GolfinFlanders ... Did you know ... ?

Golf in Flanders DID YOU KNOW…

FA C T S A N D F I G U R E S A B O U T G O L F I N F L A N D E R S

B R U G E S - DA M M E - K N O K K E - O S T E N D

Golf in Flanders DID YOU KNOW…

BRUGES IS THE VENICE OF THE NORTH AND ONCE ONE OF THE MAJOR TRADING CENTRES OF THE WORLD. COBBLED STREETS, GATED WALLS, BELFRY, BEGUINAGE AND PLENTY OF HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS. AN IDEAL BASE TO EXPLORE THE GOLF COURSES IN WEST FLANDERS.

BRUGES MEDIEVAL CITY WITH COBBLED STONES, BELFRY, BEGUINAGE AND PLENTY OF RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS

DAMME GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB PARKLAND COURSE IN THE FLEMISH POLDERS, RECENT REMODELLING OPENED BY PIETERS, COLSAERTS, DETRY.

ROYAL ZOUTE GOLF CLUB ‘BEST COURSE ON TOUR’ ACCORDING TO NICK FALDO DURING THE BELGIAN OPEN

ROYAL OSTEND GOLF FOUNDED IN 1903 AND BELGIUM’S ONLY LINKS COURSE.




PART 1 WEST FLANDERS & BRUGES GOLFINFLANDERS.COM

Did you know that Bruges is called the ‘Venice of the North’ and was once one of the major trading centres of the world ? The city derives it’s name from the old Dutch for bridge. During the golden age of the 12th to 15th century, Bruges was connected to the sea via a tidal inlet and that sea arm stretched all the way to Damme, a city around 6 kilometres eastwards which became the commercial outpost for Bruges.

Did you know that Bruges, just over an hours drive from Brussels airport, is an ideal base to explore the golf clubs in West Flanders ? It is still at heart a medieval city with cobbled streets, towers, gates, churches, its historic beguinage and plenty of restaurants, pubs, activities and hotels. In 2005, Belgium’s only hotel chain with golf in mind, Martin’s Hotels, completed the renovation of the former Grand Hotel Oude Burg opposite the Belfry made famous by Colin Farren and Brendan Gleeson in the dark comedy ‘In Bruges’ and have already welcomed golfers looking for an alternative destination.

Did you know that Damme itself is home to the Damme Golf & Country Club, an extensive golf complex with an 18 hole Championship Course (6.223 meters - 1987 - Dudok van Heel), a 9 hole President’s Nine (3.204 meters - 2014 - Bruno Steensels) and a 9 hole compact course ? The original 18 were recently redesigned by Belgian architect Bruno Steensels which extended the course to bring it up to date to withstand the modern era of power-play. The course is situated in the Flemish ‘Polders’, the fertile but clay based lowlands near the Belgian coast that came into existence by putting dykes up to keep it from continuous flooding. Streams, lakes, ponds and rivers dissect this 18 hole layout surrounded by agricultural lands. Belgium’s TNT, Thomas Pieters, Nicolas Colsaerts and Thomas Detry opened the course following the extensive remodelling.

Did you know that half an hour from Damme and heading North along the N49, you end up in Knokke, a town that can hold its own compared to the likes of Cannes and other well known and high end sea side resorts ? Home to the Royal Zoute Golf Club, one of Belgium’s most famous golf courses and ‘one of the best courses on tour’ according to Nick Faldo when competing in a series of Belgian Open’s in the 90’s. Golf was first played at Knokke-sur.Mer at the turn of the century in 1899. Both world wars have played havoc with golf in Knokke and the course moved a few times until it settled at the spot where in 1907, Harry Colt, fresh of completing Rye Links, designed the current lay out. There are two courses to be found here, an Outer, Championship Course and Inner, Executive course built on sandy soil close to the sea and played in links like conditions. The last edition of the Belgian Open, held in 2000 was won by Lee Westwood. Previous winners were Karlsson, Faldo, Clarke, Jimenez, de Vicenzo and Charles Warren back in 1912.

 

Did you know that in 1981, Marvin Gaye arrived in Ostend without a penny to his name and addicted to cocaine. The Ostend concert promotor Freddy Cousaert took Gaye under his wing, got him clean and back on track. Marvin Gaye went on to record his greatest hit Sexual Healing in Belgium.

Although no record exists of Gaye playing golf, the Royal Ostend Golf Club is very much worth to be part of your itinerary.

Founded in 1903, it’s the only real links course stretched out in the dunes North of the city. The Seymour Dunn designed course and clubhouse were completely destroyed during WWII and had to be rebuilt. A recent remodelling by Martin Hawtree has brought the course up to modern standards and the stretch from hole 5 to 10 is on a par with the best links courses in the world. Royal Ostend is now a firm favourite amongst Belgians holidaying at the sea side and Brits already familiar with golf in Flanders.

So, you probably didn’t know that there is more to Flanders than chocolates and beer ?

There is plenty of excellent golf, abundant restaurants and bars but indulging in the chocolates and beer is not a bad thing.

Did you know that golfinflanders.com is the reference for golf tourism in Flanders.

Promoted via the European Golf & Travel Media Association, the aim is to convince European golfers to consider Flanders as an alternative golf destination.

Golf in Flanders Did you know …

E U R O P E A N G O L F & T R AV E L M E D I A A S S O C I AT I O N W W W. E G T M A . C O M - I N F O @ E G T M A . C O M