Koninklijke Haagsche Golf & Country Club (Royal Hague)

The Top 100 Team caught up with David Davis Co-founder of LockHart Travel Club to discuss another awesome trip to The Netherlands. “A group of Lockhart members ventured to the little known but very underrated golf country of The Netherlands. Known for windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and more than its fair share of rain, this little country packs a serious punch when it comes to World Class Golf”. The Netherlands, the flattest country in the world…until you play golf. With most of our members arriving on Saturday to recoup and refresh, we indulged in a private canal tour through none other than the majestic canals of Amsterdam. Debating golf, golf courses and golf architecture for a couple hours while enjoying some cold drinks on our classic salon boat. We all agreed that life in that moment was pretty darn special with several days of World Class golf to follow. Sunday, we left Amsterdam for a short 30 minute drive up the coast to Noordwijk aan Zee, home of the Noordwijkse Golf Club. No need to try and pronounce it, we offered assistance in that prior to arrival. With rain the entire morning we’d prepared the group for a wet and very windy day. The disappointment could be sensed when the skies opened shortly after we teed off and the sun and wind served up a magical afternoon. Noordwijkse has just approved a long awaited and complete renovation which includes 3 completely new holes with new greens and surrounds befitting a world class links course. Martin Ebert is the architect of choice, and the club is hoping for improvements the likes of Turnberry and Portrush. Miraculously, this set the tone for the week and the Golf Gods were most certainly on our side. To top off the day, that night we dined in one of the best fish restaurants in Amsterdam, Vis a/d Schelde, a perfect day! Monday morning we jumped into the van for the 1.5 hour trek to the Eindhovensche Golf Club which sits down south near the Belgium border. The rain had reached biblical proportions during the night and the club was closed. Luckily we know some important people at the club there and they called ahead to the superintendent and reminded them that the Lockhart gentlemen were on the way. The positive answer came as we were already underway. They would open the course for us at 12:30 pm. The biblical rains followed us for most the trip down. 30 minutes out it was dry and remained so until we were sitting with beers on the 19th hole. Our best guess, the boys from Florida, Spain and The Bahamas brought some good weather karma along. Eindhovensche is a classic Harry Colt design where the club is working extensively to remove trees and open up vistas on the course as well as regenerate heather. A strong routing, it also has a pair of truly all-world golf holes in the short, drivable par 4 second and the short par 4, 5th hole. Tuesday was to be a very special day with a visit to the World Top 100 – Koninklijke Haagsche Golf and Country Club. One of C.H. Alison’s legacies to the golf world, Hirono and Kawana widely considered the others. Note, if it’s not obvious, the name was chosen because of its strong international marketing potential. Needless to say, nobody passed the preparatory pronunciation training on this one. Royal Hague as most of the world knows it, is a wild ride and truly one of the most undulated walking courses you will find anywhere. That starts with the steep uphill hike from the club house to the starters hut at the first tee. By the time you reach the third fairway, your daily hill climb workout can be checked off and unless you are a mountain goat your legs will be burning. This wild ride continues from start to finish with blind shots, few flat lies, crowned greens and plenty of wind to contend with. Utrechtse Golfclub de Pan is one of our favorite courses on the entire European continent and it would be very difficult to dream up a more fitting setting and wonderful course to end our NL adventure. De Pan as locals call it, has also been ranked well inside the World Top 100 for a number of years now. World class golf holes are a dime a dozen at De Pan which benefits from one of Harry Colt’s best routings on a tight little property. The stretch of holes from the double blind shot par 4, 6th right on through to the reachable par 5, 18th could hold its own in any argument for the best 13 hole stretch of golf holes on the planet. Needless to say, the entire group left wanting to go straight back out for another go. That’s about the best we could ask for. Register Your Member Application with Lockhart Travel Club With plenty of golf on the horizon for 2024, join our next adventure and sign up for one of our great upcoming trips today! Click Here to Learn More About Lockhart Travel Club

Koninklijke Haagsche Golf & Country Club Our Benelux correspondent takes a long hard look at De Haagsche November 2011 All photographs courtesy of Koninklijke Haagsche Golf & Country Club If you’ve ever wondered how a golf course receives the designation of Royal (Koninklijk) all you have to do is pay a visit to Koninklijke Haagsche (De Haagsche) Golf & Country Club and you will quickly understand. Truth be known, in the Netherlands the title Koninklijke (Royal) is a title that must be requested, for sport clubs it can only be requested by a very special anniversary. In the case of De Haagsche this request was made and bestowed upon it in 1993 when the club celebrated its Centennial (100-year) anniversary. The US country club idea is for some reason a concept that hasn’t really seemed to catch on in Europe perhaps that’s due to the fact that it brings with it much higher membership fees and creates a lot more work for the facilities or perhaps it’s just a matter of history and the fact that many of the courses far outdate the concept all together. In any case, De Haagsche comes as close to this concept as I’ve yet to see on this side of the pond. Beautiful tennis courts, a complete fitness facility and an enormous, warm and inviting clubhouse that just gives the feeling you need to stay for dinner and later gather around the fireplace for drinks. All this and I’ve not even started on the golf yet. Right out of the starting gate it becomes abundantly clear that a round of golf at De Haagsche is truly like a wild roller coaster ride. Literally, this may well be the most undulated course I’ve ever experienced. Hands down by far the most undulated in The Netherlands otherwise known to be the flattest country in the world. The landscape moves like the swales of the North Sea on a windy day. This makes the importance of a few extra meters on your drives often tremendous and the difference between hitting a blind 4 iron and a pitching wedge approach on many different holes. Another challenge as you might be able to imagine is that this also means that flat lies are pretty rare and blind shots on approaches abundant. One of the other special features of De Haagsche are their green complexes, a large part of the renovation made by Frank Pont in an attempt to restore De Haagsche back to how Colt/Alison had intended it to be played. Personally I found them enormous for Dutch standards on average 25-30 meters deep. I do have to note that nearly all the greens have false fronts and sides on them and many seem to be crowned so that the ball is always rolling back off the greens, over the greens or off either side, of course that might have just been me as well. In any case it left me asking myself how I could possibly miss a green taking up 750 square meters of space from 130 meters out. Visually the greens really play tricks on you if you don’t know them. Once on the greens, if you make it that far, there are plenty of subtle undulations making reading lines rather challenging, especially with 30 meter putts. The layout of the course is nothing less than spectacular, that being said it’s a course really designed for strong players, I’d even go as far as to say single handicappers. With few exceptions, single handicappers from most clubs will quickly understand that not all golf courses are created equal as are not all golf course architects. Some are just plain devious and sadistic, not satisfied to tire you mentally but yearning to see you break down physically as well. Rumor has it that may have been Alison’s/Pont’s doing here at De Haagsche since that’s not a typical characteristic of Colt’s courses. The course does allow you to ease your way into the game which is something I’m growing to appreciate (incidentally a characteristic of many Colt Courses) more and more especially when hitting the first tee without warming up. Similar to De Pan (another Colt gem in The Netherlands), De Haagsche starts with a relatively short par 5. However that doesn’t make it easy, as many of the greens, it takes quite a shot to hold this green if you go for it in two. Fly the greens here with mid to low irons and you will almost certainly roll off them someplace and playing a links type shot to roll the balls onto the greens will not always work do to strategically placed hazards. Such is the case with the first hole that has an inviting bunker with a rather strong gravitational pull right in front of the green. All roads lead to the beach which seemed to be a theme for the start of my round. The theme of the 2nd and 3rd holes was stay left and hit it far. The 2nd fairway slopes drastically from left to right then plays to an elevated green protected by bunkers. The 3rd hole requires a forced carry ranging from about 160-200 meters over a small valley with a dog legged approach to a back-to-front sloping green with a false front and large drop off on the right side with stories of 5 putts ringing through the air. If you were able to follow that last sentence I assume the hole will not be too much trouble for you. Personally I think the course really comes alive at the 4th hole. A 202-meter elevated par 3 to an undulated very large green protected by bunkers. If it doesn’t sound challenging enough, just add wind. The 5th is a solid narrow par 5 that is not long but often plays into the prevailing wind adding the necessary extra challenge. The 6th hole is a monster of a 428-meter par 4, again into the prevailing wind. If the length doesn’t get you, the tricky right to left sloping and undulated green will. Basically you’ve got one chance here and that’s to be on the middle of the green. With a large bunker front left, the fairway and green sloping to the lefts but also having a run off to the right and back your short game will certainly be put to the test. If you’ve made it this far the 7th hole rewards you with a great blind tee shot requiring a 200-meter carry from the back tees. Extra points if you can hit the aiming pole up on the hill. The fairway is more generous than you realize but you’ll have to wait in order to see that. A good drive leaves a short iron approach to a very large green that is only partially in view from the center to right half of the fairway due to the fact that the right side is tucked behind a dune. The 8th is another brilliant par 3 from a highly elevated tee once again, playing at 209 meters and protected by a sole bunker on the right front plus run offs all around. It’s no wonder this is the second easiest hole on the course. I digress… Number 9 is a short par 4 leading back up and down and up to the starter's hut. This hole reminded me of the 2nd hole both in terms of the undulated fairway and the elevated green protected by a single bunker on the front right and while the second hole was protected by 3 bunkers I was grateful to have the opportunity to give the exact same shot another go. Half way there, trust me, the fun is really just beginning. The 10th is a short par 5 with another roller coaster fairway. It’s lined on the left by an extremely peculiar row of fir trees, apparently planted in the 1920s for some sort of work being done in the south of The Netherlands. Incidentally, they just dare you to hit left and indeed it’s the left side you need to favor on this hole, I took the right never being one to conform. The green is tricky and elevated. The 11th is a great driving hole where all the danger is blocked out by trees giving you the impression the fairway is huge and you can swing away. I did. The approach is to yet another tricky green with run offs all around. The 12th is a great little par 3 (153 meters) over a small valley to another large green sloping right to left protected by a single bunker on the right front. Add wind and this hole will certainly play havoc. I’d call this a bit of the calm before the storm as once you reach 13 the course starts to bear down on you. 13 is a long par 4 with a dogleg left and a narrow landing area. The approach is extremely tough to a long green of about 45 meters tucked into a dune and protected by a bunker front right. I believe the 14th receives my vote as my favorite hole on the course. The hole is very beautiful and running up through the valley surrounded by dunes. The tee shot is visually mind boggling requiring you to hit your drive against your better judgment to the right side leaving a tough mid iron approach to a very highly elevated green. I came up a half a meter short and rolled 50 meters back down the hill. It was at this point I believe to have heard Alison rolling over in his grave laughing as I continuously managed to misjudge the elevated greens. The 15th was almost equally enjoyable and running back along the 14th from an elevated tee to a green tucked into the dunes. The 16th hole was to be a decisive one for me. A challenging drive to a left to right sloping fairway which I managed leaving me 135 meters to a green 25 meters wide x 25 meters deep protected by three bunkers front right. From the first cut I hit a very high 8 iron about 2 meters onto the left front of the green which was probably the best I could do. The ball however managed to roll 20 meters through the green and off the back into the rough. Thus solidifying the pending thoughts of how fair and playable the new green complexes are granted this was a first effort. This green essentially needed to be approached as many at De Haagsche with either a very short iron or a links style land it short and run it up type of shot. However, the bunkering all but prohibits this in many cases. The 17th and 18th are great finishing holes. The 17th another great little par 3 protected by bunkers, an undulated green and severe run offs on the front and left sides. As you approach the 18th you believe you’ve left the dunes behind for a parkland course and what faces you is one of the most visually intimidating drives on the course from a highly elevated tee. The majestic clubhouse and wonderful 19th hole only a par 5’s worth of shots away. In this case somewhere between 5 to 10 shots on average but that’s just my guess. In summing up the experience I have to say De Haagsche is a great course, steeped in tradition and designed by a great architectural team in Colt and Alison. It’s a must play for sure but having played around 30 Colt courses I personally didn’t leave here seeing many similarities, which certainly doesn’t take away from the wonderful experience. It’s a course that I would definitely say is suited to stronger single handicap players and quite difficult for anyone else. My only criticism would be in the new green complexes and a couple bunkers that I question are appropriate for a Colt/Alison design which left me wondering what they might have thought had they joined me for this round. The greens are tremendous in size, undulated and in some cases bordering on too difficult and unfair due to the fact that they are very hard however not really allowing for traditional bump and run approaches due to the bunkering and severe slopes. It is also mentionable that even though they are large, as a result of all the run offs (false sides/fronts), they don’t allow for much variety in pin positioning. My opinion has been based on a day when they were rolling quite slow, catch them in the summer cut down and running around 10 or more on the stimp meter and they will just be too challenging. In my experience I just can’t place that by other Colt/Alison courses. 10+ handicappers will struggle to hold the greens that they hit and suffer severely with the extremely challenging putting and chipping around the greens. What surprises me further is that this difficulty has not been recognized by the Dutch Golf Federation in creating an appropriate slope and course rating comparable to the rest of The Netherlands. I’d be willing to bet handicaps at the club have soared since the changes. That being said, I’m not at all opposed to challenging golf as long as it remains fair and fun. Slight criticism aside, there is no question the entire experience can best be described as “Koninklijk” or fit for a king, however, playing the course well will be equally as challenging as pronouncing it correctly, for a native English speaker that is! David Davis.

The Low Countries offer some of Continental Europe's finest golf, where Golden Age masterpieces from Harry Colt and Tom Simpson showcase world-class architecture across remarkably compact geography. From the towering dunes of Dutch links courses to Belgium's tree-lined royal estates, the Benelux region delivers diverse golfing experiences within easy reach of major airports. The Netherlands leads with 40 exceptional courses headlined by Utrecht De Pan's heathland masterpiece. Belgium counters with 30 superb layouts dominated by royal courses carrying century-old heritage. Luxembourg rounds out the trio with three quality courses in one of Europe's smallest nations. 🇳🇱 Best Golf Courses in The Netherlands The Elite Five 🏆 The Netherlands' premier golf courses showcase the finest Golden Age architecture in Continental Europe. These five courses represent the absolute pinnacle of Dutch golf: 1. Utrecht De Pan – Harry Colt carved this heathland masterpiece through magnificent pine, birch and oak forests in the late 1920s. Ranked 56th in the world, the course presents strategic golf where holes flow naturally across gently rolling terrain. Frank Pont's recent restoration work has returned the layout to its original glory, removing decades of vegetation to reveal Colt's intended playing corridors. 2. Koninklijke Haagsche (Royal Hague) – This links layout weaves through towering sand dunes along the North Sea coast. Originally redesigned by Harry Colt's partner Hugh Alison just before World War II, the course ranks 86th globally and second in Continental Europe. Recent reviews compare its rolling duneland to Shinnecock Hills, high praise for any course outside traditional links strongholds. 3. Kennemer – Harry Colt's 1927 design near Amsterdam offers another links experience, later expanded by Frank Pennink in the 1980s with an additional nine holes. The sandy-soiled fairways and firm conditions provide authentic seaside golf just minutes from Schiphol Airport. 4. Eindhovensche – Another Harry Colt masterpiece from the Golden Age, this woodland course winds through dense forest south of Eindhoven. Recent tree removal has reclaimed lost width and improved turf conditions, showcasing Colt's original strategic intent. 5. Noordwijkse – Coastal links golf at its finest, this layout offers firm turf and natural movement between The Hague and Haarlem. The course held the Netherlands' top ranking in 2014 before being overtaken by the resurgent courses above it. Modern Excellence ⬆️ Beyond the Golden Age classics, exceptional modern courses prove great architecture continues: 🏖️ Links Valley – Modern links-style layout emphasising firm, fast conditions and strategic ground game 🏆 Bernardus – Kyle Phillips masterpiece hosting multiple KLM Open championships ✈️ The International Amsterdam – Bruno Steensels championship venue near Schiphol Airport Regional Character 🗺️ The Hague Coastal Zone 🌊 – Koninklijke Haagsche and Noordwijkse provide the Netherlands' finest links golf with towering dunes and firm conditions. Utrecht Heathland 🌲 – Utrecht De Pan anchors the region where courses thread through pine forests with year-round firm playing conditions. Amsterdam Gateway 🏙️ – Kennemer and The International offer championship golf within 30 minutes of Schiphol Airport. 🇧🇪 Best Golf Courses in Belgium The Royal Elite 👑 Belgium's finest courses carry impressive royal pedigrees, most earning the "Royal" designation automatically after fifty years of operation. The top courses showcase British Golden Age architecture adapted to Belgian terrain: 1. Royal Antwerp – Belgium's oldest club (founded 1888) now holds the nation's top ranking. Tom Simpson redesigned Willie Park Jr's original routing in 1930, creating a wooded heathland classic. Recent intensive tree management has restored the course to Simpson's vision, opening vistas and improving playing conditions dramatically. 2. Royal Zoute – Harry Colt's 1907 links layout near the North Sea coast held Belgium's #1 ranking for years. Eight Belgian Open championships have been contested here, with Lee Westwood capturing the last edition in 2000. 3. Royal Limburg – Fred Hawtree designed this heathland course in the mid-1960s, with son Martin later refining the layout. Recent bunker renovation by Bruno Steensels has enhanced both aesthetics and playability. The course extends to over 6,000 metres with strategic demands throughout. 4. Royal Belgium (Old) – Originally laid out by Seymour Dunn over a century ago, Tom Simpson redesigned this tree-lined layout in 1928. Martin Hawtree's 1990s renovation modernised the course whilst respecting Simpson's strategic architecture. The 27-hole facility near Brussels includes a complementary nine-hole short course. 5. Royal Ostend – Belgium's only true links course offers seaside golf along the North Sea. The relatively flat terrain creates different challenges than the rolling dunes found in the Netherlands, but the coastal wind and firm conditions deliver authentic links golf. Championship Tests 🏆 Royal Waterloo (La Marache) – This championship layout consistently ranks among Belgium's finest courses. Strong conditioning and strategic design create a proper tournament test that has hosted numerous professional events. National Golf Brussels (Championship) – Opening in 2017, this modern facility immediately gained recognition for its championship-quality design and extensive practice facilities. Belgian professional stars Nicolas Colsaerts, Thomas Detry and Thomas Pieters endorsed the course at its launch. Tom Simpson's Belgian Legacy 🏛️ Tom Simpson's influence on Belgian golf towers above all other architects. Three top courses bear his design signature: Royal Antwerp – 1930 redesign now fully restored to original intent Royal Fagnes – 1930 partnership with Philip Mackenzie Ross in Spa Royal Sart Tilman – 1939 design through dramatic topography near Liège Simpson's work across varied Belgian terrain, from dense forest to open parkland, created courses that have stood the test of time. His understanding of strategic golf and natural land movement produced layouts that remain relevant nearly a century later. Regional Distribution 🗺️ Belgium's top courses cluster in four regions: Antwerp (Royal Antwerp in the north), Coastal Strip (Royal Zoute and Royal Ostend along the North Sea), Brussels Area (Royal Belgium, Royal Waterloo, National Brussels around the capital), and Ardennes Mountains (Royal Fagnes and Royal Sart Tilman in the southeast). 🇱🇺 Best Golf Courses in Luxembourg Luxembourg's compact size means just three courses dominate the national scene: 1. Golf de Luxembourg – Located within a 400-acre estate in the hilly, forested Grevenmachar district, the course routes around the beautiful 18th-century Belenhaff château. The layout provides a pleasant golf experience that mirrors Luxembourg itself – quality in compact scale. 2. Grand Ducal de Luxembourg – Golf in Luxembourg started here in 1935, making this the nation's oldest course. Originally designed by Major J.C. Symonds with inspiration from Tom Simpson (who was working nearby in Belgium), the venerable layout maintains historic significance. 3. Kikuoka – Japanese architect Iwao Uematsu designed this course in 1991 within the 250-acre Scheierhaff Estate for the Kikuoka family. The club added a unique six-hole short course in 2008 featuring synthetic sand-filled greens, rare in Continental European golf. Planning Your Benelux Golf Trip ✈️ Coastal Links Tour (2 days) 🌊 Experience Dutch seaside golf across Koninklijke Haagsche, Noordwijkse and Kennemer – all within 80 kilometres along the North Sea coast. Base in The Hague or Haarlem. Heathland Heritage Tour (2 days) 🌲 Play Utrecht De Pan, Hilversumsche and Lage Vuursche through pine forests and sandy heathland. This 40-kilometre triangle uses Utrecht as its base. Belgium's Royal Circuit (2 days) 👑 Experience Royal Antwerp, Royal Zoute, Royal Limburg and Royal Belgium across Belgium's finest courses, all within two hours' drive. Brussels makes an excellent base. Complete Benelux Experience (7+ days) 🗓️ Fly into Amsterdam Schiphol. Play two days of Dutch coastal links (Koninklijke Haagsche, Noordwijkse, Kennemer), two days of heathland classics (Utrecht De Pan, Hilversumsche), one day of modern championship golf (Bernardus or The International), then cross into Belgium for Royal Antwerp and Royal Zoute. Why These Courses Matter 🎯 The Low Countries preserve Golden Age architecture from Harry Colt and Tom Simpson that has stood the test of time. The Netherlands maintains two courses in the World Top 100, whilst several Belgian courses rank within Continental Europe's elite. Major international airports at Amsterdam and Brussels provide easy access, with excellent motorways making multi-course trips efficient. Most top courses sit within two hours of major airports. Year-round play is possible thanks to sandy soil and modern drainage, with late spring through early autumn offering peak conditions. What Makes These Courses Special 🎓 Links Golf 🌊 – True links courses remain rare on the continent. The Netherlands offers the finest examples at Koninklijke Haagsche, Noordwijkse and Kennemer, featuring firm turf and natural dune movement. Heathland Golf 🌲 – Dutch heathland courses through pine forests like Utrecht De Pan showcase sandy soil, heather-lined fairways and strategic bunkering that create year-round firm conditions. Restoration Success 🌳 – Recent tree removal at courses like Royal Antwerp demonstrates how returning to original design intent elevates golf courses dramatically. The Best Golf Courses: A Summary 📝 The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg deliver world-class golf architecture across compact geography. Utrecht De Pan's heathland excellence, Royal Antwerp's restored Simpson masterpiece and Belgium's royal courses offer layouts worth crossing an ocean to experience. The region succeeds through architectural heritage preservation and recognition that Golden Age designs remain relevant a century later. For international visitors, the Benelux region provides efficient multi-course itineraries with minimal travel between world-class courses. The best golf courses in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg await.