<!–
–>
In the 1989 film Field of Dreams Kevin Costner plays a farmer who hears the words “if you build them they will come”.
He dreams of a baseball diamond in a cornfield, builds it and is surprised to find the ghosts of the best sports stars to play.
There is something about this story that reminds us of the Brabazon Course at the Belfry.
It, too, was originally part of a farm and the fields were full of potatoes.
It was then converted into a golf course and the course was designed by Dave Thomas and BBC commentator Peter Alliss.
They build and, since the 1970s, golf stars have arrived.
The first event there was the 1978 Hennessey Cup, a match between Great Britain and Ireland and Europe, and the great Seve Ballesteros did something that ensured he would be more associated with his small part of Birmingham than any other golfer.
The 10th hole is a short par-4 that plays 280 yards but every yard of that carries because of the pond in front of the green.
Ballesteros ignored the threat in his match with Nick Faldo, and started driving over the trees with his driver carrying a persimmon.
His ball landed eight feet from the flag and right then and there the pitch entered the mind of every golfer in Europe.
Over the next two decades that hole would witness many more examples of players driving the hole – even Ian Botham owned it – but a plaque on the hole commemorates the time Seve did it.
The most important memory is the Belfry's Field of Dreams but there are many of them and you can try to repeat them.
1. The first tee
2002 game. Europe and the USA are tied with eight points each. Home team captain Sam Torrance is in dire need of a player to proudly lead his singles squad. Go ahead Colin Montgomerie.
He appeared in the clubhouse in classic Monty style. Chest puffed out, his face cheesy, a proud expression.
And then, with that distinctive S-shaped swing, he swung his ball down the fairway and was gone. Raised to the honor of leading the team and enjoying every tee and every green, he destroyed Scott Hoch 5&4, setting up a three-point victory in Europe.
Are you nervous before your opening shot? Think about Monty's walk and repeat.
2. Section 3 14
Nick Faldo's hole-in-one scene at the 1993 Ryder Cup. Hitting the green will do it for us and it can be like a classic Faldo of the hand as we go to the putter.
3. Sixteenth green
Phillip Price matched Philip Mickelson in the 2002 singles. Everyone thought it was the case of a welsh lamb going to the slaughter but how wrong we were.
On the 16th green, Price had a long putt that bent, over the top of the green and went down. What followed was a spectacular massacre.
Unbelievably flustered, he wandered around the cup moving his mouth and nose, more like a lamb than a buck. Seconds later Mickelson missed his putt and Price had completed a stunning victory.
4. The 18th tee
By the late 1980s, Americans had turned to drinking. To clarify: in the 1989 singles, from the 18th tee, they continued to drive tee shots into the lake. Payne Stewart tried to intercept his ball, failed, and said: “I'll try this one more time.”
The tee shot is still intimidating, especially for those who are learning. Finding a dry place gives great pleasure.
5. Method 18
Christy O'Connor Jr vs. Freddie Couples in 1989. Christy had 202 yards across the lake to the pin and a 2 iron in his hands. The weight of the Ryder Cup final was on his shoulders.
He hit the shot of a lifetime and the Belfry roared. He raised his arms and looked to heaven like a priest celebrating the Eucharist. He looked about 61 but was actually only 41!
It's easy to appreciate what O'Connor Jr has achieved: there's a plaque to mark the spot.
Belfry's top 10 British Masters times
6. Green 18
Where Sam Torrance secured a shocking victory in 1985. Such magical scenes. Hands down. Those who are happy are cheering. The truth is he knew the ball had gone in before it was dropped. His arms are up as the ball cuts from right to left and he disappears. The first European victory for 28 years and then a big party.
If you get a putt, you'll be able to relax. And if you miss the left green you'll know how Paul McGinley hit it in 2002 or how Paul Azinger hit his bunker shot at that angle in 1993. Memories, memories, everywhere.
7. Signing your card
Padraig Harrington would have been an accountant if he hadn't become a professional golfer. Maybe it's just that he was working hard at golf.
At the 2000 Benson and Hedges Open he famously led the field by five after 54 holes when, by chance, someone noticed that there were two signers on his first-round record card of 64 but none of his own. “At least a better competition has been made,” he said after being dismissed.
How to play the Brabazon Course
Playing Belfry's Field of Dreams is easy.
Prices start from £159 one way, one night's hotel accommodation, breakfast and use of leisure club facilities.
READ MORE: Stop moaning! A top mental health coach reveals four tricks to staying positive on the golf course
(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.8&appId=203299386383530”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
Source link
