Golfing in Belgium didn’t really kick off until the early 20th Century when Tom Simpson, a renowned golf architect designing 4 of the 5 courses to be built. Since then, golf courses in Belgium flourished and today there are hundreds to choose from.
All golf courses in Belgium are open to the public and the tee-off fees are pretty reasonable ranging between 65-100 euro per round on average. Some of the more popular courses get very busy at the weekends so you’ll want to book in advance but you should be able to make a last-minute booking at all of them during the week.
In this article, we are going to focus on the best golf course in Belgium, so you don’t have to waste any time on sub-par rounds at mediocre clubs and can go straight to the best golf courses in Belgium.
Royal Golf Club Du Chateau D’Ardenne
The Royal Golf Club Du Chateau D’Ardenne is based near Dinant in Belgium was built by King Leopold II between 1874 and 1891. The course suffered some damage during the Second World War but was rehabilitated by Baron Gaston Braun in 1950.
The rehabilitation starting with 9 holes, then 12 holes, and finally ended on the 18 hole course the club has today which was completed in 1992.
The Royal Golf Club Du Chateau D’Ardenne is known as one of the most beautiful golf courses in Belgium. The course is excellently maintained, and lined with ancient trees that are a century old or more and some of them are quite rare species. Expect amazing views into the hills and countryside from the fairways as you slowly make your way around the fantastic 18 hole course.
One thing not to miss at the Royal Golf Club Du Chateau D’Ardenne is their restaurant. Their food is fantastic, so be sure to drop in for a spot of lunch after your round.
Royal Antwerp Golf Club
The Royal Antwerp Golf Club is Belgium’s oldest golf club and it dates back to 1888. Sitting just outside of Antwerp, the course is easy to access from the nearby city and is open to visitors during the week and but access is restricted on the weekends to members, so if you want to play on Saturday and Sunday, be sure to book way in advance.
The course was designed by Tom Simpson and it’s immaculately maintained. The greens are to die for and the fairways are lined with both heather and mature pine trees and are usually very quiet and peaceful, making for a relaxing round every time.
The course has slowly become known as one of the best-wooded heathland courses in northwest Europe, so if you have a chance to play here, you should take it.
Royal Golf Club Des Fagnes
The Royal Golf Club Des Fagnes sits just outside of the city of Liege and the town of Spa in the Ardenne and has slowly made its name as one of the best golf courses in Belgium. Spa is renowned for its natural hot springs, and the Royal Golf Club Des Fagnes isn’t just about golf, it’s a spa too, so don’t forget to enjoy some pampering after your round.
The course is 18 holes over a gentle terrain that makes walking your round very easy and relaxing. You’ll find some challenging par 4s that dogleg, a great variety of par 3s, and the opening nine features opens and closes with some tough but great par 5s.
The 18 hole course is brilliantly maintained and lined with old birch, oak, and pine trees plus a lot of heathers. The views are stunning the atmosphere is peaceful. The course is a favorite for the Royals and Belgium aristocracy, and once you have walked around it, you know exactly why.
Hulencourt
Hulencourt is one of Brussels’ most popular golf courses and has slowly gained a reputation for being the best golf course in Belgium that’s new. The owners are constantly upgrading and investing in both the club and course. The onsite facilities are fantastic and there will soon be onsite accommodation so you can book a peaceful golfing weekend.
The club has two courses, one 9 hole pitch and put called Verger which is great for sharpening your mid/short game. And then there is the 18 hole Vallon course which is a ‘must play’ for all golfers. The Vallon course features 18 championship holes that are full of golfing challenges. You’ll find quite a few bunkers, lakes, water, and OV areas.
The fairways are quite wide and the greens are slopey and fast. Both are maintained to the highest standard and the course itself rolls over gentle parkland which makes for a peaceful but easy walking around.
The National Golf Brussels
The National Golf Brussels is home to a championship golf course that is a must-play course and will test every aspect of your game. The course was opened in 2017 and follows 18 holes that work their way around beautiful fields, paddocks, and parkland.
Every hole has its own set of challenges ranging from extensive bunkering, a linksy layout, elevation changes, and more. The back 7 holes are lined with water just to make life a little harder and the final 18th hole is recognized as one of the toughest closing holes in Belgium.
It’s a par 5 with a green that is wrapped with a small lake and a large back bunker. If you shoot par or below, you’ll walk into the clubhouse proud.
Be warned, there are a lot of trees at the National Golf Brussels, far more than other links courses. It does make for beautiful scenery but it does make your round a lot trickier.
Royal Zoute Golf Club
The Royal Zoute Golf Club is home to two 18 hole courses, one of which features a championship layout. The outer course, known as L’Exteriur is renowned by golfers all over the world while the shorter inner course is designed for practice rounds or a warm-up to sharpen your game.
The club is situated just a few blocks from the sea, and although it doesn’t have sea views from the course, it has one of the best coastal layouts in Europe. You’ll find areas of good sizes dunes, pockets of pine trees, silver birch, and poplar trees, not to mention immaculately maintained fairways and greens.
The fairways are quite tight and if you tee off off-line, you will be punished by the trees that wrap the fairways. The greens are large and wonderful to put on and make for a lovely ending to the challenging par 3s and wide-open par 4s and 5s.
Being one of the best golf courses in Belgium and not far from Calais, Brussels, or Burges, this is a popular course and you’ll want to book in advance to guarantee a spot. You can play with a handicap greater than 24 and you’ll need proof of it.
Visitors can play on both the weekdays and on weekends, but only after 1 pm. It costs 100 euros for the championship course and just 60 euros for the inner.
Royal Limburg Golf Club
The Royal Limburg Golf Club features an 18 hole heathland course that is full of pines, birch, and open expanses of heather. Pay in the summer during the heather bloom and you will be finding yourself on one of the most beautiful heathland courses in all of Europe.
The Royal Limburg Golf Club is known as one of the best golf courses in Belgium for both its well-maintained grounds and attractive surroundings. The course is challenging and it’s more about accuracy than long shots off the tee, so big hitters beware, you might have to hold some back to make it around this course with a respectable scorecard.
The first and eighteenth holes both feature water hazards and while the apr 3s are well bunkered for a good challenge, and the long par 5’s are reachable in two if you can knock the cover off a ball. But, again, accuracy is key everywhere, and if your ball goes into the heather, you’re likely to drop a shot or two.
It’s a walking course but carts are for hire. Visitors are welcome on both weekends and weekdays, but you must book in advance and prove a handicap of less than 30.
Royal Waterloo Golf Club
The Royal Waterloo Golf Club sits in Ohain, near Brussels, and is one of the best golf courses in Belgium, hosting the Belgium Open European tour and the Helent Tour. There are two courses at this club, and La Marche is the one you want to be playing on.
The course is always in excellent condition with beautiful views, heather-lined fairways, and holes that cut through ancient woodland as you go into the back 9. The back 9 is notable tougher than the front 9 and the greens will be a challenge for all golfers as will the tight fairways.
If you hit off-line at the tee, you’re likely to be deep in the rough and it’ll be hard to correct from. The greens are large and very undulating, but a joy to put on when you bring your best short game.
Visitors must book in advance and have a handicap of 29 or less. You are welcome to play on weekdays but weekends are quite restricted, so be sure to plan ahead.
