Which golfing legends have sat at that dining table in the lounge of the Sunningdale suite of the Belfry Hotel and Resort? Has Tony Jacklin, Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson plotted their strategy for the next day of competition at that table?

Did Seve Ballesteros once stroll out onto the secluded balcony, and looking down towards the 10th tee of the Brazabon course, remember his miraculous Hennessy Cup drive from 1978? Praying to the golfing gods for a repeat performance? A shot whose greatness is recorded by a memorial stone on the 10th tee. If golf balls only moved in straight lines then Seve’s shot to a green ferociously guarded by lake to the left and fearsome trees to the right would be a physical impossibility. Only the most perfectly timed late-fade could see the ball gently rolling across an emerald, velvet green, towards the flag.

It seems that the historic Belfry has countless decades of golfing heritage. Yet, back in the 1970s this patch of Warwickshire, close to Birmingham’s eastern suburbs, was merely 15 potato fields. Then, over a casual pie-and-pint lunch, Peter Allis and Dave Thomas planned an epic new golfing venue.

The Brazabon course, named after Lord Brazabon, who was Chair of the Professional Golfers Association, began at the top: hosting an inaugural match where Seve Ballesteros and Johnny Miller challenged Tony Jacklin and Brian Barnes. The Brazabon course, holding the record for being the only course to host the epic Europe vs. USA Ryder Cup tussles on four occasions, is the Belfry’s premier course. Alongside it, the challenging PGA course also requires players to present a certificate showing a handicap of not more than 24. A third course, the Derby, is open to all.

Today, guests arriving at The Belfry Hotel lobby feel the goosebumps from the sense of history. Wood-panelling gives the usual feel of an august golfing locker room but a gleaming chandelier made from hundreds of golf clubs signals that this is a venue on a higher plane.

Throughout its 319 rooms, suites and corridors, a succession of black-and-white photographs celebrate the groundsmen and green keepers, the golfers and above all this swathe of England’s green and pleasant land. Images show sunrises and sunsets, misty mornings and dramatic storm clouds. This is quintessential England, white rose and lavender gardens, with a touch of eccentricity from a topiary golfer wielding an iron. A golfing tale of beauty and the beast, where lakes, bunkers and rough are the assassins snaring golfers’ dreams.

In the Sunningdale Suite – as with suites such as the Muirfield, St Andrews and Wentworth – everything is geared to making the most of golfing potential. There are separate climate controls for the lounge and bedroom. Both rooms feature large wall-mounted screens, with Sky Sports, for catching up on professional tournaments throughout the world. A wide Sealy Royal Crest mattress supports weary muscles and aching backs.

There are two bathrooms, one featuring a deep free-standing bath, to soak away the stiffness of 18 holes and another for the shower. An iron and ironing board are stored in the wardrobe, in the suite’s entrance hall, to help guests dress smartly for dinner – or a media conference.

The Ryder Grill has to satisfy a diversity of roles: a refuge for golfers after a hard day’s labour, welcoming families, a grand treat for those on a spa break. Recalling its roots as a farmhouse at the heart of those potato fields, there is a farmhouse-kitchen-chic look to the Ryder Grill with dressers and cutaway barrel lighting.

It is a menu that must gain a nod of approval from professional golfers’ nutritionists and the body conscious who have had a day at the spa. As well as Castorbridge ribeye steak, seared sea bass and grilled marinated lamb cutlets amongst the main course options there is also a separate vegan menu. As professional golfers turn to a plant-based diet to find an edge in a game of small margins, risotto, mushroom feuilletine, or aubergine and cauliflower curry are the main course choices for vegans.

There is much more to The Belfry Hotel and Resort than the golfing heritage, the PGA National Academy with its Top Tracer technology and a shop that looks like a fashion house dedicated to golfing style. The Belfry, with its friendly service is a destination for all the family, or for friends having fun, perhaps with a cocktail-making lesson, who couldn’t tell the difference between a driver and a putter. Over those 550 acres, whether it is the children’s adventure playground, the indoor swimming pool or the spa’s Fire and Ice treatments, the Belfry really does have something for everyone.