In March 2019 myself and 11 others visited The Belfry which hosted the famous Ryder Cup and is one of the UK’s most iconic golf resorts. The resort has a lot of history and is arguably the home of golf in UK. Headlining the three courses at The Belfry is The Brabazon which offers the chance to walk in the footsteps of Europe’s golfing icons. Not to be forgotten are the two other courses on the resort, the PGA National and The Derby which make 3 championship golf courses giving you a platform for the perfect golf break.
The Belfry is located in the West Midlands just 20 minutes from the centre of Birmingham. The hotel is class and situated at the centre of the resort. You have the choice between the main hotel and the lodges which I was lucky enough to be upgraded to. The rooms were spacious and very comfortable with a modern feel. The spa and wellness centre is excellent for the non-golfers to unwind, but not to forget the Bel Air nightclub which offers some great evening entertainment until the early hours! There really is no reason to leave the resort other than when you check out.
The Belfry also holds many PGA training weeks for young aspiring professionals studying the PGA qualification to become a fully qualified teaching professional. The reason for this is the class practice facilities on site such as the driving range, the practice area, 2 outdoor putting greens, free buggies in certain seasons and also the 4 restaurants, sauna/steam room and gym.
A range of dining experiences await all guests. Treat yourself to a post round pint or light bite in Sam's Club House, which has several tv’s showing live sports. Otherwise, the Ryder Grill provides a relaxed setting for an evening meal, with its centre-piece kitchen and views of the golf course. In addition to the above, guests can unwind in the Brabazon Bar with a cocktail or grab a snack in the Leisure Café, which offers a healthy alternative for those hitting the gym and spa. As mentioned above for those looking at carrying on into the early hours the Bel Air Nightclub is open Thursday – Saturday.
To summarise, The Belfry is a resort with something for everyone, but for a golfer it really is paradise and for most not too far from home!
