas, a former European Tour Professional and a big hitter, has a punitive streak. He admires power and courage. Thus he rewards those characteristics by demanding expert players carry vast stretches of water and other terrors. Two holes on the back have gained deserved notoriety. The 301 yard par-4 Tenth is reachable from the tee, but the long knocker must thread through trees and clear a moat-like lake. Even a safe lay-up drive demands a testy short approach over the water to a shallow green. The 455 yard, par-4 Eighteenth has earned the reputation as one of the most famous and exhaustive finishing holes in all of golf. Players must drive long over a narrow tree-lined and unseen section of lake to a small landing area guarded on the right by two fairway bunkers. From there its a long carry crossing back over the lake's wide expanse to a three-tiered green. It can be a deceptive target even without the often swirling winds. The hole is made even tougher because it is the last and many a promising round has ended in disaster. In the final day of the 1989 Ryder Cup eight matches were decided on the Eighteenth. With many small well bunkered greens, narrow rolling fairways winding intermittently through lakes and across streams, the course has proven to the best golfers in the world that it is not to be trifled with. The Belfry will again hosted the biannual Ryder Cup in 2002 after being canceled in 2001 due to the 9/11 Tragedy.

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Artists' Golf is a conceptual work of art Copyright 1995 - 2008 by David B. Lewis and all original paintings, drawings and art works are Copyright by David B. Lewis. All rights reserved.  Maps of existing courses are original artistic interpretations and impressions from a variety of sources and are not intended to be accurate renderings or representations of the actual courses.  They indicate my interest and study and are intended purely for the pleasure and information of the viewers and are not for sale or profit.