The Belfry Hotel & Resort (PGA National course)

The Belfry (PGA National course): Although not quite living up to the star-billing of the Belfry's more famous Brabazon (Ryder Cup) course, the PGA National course is nonetheless a good-quality and enjoyable open parkland layout. It is certainly a course that will thoroughly test your overall game.

Prodigious bunkering is one of the distinctive hallmarks of this relatively open layout, where a considerable amount of earthmoundng creates good definition to the holes. Much of the original tree-planting is still to reach full maturity, but in time it will restore a parkland balance to the layout's predominantly open linksy character.

The PGA National's greens are typically large, and home to plenty of slopes and borrows. Getting down in two is never guaranteed. Water comes into play on less than half the holes, but it seriously threatens on those occasions when it does. The par-5 2nd, par-3 3rd and par-4 4th are a testing trio of water-protected holes, quite capable of derailing your score at an early stage in the round. You'll need to carefully pick your way through these early holes.

The PGA National provides a fine golfing experience in a pleasant rural setting. One or two large electricity pylons straddle parts of the course, but not to its detriment.

Stay & Play at The Belfry: onsite accommodation available, see Where2Stay section below.