Belton Park

Belton Park is one of the premier 27-hole venues in the United Kingdom, and it sits proudly in a National Trust estate in the East Midlands. 

Originally starting out as a 9-hole layout in the 1890s, and then extended to 18 holes in 1908, it was not until the late 1970s that Belton Park would become a 27-hole venue. 

The venue has three nine-hole loops, each of which bring you back to the clubhouse .Tree-lined fairways, undulating greens and water hazards add to the beauty and danger of this venue. 

Visit Belton Park’s website here.

Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.

Belton Park dates back to the early 1890s, making it the oldest golf club in Lincolnshire. It was originally founded as a 9-hole layout in the grounds of Lord Brownlow’s estate – with his name now lent to the opening nine holes of the course. 

1908 saw the course extended to 18 holes, before the venue was then used as an army camp during the First World War. 

The great design duo of Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas were brought in to add a further nine holes in the late 1970s, pushing Belton Park into a 27-hole venue.

Belton Park Golf Club is laid out within the Belton estate, which provides a beautiful backdrop to enjoy a round of golf. There is a herd of fallow deer who roam lazily around the fairways, and you will encounter them at some point throughout your round. The course offers a real variety of challenges. and all three sets of nine holes offer something a little different that make it a joy to play. Well-guarded greens and steep-faced bunkers, along with tree-lined fairways and even the odd water hazard at times making it a real test. 

The Brownlow Nine 

Holes 1-9 make up the Brownlow loop at Belton Park, named after Lord Brownlow. It begins with a tight opening tee shot, one that is played through a funnel of trees towards a fairway that angles away from you. This dog-leg left can ruin a card before you have even got going! The 2nd is a long par 5, one that has OOB on both sides if you stray too far. For most, it will be a three-shotter. The 3rd offers up an enticing tee shot, one that might see you take too much of the corner on. Make sure to find the fairway to give yourself the best chance of getting close to the flag on what is a tricky putting surface. The first of the par 3s comes at 4. It is 200 yards from the tips, though it does play slightly downhill. 

The 5th is another par 5, one that features a narrow fairway and an uphill approach, whether that is with your second or third shot. Water to the front right of the green adds to the danger. The 6th is a great example of how a par 3 does not need to be long. It is just 145 yards and plays downhill. Three bunkers guard the putting surface, making it much trickier than its yardage might seem. A trio of tough par 4s take you back to the clubhouse, with the 7th being the shortest of those at 395 yards. The 8th is more than 450 yards from the tips, while the 9th has a pair of cross bunkers at the 250-yard mark. Stay short of those for safety, but then you’re left with a longer approach. 

The Belmont Nine 

The Belmont loop begins with the par 5 10th, and a good scoring chance at just 490 yards and if you can avoid the two fairway bunkers. 11 is a tricky dog-leg left, but not one where length is a problem. It is only 350 yards, but the question is how much of the corner you want to cut off, much like on the 3rd! The ideal tee shot on 12 is down the left side to avoid the trees that encroach on the right side of the fairway. 13 is one of the tougher holes on the property. A par 4 of around 400 yards, a large lake on the left side comes into play throughout. Aim the tee shot down the right side for safety, and make sure you take enough club on your approach as there is a ditch in front of the green. 

14 is another great short hole. The signature hole at Belton Park, this 157-yard par 3 has a water hazard that runs diagonally across the front of the green with a longer carry down the left side. Check where the flag is before working out which club you’re hitting. 15 is another dog-leg left where you might want to take the corner on. However, this is one where playing out to the right is definitely the safe choice. Anything right of the green will fall away and leave a difficult up and down. 

A pond around 260 yards from the tee makes the downhill tee shot on 16 that bit more treacherous. Trees all the way down the left side also make this hole tougher than you might have originally give it credit for. The 17th is the last of the par 3s on the Brownlow 18-hole layout, and this 180-yard hole is tricky thanks to its shallow green that sits on an angle to the tee box. The final hole of the Belmont loop is another long par 4, this time of 440 yards. The ideal tee shot is towards the bunker on the right side, making sure you stay short of it. From there, you will be left with a medium-range approach to a small green, one guarded by sand. 

The Ancaster Nine 

The 19th has one of the toughest tee shots on the course, and it kicks off the Ancaster loop in the most difficult way. A large looming tree on the left, along with bunkers on the right, make accuracy the key here. A solitary fairway bunker is the danger off the tee on 20. At 355 yards, this is not a long par 4, and one where driver might not be needed to avoid that bunker. The first par 3 on the Ancaster is the 21st – a short hole of just 145 yards. Trees provide the backdrop, with a bunker in front of the green. At 276 yards, you might fancy taking on the 22nd green with your tee shot. This green on this tricky dog-leg right is surrounded by trees, so it all depends on how confident you are feeling! 

23 is a downhill par 4 where the second shot plays a club less than its yardage, with the par 3 24th giving you the opposite dilemma as it climbs back up the slope. Bunkers sitting on either side of the 25th fairway make this a tricky tee shot. At 418 yards, finding the fairway is vital. You have the same issues on 26, but it is a hole that is 40 yards shorter, with some being able to clear the two fairway bunkers without issue. The last brings you back to the clubhouse once more, and is a 385-yard par 4. It has one of the smallest greens on the course, so make sure that your approach is accurate. 

The Brownlow Course then consists of holes 1-18, the Belmont Course consists of holes 10-27, and when you put holes 19-27 and then 1-9 together, you get the Ancaster Course.

Where is Belton Park Golf Club located?  

Belton Park Golf Club is situated in the East Midlands. It is just outside the village of Londonthorpe, and just a couple of miles from the town of Grantham. Nottingham is 25 miles to the west of Belton Park, while the A1 – which span more than 400 miles and runs from Edinburgh to London – is just a few miles from the venue as well. 

Grantham is home to the nearest train station to Belton Park, with services following the A1 as such. Trains run via Grantham towards Leeds, York and Liverpool Lime Street in the north, and down to London Kings Cross in the south. East Midlands Airport, which is 35 miles to the west, is the closest international airport to Belton Park. The likes of Birmingham, Leeds Bradford and Manchester are all within 100 miles of the venue.

Are there any NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?  

The town of Grantham is somewhat outcast from venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list. However, the likes of Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell), Sherwood Forest and Woodhall Spa’s Hotchkin Course are all within 40 miles of Belton Park. 

What golf facilities does Belton Park Golf Club offer?  

Belton Park is somewhat unique in the fact that it has 27 holes, all of which are technically part of one big golf course. There is a practice area in between the 1st, 2nd and 9th holes, along with practice nets and a short game area which includes a nice, large putting green.

What are the green fees at Belton Park Golf Club?  

The price of a green fee at Belton Park Golf Club changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. 

For more information on current green fees at Belton Park, visit their website here.