Royal Belgium (Old)

Royal Golf Club de Belgique, or Ravenstein as it is better known is laid out on regal land. Founded in 1906 and redesigned by the flamboyant Englishman Tom Simpson, Royal Belgium is one of the most important courses in the country.

Ravenstein takes its name from its inaugural owner, Philippe de Cleves, Squire of Ravenstein. Involvement from the King ensured that the stately trees, which flank the fairways, are of the highest standard and they include a variety of rare species that were taken from the arboretum near the “Bois des Capucins”.

A number of changes have been made to Simpson’s original design but the Old course at Ravenstein remains true to the original architectural principles.

With King Albert II as the club president there is no doubt that this is a well-heeled club, which simply must be sampled. You can spend the most agreeable day here at Royal Belgium Golf Club and play 27 holes thanks to the addition of a super nine-hole course called the New, which was laid out in 1951 by Philip Mackenzie Ross, shortly after he had put the finishing touches to the wonderful Ailsa course at Turnberry.

In this edited extract from the book Golf Courses of the World author Geoffrey Giles writes: “King Leopold seems to have had a pretty good idea of what was required for outstanding golf courses and at Tervurun he donated a royal hunting park plus a collection of magnificent trees from his nearby Royal Arboretum to make possible the creation of the Royal Club of Belgium.

There is no record in the club’s archives of who designed the original course but it is thought that it was at least ‘inspired’ by Seymour Dunn, who laid out several courses in Europe and was known as ‘the architect of the kings.’ The course was then redesigned by Tom Simpson in 1928. What is certain is that this is a thought-provoking course in an Idyllic setting.

It is not a long course, with few par 4s over 366 metres in length, yet it is a gloriously strategic course, with the rolling ground used to maximum effect and many a dogleg cleverly set up to ask questions. In a way the course is summed up by the 9th, a mere bagatelle of 307 metres. Its curling, downhill fairway directs drives into many bunkers and the green is, again, tightly bunkered.”

Martin Hawtree advised the club on a 10-year improvement plan for the Old course in 1990.