Hole 1

Par 3, 161 m

 

Like many other famous golf courses, the Brugse Vaart also starts with a par 3.  The well-protected green demands a high degree of accuracy!

HOLE 2

Par 5, 484 m

 

This relatively short par 5 has a slight dog-leg to the right.  Providing you pick the correct line from the tee, a good drive can open up a possible birdie opportunity.

HOLE 3

Par 3, 180 m

 

This smallish green is ringed with bunkers.  For amateur golfers, a 5-wood is probably the right club.  Make sure you study the putting line carefully: this is a tricky green where it is easy to lose a few strokes.

HOLE 4

Par 4, 383 m

 

This par 4 has a wide fairway, with a 90° dog-leg to the right.  From the tee, make sure you keep the ball somewhere on the fairway: this will give you a good chance to attack the well-guarded green with your second shot. Another difficult-to-read putting line.

HOLE 5

Par 4, 383 m

 

A broad hole with a slight left-hand dog-leg.  Keep your drive to the left side of the fairway: this will give you an open shot to the green.  A hole where the bunkers are often in play, so keep that sand wedge handy!

HOLE 6

Par 5, 451 m

 

A short but deceptively treacherous par 5.  There is plenty of room from the tee, so you can really open your shoulders.  Keep your second shot to the right, in order to avoid the wide pond just short of the green.  

HOLE 7

Par 4, 310 m

 

A dog-leg to the left, with a wide stream just in front of the fore-green.  The left-hand side of the fairway offers the best line of approach.

HOLE 8

Par 3   191 m

This long par 3 has an island green. Long hitters can go for the flag with their drive.  For the rest of us, it is safer to play up in front of the water. A hole where discretion is often the better part of valour.

HOLE 9

Par 5   539m

 

This long par 5 requires a straight drive. A light draw with your second shot should take the ball nicely around the slight kink in the fairway and will open up the flag for your approach.  Watch out for the water to the left of the green: our pelicans just love golf balls!

HOLE 10

Par 4, 423 m

 

Following a long par 5, a now equally long par 4.  Hammer your drive straight between the trees and you should have a good view of the welcoming green.  Try not to think about the bunkers – just go for it!

HOLE 11

Par 4, 353 m

 

A short par 4, with no real worries from the tee.  Aim your second shot for the right-hand side of this large green, missing the water lilies at the left front.

HOLE 12

Par 3, 136m

 

A very short par 3.  Always a good birdie chance, if you can avoid the deep bunker at the front right of the green.

HOLE 13

Par 4, 403m

 

A magnificent golf hole.  The drive over the lake allows you to choose your own degree of risk.  If you aim right, the carry over the water is only 100 m but you will find yourself some 350 m from the flag.  If you aim left, the carry is a tricky 180 m but will bring you within 5 wood range of the green.  Perhaps aiming somewhere in the middle is your best bet.  Good luck!

HOLE 14

Par 5, 480m

 

A medium length par 5.  Its wide fairway makes this an excellent driving hole, providing there is no wind.  Try and place your second shot at the junction of the bend, leaving an 8-iron chip for a possible birdie putt.

HOLE 15

Par 3, 158m

 

According to many golfing connoisseurs, this is one of the top holes in the Benelux.  Although only of moderate length, a winding stream means that there is trouble wherever you look. In addition to the water in front of and alongside the green, there are added bunkers to catch any ball pushed to the right.  And as if this was not enough, there is also an old pear tree at the front right of the putting surface.

HOLE 16

Par 4, 360m

 

An inviting par 4.  Big hitters can blast their drive over the lakes, leaving a comfortable 9-iron into the green.  More modest (or realistic) players are probably advised to play two 5-wood shots to obtain the same (or perhaps even better) result.

HOLE 17

Par 5, 421m

 

A shortish par 5, which it is sometimes easy to underestimate.  An island fairway followed by an island green, reachable in two shots for low handicappers and therefore offering a possible eagle opportunity.  If you are not quite so brave, two 5-woods and a 9-iron chip will still give you a good birdie chance.

HOLE 18

Par 5, 572m

 

Possibly the longest golf hole in Europe.  The sheer length and the wide fairway demand maximum distance from the tee.  The second shot also requires maximum power (and a slight fade to the right, if possible).  In contrast, the approach is all about accuracy, if you wish to avoid a sandy grave in a greenside bunker!