Course guide
The Belfry's championship course, host of the Ryder Cup in 1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002. Parkland golf with water in play on much of the back nine, including the drivable 10th and the closing hole's carries over the lake. Here's how it plays, hole by hole, with a plan for every shot.
Plan your round at the BrabazonYour own bag, your own miss, today's tees and conditions. Free to try, no account needed.
The Brabazon is long, tree-lined parkland where water decides most rounds. The front nine opens gently, with the 2nd the best birdie chance on the course, then stiffens through the 4th, 6th and 8th, where lakes squeeze the landing areas. The back nine has the famous short 10th, a run of strong par 4s and the 18th, where the lake has to be carried twice.
For a typical 15 handicap from the white tees, our plans keep the driver in the bag only where it pays, and aim away from the water rather than at the flag.
Yards per hole. Tap a hole number for its plan.
| Front nine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 411 | 379 | 538 | 442 | 408 | 448 | 177 | 441 | 456 | 3,700 |
| White | 393 | 330 | 512 | 407 | 388 | 430 | 171 | 428 | 433 | 3,492 |
| Par | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 |
| Stroke index | 9 | 17 | 13 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 15 | 1 | 7 | |
| 15 hcp expects | 5.3 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.7 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 49.2 |
| Back nine | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 311 | 428 | 226 | 384 | 190 | 566 | 413 | 564 | 473 | 3,555 | 7,255 |
| White | 301 | 406 | 188 | 363 | 183 | 545 | 405 | 545 | 441 | 3,377 | 6,869 |
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Stroke index | 8 | 16 | 6 | 18 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 4 | ||
| 15 hcp expects | 5.0 | 5.5 | 4.6 | 5.2 | 4.1 | 6.6 | 5.6 | 6.4 | 5.9 | 48.9 | 98.1 |
| Hole | Par | SI | Blue | White | 15 hcp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 9 | 411 | 393 | 5.3 |
| 2 | 4 | 17 | 379 | 330 | 5.1 |
| 3 | 5 | 13 | 538 | 512 | 6.1 |
| 4 | 4 | 3 | 442 | 407 | 5.6 |
| 5 | 4 | 11 | 408 | 388 | 5.4 |
| 6 | 4 | 5 | 448 | 430 | 5.7 |
| 7 | 3 | 15 | 177 | 171 | 4.5 |
| 8 | 4 | 1 | 441 | 428 | 5.7 |
| 9 | 4 | 7 | 456 | 433 | 5.8 |
| Out | 36 | 3,700 | 3,492 | 49.2 | |
| 10 | 4 | 8 | 311 | 301 | 5.0 |
| 11 | 4 | 16 | 428 | 406 | 5.5 |
| 12 | 3 | 6 | 226 | 188 | 4.6 |
| 13 | 4 | 18 | 384 | 363 | 5.2 |
| 14 | 3 | 14 | 190 | 183 | 4.1 |
| 15 | 5 | 2 | 566 | 545 | 6.6 |
| 16 | 4 | 12 | 413 | 405 | 5.6 |
| 17 | 5 | 10 | 564 | 545 | 6.4 |
| 18 | 4 | 4 | 473 | 441 | 5.9 |
| In | 36 | 3,555 | 3,377 | 48.9 | |
| Total | 72 | 7,255 | 6,869 | 98.1 |
| Tee | Length | Par | Course rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 7,255 yds | 72 | 76.5 | 149 |
| White | 6,869 yds | 72 | 74.8 | 145 |
| Yellow | 6,449 yds | 72 | 72.7 | 142 |
| Red | 5,755 yds | 72 | – | – |
Plans are for a typical 15 handicap from the white tees: Driver 236, 3 Wood 214, 4 Hybrid 188, 5 Iron 173, 7 Iron 153, 9 Iron 129, Pitching W 117. Calm, 18°C, medium ground, middle pins.
The plan for a 15 handicap
Driver, 242 yds (plays like 236), aim down the middle.
Then 5 Iron.
Finds the fairway about 3 in 10. Trouble about 1 in 10.
Green 6 m below the tee · slopes 2.9% at the front, 3.9% at the back.
The plan for a 15 handicap
Driver, 240 yds (plays like 236), aim 3 yds left of the line to the corner.
Then 9 Iron.
Finds the fairway about 4 in 10. Rarely finds trouble.
Green 5 m below the tee.
The plan for a 15 handicap
Driver, 234 yds, aim 12 yds left of the line to the corner.
Then 3 Wood lay-up.
Finds the fairway about 3 in 10. Trouble about 1 in 10.
The plan for a 15 handicap
Driver, 239 yds (plays like 236), aim 12 yds right of the line to the corner.
Then 3 Wood.
Finds the fairway about 4 in 10. Trouble about 1 in 10.
Green 4 m below the tee.
The plan for a 15 handicap
Driver, 236 yds, aim down the middle.
Then 4 Hybrid.
Finds the fairway about 4 in 10. Trouble about 1 in 10.
Green slopes 10.4%.
The plan for a 15 handicap
Driver, 238 yds, aim at the corner.
Then 3 Wood.
Finds the fairway about half the time. Trouble about 1 in 10.
Green slopes 8.6%.
The plan for a 15 handicap
5 Iron, 179 yds, aim 24 yds left of the flag.
Finds the green rarely. Trouble about 3 in 10.
Green slopes 3.6% at the front, 3.0% at the back.
The plan for a 15 handicap
Driver, 237 yds, aim 18 yds right of the middle.
Then 3 Wood lay-up.
Finds the fairway about half the time. Rarely finds trouble.
Green slopes 3.9% at the front, 2.4% at the back.
The plan for a 15 handicap
Driver, 239 yds (plays like 236), aim 9 yds left of the line to the corner.
Then 3 Wood lay-up.
Finds the fairway about 3 in 10. Trouble about 1 in 10.
Green slopes 7.2% at the front, 11.3% at the back.
The plan for a 15 handicap
6 Iron, 168 yds (plays like 163), aim 12 yds left of the line to the corner.
Then 8 Iron.
Finds the fairway about 6 in 10. Trouble about 1 in 10.
Green 5 m below the tee · slopes 2.7% at the front, 3.7% at the back.
Belfry history. At the 1978 Hennessy Cup, Seve Ballesteros became the first player to drive this green, carrying the trees and the water. A plaque on the tee marks the shot, and people still try it today.
The plan for a 15 handicap
Driver, 237 yds, aim 3 yds left of the line to the corner.
Then 4 Hybrid.
Finds the fairway about 4 in 10. Rarely finds trouble.
Green slopes 7.4% at the front, 3.5% at the back.
The plan for a 15 handicap
4 Hybrid, 194 yds (plays like 190), aim 12 yds left of the flag.
Finds the green about 1 in 10. Trouble about 2 in 10.
Green 4 m below the tee.
The plan for a 15 handicap
Driver, 237 yds, aim 3 yds left of the line to the corner.
Then 5 Iron.
Finds the fairway about 3 in 10. Rarely finds trouble.
Green slopes 2.5%.
The plan for a 15 handicap
4 Hybrid, 183 yds, aim 12 yds left of the flag.
Finds the green about 1 in 10. Rarely finds trouble.
Green slopes 2.9% at the front, 3.6% at the back.
Belfry history. Nick Faldo made a hole in one here during the 1993 Ryder Cup.
The plan for a 15 handicap
Driver, 236 yds, aim down the middle.
Then 3 Wood lay-up.
Finds the fairway about 4 in 10. Rarely finds trouble.
Green slopes 3.3%.
The plan for a 15 handicap
Driver, 239 yds (plays like 236), aim 3 yds right of the line to the corner.
Then 3 Wood.
Finds the fairway about 4 in 10. Rarely finds trouble.
Green slopes 4.4%.
Belfry history. In the 2002 Ryder Cup singles, Phillip Price holed a long putt on this green to beat Phil Mickelson.
The plan for a 15 handicap
Driver, 238 yds, aim 6 yds left of the line to the corner.
Then 3 Wood lay-up.
Finds the fairway about 3 in 10. Trouble about 1 in 10.
Green slopes 6.9% at the front, 2.1% at the back.
The plan for a 15 handicap
Driver, 238 yds, aim 30 yds left of the line to the corner.
Then 3 Wood lay-up.
Finds the fairway about 3 in 10. Trouble about 2 in 10.
Green slopes 14.1%.
Belfry history. Three Ryder Cups turned here. Sam Torrance holed the winning putt in 1985, Christy O'Connor Jr hit his famous 2-iron over the lake in 1989 (a plaque marks the spot), and Paul McGinley holed the putt that won the cup in 2002.
The Brabazon has hosted the Ryder Cup four times, more than any other course, along with 11 European Tour events between 1989 and 2008.
The Brabazon opens, designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas on former farmland.
Seve Ballesteros drives the 10th green at the Hennessy Cup.
Europe wins the Ryder Cup for the first time in 28 years, sealed by Sam Torrance on the 18th.
The Ryder Cup is tied, after Christy O'Connor Jr's 2-iron over the lake on the 18th.
The United States win the Ryder Cup. Nick Faldo makes a hole in one on the 14th.
Europe win the Ryder Cup at The Belfry again, with Paul McGinley's putt on the 18th green.
The British Masters is played here; Rory McIlroy makes his professional debut in 2007.
New bunkers are added around the 10th green, mirroring the 2002 Ryder Cup set-up.
The British Masters returns to the Brabazon, 27–30 August.
From the blue tees the Brabazon plays 7,255 yards. The white tees are 6,869 yards, the yellow 6,449 and the red 5,755. It is par 72 from every tee.
Blue tees: 76.5 rating, 149 slope. White: 74.8 and 145. Yellow: 72.7 and 142.
From the course rating, a typical 15 handicap shoots about 97 from the white tees. Our hole-by-hole plans expect around 98, with holes 18, 9, 16 the hardest to par.
The 10th is 311 yards from the blue tees and 301 from the white, with trees and water guarding the green. Seve Ballesteros first drove it in 1978. For a typical 15 handicap our plan is a 6 iron to the corner, then an 8 iron, which expects 5.0 shots.
The 8th is stroke index 1. For a 15 handicap, our plans make the 18th the toughest, with water on the tee shot and the approach.
Yes, four times: 1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002.
Wishaw, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B76 9PR. It sits between Birmingham and Tamworth, close to the M42.
Straight-line distance
Course map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Terrain from Environment Agency LIDAR, © Environment Agency copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence. Plans are simulations for a typical 15 handicap, not a guarantee. Ratings and yardages from the course scorecard. Spotted something wrong? Improve this course map.