2026 Belfry Spring Trip Report

From 28-30 April the society had two nights and three days golf at this huge complex, in amongst all the business conferences, and enjoyed a dry three days and some warm sunshine if you could get out of the biting north-easterly wind. Twelve golfers due to play each day, which should have been sixteen, and our thoughts were often of Rona. We knew she would have wanted us to do as well as we could to enjoy ourselves. We send every good wish to Peter, and to David Robertson and Karen Parker who had to withdraw.

 

A rush to the first tee on the PGA National after arrival, largely due to the few remaining parking spaces in the car park being a route march from reception then another to the tee! A tough course that most had problems with: top two guys were Paul Malcolm (33) and Simon Davey (31) but we were all outclassed by the two ladies playing – Jacqui Davey with 36 and Tess Malcolm with an astounding 45! Handicaps were well elevated by the combination of slope and course rating against par but not to that extent – great play from her. So tough courses like these can be mastered if you play within yourself and stay on the course, not in the lakes. There may be a lesson for us all in that, but I expect we’ll ignore it.

 

Talking of lakes, Chris Warren’s playing partners were patiently waiting for him to arrive on the first par-3 green then saw him looking nowhere near where his ball might have landed. The reason became obvious when his remote control trolley was found 90% submerged in the adjacent lake. Four burly Americans came across from an adjoining fairway and dragged it out so Chris was spared having to take his trousers off and paddle, and the course marshal sped off to get a replacement pull trolley. After all that he played remarkably well! New member Len Wassell was the only other player to score 30 points.

 

The party congregated with the non-playing wives in the private dining room off the Ryder restaurant and had a very convivial evening despite rather burnt lamb cutlets for some! Early start the next day on the fearsome Ryder Cup Brabazon course so no late nights. Chilly again, but sunnier, for the 0800 start and our exploration of the famed layout, some for the first time and others after a long lapse to see how the course had grown and developed. The general opinion was that, in the many years since previous games there (35+ in Terry’s case) it looked and played as a Championship course should, framed by mature trees and, of course, shaped by lakes on almost every hole. There are only two ways to play such a course: very cautiously avoiding the hazards, and becoming an elite golfer who can take on the challenge. 

 

Once more Tess proved up to the test, again in the stratosphere on 41 with Simon second 11 points adrift! Anil had a solid 29 to come 3^rd before having to rush off in advance of a significant business meeting next day. All came together for a very good buffet-style dinner and a lengthy discussion about the curious charging system used by the Belfry to try to identify whose meal went on which bill (still ongoing into the following week). 

 

Next day some faces were missing so three threeballs played the Derby course, which used to be a very ordinary track but has now improved greatly. Some better scores indicate that we found it more playable, not surprising as the slope rating had dropped by fifteen or more from the previous day!  Simon was the star this time with 38, Peter Norris on 36 and Paul Butler 35 the best of the rest, and Len 32 and Chris 30 also respectable.

 

Coming together in Sam’s bar (Torrance, that is) for the presentation the trophies were displayed, suitably engraved with the event and courses, and the principal Brabazon Trophy went to Tess along with many bragging rights! Limited to one trophy she was out of the frame for the PGA National so Jacqui deservedly took the prize. Peter was delighted by his best recent score and was awarded the Derby glassware. So it just remained to to hand Simon the overall Belfry Champions three-round trophy on both points (99) and placings (7: 4th+2nd+1st). Len was second on both counts and gets a mention in dispatches. Their three-round scores were the only two to beat Tess’s two round totals! Chris and Paul M were the best of the rest.

 

After Simon’s gracious comments Terry announced that his 36 year career as BGS trip organiser had come to an end, fittingly with a round on the most famous course we have ever played in that time, the Brabazon. By a curious coincidence, the first event, to Quesada in Spain in 1990, had exactly the same composition: 17 attendees, 6 ladies, two of whom played golf.

 

Volunteers to continue these most enjoyable trips away were invited and Paul Butler has stepped up to the crease (not the plate, we are still British) and has already developed a plan for our future events for discussion, so the duly enhanced programme will flourish into the future.

 

Others along for the party and not mentioned above were Steve Edwards, Sue Wassell, Ruth Norris, Rita Wall, Brian Woodham, Paul and Jolande Bunyan.