Royal Antwerp was inaugurated in 1888 and it’s the oldest golf club in Belgium. The course was originally laid out by Willie Park Junior in 1913 and redesigned by Tom Simpson in 1930. It’s one of continental Europe’s architectural delights.
Royal Antwerp Golf Club (Tom Simpson)
Royal Antwerp was inaugurated in 1888 and it’s the oldest golf club in Belgium. The course was originally laid out by Willie Park Junior in 1913 and redesigned by Tom Simpson in 1930. It’s one of continental Europe’s architectural delights.
4
A little bit of geography first of all… Royal Antwerp is located some 20 km north of Antwerp, close by the Dutch border, deep into the Flemish part of Belgium. Dutch (or Flemish dialect) is the language over there, so I was quite surprised to hear so much French spoken by the members around me. In the bar, the smiling waiting team kept on replying in Dutch even when addressed to in French which can be a bit awkward. More understandable if one knows a little about the Belgian politics. If you do speak French, tell them you are not a Walloon (French speaking Belgian) and service will be friendlier…
Back to real stuff, the golf! Overall feeling was that this is a charming and peaceful place, the forest is beautiful, the sandy soil rich in heather, pine and birch. Not overly long at 6200 meters from the back tees, par 73, the course doesn’t provide a huge test of your golfing abilities but is nonetheless very pleasant. Fairway bunkers are rarely a threat from the tees, and green side bunkers not too deep. What I loved about those bunkers is the way the surrounding grass was let wild, which would give a clear visual definition and indeed a nice look. Greens are pretty small for the majority of them, not too undulating, true but were too slow for my taste when I played there.
The opener is fairly easy (300 meters par 4) and seems a bit tight compared to the rest of the course. 2nd, a 186 meters par 3 was for me the weakest hole on the course (other par 3s were very good!), fairly flat and bland despite its length. 3rd and 6th (stroke index 1) didn’t really impress me either (the latter being named by golf magazine in the Top500 holes). I can’t recall any sensational hole but the rest of them were good, or very good (12th, 14th, 16th and 18th would be my favorites).
Again, a very nice track in beautiful surroundings. Not the biggest test but very recommended nonetheless when in Belgium (Zoute, only an hour away, remains the top Belgian track in my opinion)… A 4 ball rating is maybe a bit harsh but 5 would not really be deserved with regards to other Simpson courses in Continental Europe (France’s Morfontaine, Fontainebleau and Chantilly to name but three), the speed of their greens ON THE DAY and the few average holes, so a good 4.5…. Cédric
Cédric
Overall rating
4.5
Overall rating
4.5
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