First on our itinerary is Belvoir GC, which is pronounced locally as Beaver we pull into the car park and head into the beautiful new clubhouse that sits behind the 9th and 18th greens and the 10th tee and going by the way the green keeper has cut the 10th fairway in diamonds he certainly takes pride in his work.
The dew is still on the grass and the sun is slowly raising and casting some wonderful shadows over the course. The first can be drivable but you have to be very accurate or you could find the front right bunker.
The 2nd brings the first elevated tee and you can’t help but want to hit the perfect drive into that diamond cut fairway. The second shot to the 3rd hole is played uphill to a raised green which looks fantastic with two bunkers cut into the hill to protect it. The 4th brings up the first of the par 3s which is played from an elevated tee to a green that is surrounded by bunkers and as my pushed tee shot lands in the right-hand trap I have to laugh at myself.
Top: The perfect opener to the back nine par 5, 10th hole. Above LtoR: 4th, 13th and 17th holes
The course is going through an updating programme at the moment so you will notice two different types of sand, the new sand is whiter and with the sun bouncing off of it today and surrounded by the trees and greenery the course will certainly look even more impressive than it already does.
The other par 3 on the front nine is at the 8th and with the stone bridge and the four white-sanded bunkers protecting the raised green it is visually impressive. The front 9 comes to a close with a short par 5 of only 481-yards from the back tees and gives you a chance to end the front 9 on a high and with the back nine opening up with another short par 5, these two holes offer you a great chance to get any dropped shots back.
The 11th brings up the first of the par 3s on the back nine, but for me the par 3 14th is the pick of the two. Played again from an elevated tee to a raised green protected by five bunkers four short, two left and right and one back left.
The dogleg right 18th brings you back to the clubhouse and is fitting finale to this classic Harry Colt designed course; I am sure he would love the way the course has not only stood the test of time but will be happy with the improvement that the course is now going through.
