Sint-Jobsteenweg 120,
's-Gravenwezel, Antwerpen 2970
Office
+32 (0)3 380 1280Pro shop
+32 (0)3 385 8213Fax
+32 (0)3 384 2933Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Simon Crosby (Head Professional)The Course:
36 holes. Tree-lined parkland. Relatively flat terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Woodland.
Designer:
Original design by Baron Paul Rolin, with later modifications by Hawtree Design.
Above distances are for the North (Championship) course. Also at Rinkven is the 18-hole South (Old) course (par-71, 5986 m from back tees, rating 72.2).
51.280853
4.573482
17 km NE of Antwerp
Take exit 4 (St-Job-in-'t-Goor) from the A1-E19 (Antwerp-Breda motorway) north-west of Antwerp. Follow the N117 direction St-Job-in-'t-Goor. After o.4 km go straight over at traffic lights, direction St-Job-in't-Goor. After 1 km (passing through the village) turn right (just before small village green) and head towards the water tower, direction Rinkven. After 1.9 km golf is on your left.
Rinkven Golfclub (aka Rinkven International Golfclub): Laid out in a mature forest of oak, pine and silver birch, Rinkven's original 27-holes were joined in the mid-2000s by a new nine, creating two 18-hole championship courses. The fractionally longer North (or Championship) course combines the original Yellow-nine and more recently created Blue-nine, while the original and largely unchanged Red and White nines are paired to form the South (or Old) layout.
Both Rinkven's challenging courses occupy a peaceful woodland setting with no housing anywhere nearby. Here on these four excellent and well-maintained nine-hole loops your golf game, and especially accuracy from the tee, will be thoroughly tested. Each of the four nines contains its fair share of tightish tree-lined fairways, well-bunkered greens and occasional water hazards. The relatively small putting surfaces hide a multitude of subtle breaks and borrows that will keep you guessing throughout.
The Red-nine (first loop of the South course) has the most water threatened holes, while the new Blue-nine (inward half of the North course) takes you furthest away from the clubhouse and into slightly more open terrain. Catch Rinkven in the spring and you can enjoy the vivid splashes of colour brought to this lovely forested setting by many rhododendron bushes.
Pick of the holes: the par-3 11th on the South course is a wonderfully testing good-length short hole. Wonderfully framed by the indigenous trees, you'll need a well-hit tee-shot across water to safely find the large inviting green.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance. Maximum handicap: weekdays 36; weekends 28.
Credit cards accepted. Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2022].
Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available for hire.
Good
Established in 1981 by a group of friends, Jo Wegloop, Léon Krochmal and Benoit Frajermauer, Rinkven Golfclub was originally known as Antwerp International Golf & Country Club Rinkven. Since that time the Club has hosted several prestigious national and international competitions, including the Belgian Open championship (a European Tour event).
Bredabaan 940, 2930 Brasschaat, near Antwerp
+32 (0)3 663 0509
Visit websiteA Van der Valk motel, very well located to access Royal Antwerp and Rinkven golf courses.
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Royal Antwerp; Rinkven
No
Groenplaats, 2000 Antwerp
+32 (0)3 204 12 12
Visit websiteThe Hilton Antwerp is located in the heart of the historical city centre, next to the famous Antwerp Cathedral,
No
No
Royal Antwerp; Rinkven
Tournaments:
PGA Championship: the year’s second men’s major championship is hosted by Southern Hills CC, Tulsa, Oklahoma, amidst doubt as to whether reigning champion Phil Mickelson will defend his title (May 19-22).
Soudal Open: Belgium’s return to European Tour golf sees 36-hole Rinkven International GC host the Soudal Open, the country’s national open championship (May 12-15).
Who's Who:
Scottie Scheffler: bags the 2022 Masters Tournament title, and with it a fourth win in six starts on the PGA Tour and his first major championship victory.
Stephen Dodd: took the European Senior Tour’s 2021 Order of Merit honours following the abandonment due to rain of the season’s final event, the MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius (April 1-3, 2022).
Golf World Top 100: Best Golf Courses in Europe. From France to Spain to the Netherlands and Norway, the Golf World Top 100 panel reveals the places you have to play (published 20 October 2021).
New 27-hole golf complex to be built in southern Belgium
A new golf complex in southern Belgium, close to the border with Luxembourg, will start construction in June 2021.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club "makes its tournament debut with the hosting of the Italian Open on the European Tour" by Richard Humphreys
Gamble Sands opens short course:
David McLay Kidd’s 14-hole QuickSands short course has opened for play at Gamble Sands in Brewster, Washington.
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