OF GIANTS
designed in 1977 by Peter Allis and David Thomas.
The Brabazon course, whose 6th hole has been the subject of a major upgrade in preparation for the British Masters, has hosted no less than four Ryder Cup matches (1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002). A dedicated team of Brabazon greenkeeping staff are supervised by American Head Greenkeeper Eric Olson under the overall control of Kenny Mackay.
The Brabazon Course
The Brabazon officially opened in June 1977 with a challenge match between Seve Ballersteros and Johnny Miller against Tony Jacklin and Brian Barnes.
Nobody, back then, could have predicted the incredible success that the next thirty years would witness. Picturesque in the extreme, maintained to impeccable standards and played by all the ‘superstars’ of golf, this is one course where superlatives run rapidly dry.
Greens
The greens, which total 1.3 hectares, are of original 1977 70/30 rootzone construction over a herringbone drainage system. Kenny has maintained this specification whenever modifications or reconstruction has taken place, to retain consistency of performance throughout the course. Grass species on the greens consists of 85% Poa Annua
and 15% Creeping/Browntop Bent Grass. Cutting Height in summer is 3.5mm, rising to 4.5 mm in winter. Overseeding with pure Bent is only undertaken when the species count dictates rather than annually. Thatch levels have been reduced to 24mm from 40mm in recent years, with an optimum goal of under 20mm aimed for.
An intensive aeration programme and
regular topdressing is a major priority. Hollow coring with 12mm tines to 75mm depth in October and March is followed by topdressing with Chelford 28 grade sand. The Belfry owns two of the latest Graden Contour Sand Injectors. These are used to apply approximately 3 tonnes of kiln dried sand per 500 square metres
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