THE BELFRY GOLF CLUB (Brabazon Course) Designers:Dave Thomas Peter Alliss(BBC Television Commentator) JNSE Designers:Jim Wildenhaus Stan Setlik ============================================================= The Belfry Club,located near Sutton Coldfield England is the site of the 1993 Ryder Cup matches.It also has hosted the 1985 and the 1989 matches. ============================================================= SCORECARD (Championship tees) Hole No. Par Yardage Hole No. Par Yardage ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1 4 418 10 4 275 2 4 349 11 4 420 3 4 465 12 3 235 4 5 579 13 4 394 5 4 399 14 3 194 6 4 396 15 5 550 7 3 183 16 4 410 8 4 460 17 5 575 9 4 400 18 4 474 OUT 36 3649 IN 36 3527 TOTAL 72 7176 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Reference Material ---------------------- Book: Golf Courses of the PGA European Tour Author: Peter Dobereiner Book: Classic Holes of Golf Authors: Robert Green Brian Morgan Book: 1993 Viewer's Guide to Professional Golf Author: Whitney McClelland The material consisted of photographs of holes 9,10, and 18 and two course overheads.The photographs showed the course as a relatively flat course,and had a lot to do with the background decided on.The object placement was a compromise between the two overheads,as one showed a lot more trees than the other. The layout and yardage is very accurate.Careful measurements were taken as to the bunker placements and size of greens.The holes were designed with the pin placement in the very center of the green. --------------------------------------------------------------------- One big regret My one big regret is that the object file is not large enough to accomodate all the flagpoles and the Clubhouse.I would have loved to put a lot of "gingerbread" behind the 18th green. Also I would of liked to have Links Pro rendition to look at,but since I only have a 286 PC,that was out of the question. Jim Wildenhaus ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CREDITS AND COMMENTS The course in my humble opinion plays average in normal conditions. However depending on conditions,wind speed,and wind direction this course can be a bear.Layout is very accurate,however elevations are mostly derived from an occasional course comment and guesswork.Some fairways have been narrowed,mostly because the holes would play too easy in the JNSE engine.Some holes will play tough but I don't think unfair.Under some conditions # 18 will be real tough and probably will bring about some negative comments .Remember it is considered as one of the world's toughest holes.If you go swimming at 18 you will be in good company.On the last day of the 1989 Ryder matches,Paul Azinger,Mark Calcaveccia,Payne Stewart,and Seve Ballesteros all dunked one to cause a tie for the match.Number 12 will also be a tough hole.A very long par 3 to a sloping green over a stream.Number 10 is a short par 4 that was driven by Seve Ballesteros.After laying the hole out and playing it many times I can't see how he did it.This designers advice to you:don't try. Hit a iron off the tee and it will be a easy hole.Be aware of the narrow opening as you may have to fade the ball around the tree to some pin placements. My last remark is that in critiqueing this course,don't compare it to Links Pro.I hope to look at LPro before we release it,but I've decided this is our rendition and we won't try to duplicate theirs.I would like to see their greens and use their reference material,but if we can't,we won't worry about it Now,since we are borrowers of objects, we will give credit to our benefactors,the creators of great objects and backgrounds. The background came from Chesney's Country Club,which was altered for Belfry. The trees also came from The Country Club and also Medinah by Chesney. One tree and the bush came from Bob Polin's Shark Corpse. The grass came from Lee Ritze's St.Andrew's. The pine tree and the bench,we can't remember who did them originally and we see them on so many courses,so we add our thanks the the original designers. Thank you Scot Chesney,Bob Polin,Lee Ritze,and anyone who we may miss unintentionally.You make it so easy for us who can't do a super good job like you guys. Also thanks to John Kunyik for the Toolbox.I think anyone who designs or tries to design should petition the Pope to have Mr. Kunyik made a Saint Also to Ted Maiden for the Flags program.It allows you to have one more personalizing feature. Also we would wish to thank Brent Blackburn for the play testing and making comparisons to material that he had. Also to Bob Miller who has Links Pro and their Belfry course.He played ours and sent us a note and said we were fairly close.I hope he is right. A parting comment is that I take my hat off to the designers who specialize in real courses .This is a first attempt at it and it's not that easy.I know I will probably be disappointed when I watch the Ryder Matches on TV, but I hope Stan and I are giving you something that you can follow along the real thing with.We hope you are not that disappointed and enjoy playing the course and do not regret down loading Belfry by us. Enjoy Jim and Stan A parting remark: As you play this course,you will notice a lot of red color in the hole overheads.You are fortunate enough to be in Sutton-Coldfield during the annual migration of the Scottish Redbird.The best way to enjoy this wonder of Nature is to keep your wayward shots away from under the trees.