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The Brabazon is the championship course at The Belfry Hotel & Resort in Sutton Coldfield. Designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas and opened in 1977, it is an 18-hole par-72 layout currently listed by the resort at 7,255 yards with a slope rating of 149 from its longest tees. The course has hosted the Ryder Cup four times, in 1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002, more editions than any other single venue.
It has also staged the British Masters repeatedly. The routing was created from comparatively flat agricultural land, with constructed lakes, bunkering and shaping supplying much of its strategic character. The short par-four 10th became particularly associated with Ryder Cup risk-and-reward play, while the closing 18th has also featured prominently in professional events.
The course is an 18-hole resort golf course. It plays to par 72, 6,633m (7,255 yards), course rating 76.5 and slope rating 149. Designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas, the course originally opened in 1977. It is open to resort guests. On-site facilities include Driving range, PGA Academy, Golf shop, Putting facilities, Practice bunkers, Clubhouse, Restaurants, Bars, and 3 more.
The Brabazon emerged from The Belfry's major 1970s golf development, when Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas were commissioned to create championship golf on agricultural land near Sutton Coldfield. Work began during the mid-1970s and the new course opened in 1977. Its development also coincided with the Professional Golfers' Association establishing its headquarters at The Belfry.
The relatively flat original farmland required Alliss and Thomas to create much of the strategic interest through shaping, bunkering and water. The result was a course capable of producing both conservative and aggressive lines of play. The short par-four 10th became the clearest example, offering players the possibility of challenging water in pursuit of the green.
The demanding closing stretch provided a contrasting championship test.
The Brabazon has been altered repeatedly over its life, especially around major tournament preparations. A substantial refurbishment took place before the 2002 Ryder Cup after earlier tournament-driven changes, and the resort has continued to update individual holes, drainage, bunkering and playing surfaces. These interventions mean the modern course is an evolved version of the 1977 Alliss-Thomas design rather than an untouched original routing.
The Brabazon's reputation is inseparable from Ryder Cup history. Europe won there in 1985 for its first victory over the United States since 1957, retained the Cup after a 14-14 tie in 1989, lost to the United States in 1993, and won again in 2002. The course has also staged numerous editions of the British Masters and other European professional events.
The course remains The Belfry's primary championship layout. The resort currently lists it at par 72, 7,255 yards and slope 149, with direct tee-time booking available alongside resort golf packages.
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| Front 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 |
| Yards | 411 | 379 | 538 | 442 | 408 | 448 | 177 | 441 | 456 | 3700 |
| Index | 9 | 17 | 13 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 15 | 1 | 7 | - |
| Back 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Yards | 311 | 428 | 226 | 384 | 190 | 566 | 413 | 564 | 473 | 3555 | 7255 |
| Index | 8 | 16 | 6 | 18 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 4 | - | - |
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