Gelpenberg

Set next to the village of Aalden, which lies half an hour’s drive from the city of Emmen, the course at Drentse Golfclub De Gelpemberg is an early 1970s design from Frank Pennink and Donald Steel. That layout features an open front nine and wooded back nine, both of which return to the clubhouse, with water coming into play at a number of holes throughout the round.

Configured as two returning nines, the course extends to 6,321 metres from the back tees, with par fixed at 72. The landscape’s pretty flat in the Drenthe province so there isn’t much movement to speak of in the fairways but there are plenty of subtle runoffs around the putting surfaces and agreeable internal contouring on the greens.

Highlight holes include strong par fours at the 398-metre 7th and 388-metre 11th, both of which veer right from tee to green, with the former protected by out of bounds to the left and a long, narrow pond on the right. Par threes at the 2nd and 7th also lie on either side of this body of water, making it a central design feature on the layout.

Frank Pont renovated the course between 2007 and 2014, creating more movement in the landscape on the newer nine holes. All the green surrounds, bunkers and tees were upgraded and a new irrigation system installed.