Château de Ravenstein,
Tervuren, Brabant 3080
Office
+32 (0)2 767 58 01Pro shop
+32 (0)2 767 55 60Fax
+32 (0)2 767 28 41Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
François Nicolas (Head Professional).The Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined parkland. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Woodland.
Designer:
Original design by Seymour Dunn (1905); modified by Tom Simpson (1928).
9-hole par-32 New course (3819 mtrs from mens tees)
50.813716
4.486416
10 km E of Brussels
From the east side of the Brussels ring, leave at exit 1 (N3 Brussels / Tervuren). At traffic lights take the N3 direction Tervuren / Leuven. After o.5 km turn right into golf (look out for small "Ravenstein" sign on your right).
Royal Belgique (Ravenstein)
Royal Golf Club de Belgique (Ravenstein): The Royal Golf Club of Belgium, better known as "Ravenstein", is a lovely old course. Always beautifully maintained, a stunning variety of trees and bushes line the gently undulating fairways. In spring, the flowering rhododendrons create an abundance of colour, adding significantly to the course's inescapably garden-like character.
This is a layout that exudes all the hallmarks of an aristocratic past, where Belgian kings have expertly played the game over many decades. The stunning clubhouse is just one of Ravenstein's many attractive features. Although not an overly long layout, several holes demand an accurate, well-placed tee-shot rather than something of booming length. Among many excellent holes, the uphill par-3 3rd and the dauntingly tight par-4 11th are both worthy of a special mention.
Without doubt this is the most difficult golf club in Belgium to join; to even think of putting your name down, your connections had better be aristocratic or diplomatic (at the most elevated levels). But thankfully, there is the opportunity to pay a green fee at certain times, and enjoy the hallowed greens and fairways of this most royal of clubs.
Visitors welcome on weekdays; no visitors on weekends. Closed Mondays.
Must book in advance. Maximum handicap on the Old course: men 20, women 24. Proof of handicap must be shown.
Cash only for green fees. Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2020].
Players generally walk this course. Electric push-trolleys are available for hire, but golf carts are not available.
Good
King Leopold II conferred the Royal prefix on GC de Belgique in 1906. In Belgium 13 golf clubs are permitted by royal prerogative to use the "Royal" prefix. They are: Antwerp, Anderlecht, Bercuit, Chateau d'Ardenne, des Fagnes (Spa), Hainaut, Latem, Limburg, Ostend, GC de Belgique (Ravenstein), Sart Tilman, Waterloo and Zoute.
The Château de Ravenstein, first owned by Philippe de Cleves (Squire of Ravenstein), now serves as the clubhouse - one of the most beautiful in Europe, The manor farm has a history that stretches back to 1460. The first stone of the present Château was laid in 1748 by Charles-Henry Francolet de Terweynt. After several changes of ownership the property was bought from the Belgian State in 1880 by Leopold II who presented it to the "Royal Donation" in 1903, so that it could become the clubhouse for the projected golf course.
Belgium: 2nd best course in Belgium (Golf Digest, 2020).
Europe: 57th best course in Europe (excl Britain & Ireland) (Golf World, 2019).
Carrefour de l'Europe 3, 1000 Brussels
+32 (0)2 548 4211
Visit websiteIdeally located close to the historic Grand-Place in the heart of Brussels, Le Meridien enjoys direct access by railway to the International Airport and to the TGV / Eurostar and Thalys rail terminal.
No
No
Royal Golf Club de Belgique (Ravenstein); Sept Fontaines, La Tournette (Americain and Anglais courses); Royal Waterloo (Marache and Lion courses), Empereur; Hulencourt.
5 Avenue E. Mounier, 1200 Brussels
+32 (0)2 775 2111
Visit websiteLocated in the Brussels suburb of Woluwe Saint-Lambert, next to the famous farm and windmill Hof ter Musschen.
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Royal Golf Club de Belgique (Ravenstein)
Royal Bercuit; Louvain-la-Neuve; Royal Waterloo; Hulencourt; Empereur; Sept Fontaines.
Tournaments:
Women’s major championships: the month of June sees two women’s majors: the US Women’s Open (June 3-6), with A Lim Kim defending, and the Women’s PGA Championship (June 24-27), with Sei Young Kim defending.
Senior PGA Championship: the revered Southern Hills in Oklahoma hosts the 81st staging of this event (May 27-30); Ken Tanigawa holds the title from its last playing in 2019.
Who's Who:
Phil Mickelson: in winning the 2021 PGA Championship, the world’s most famous “leftie” became the oldest winner of a golf major championship.
Hideki Matsuyama: became the first Japanese professional to win a men’s major championship, when he triumphed in this year’s Masters Tournament.
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.
American Dunes opens for play following Nicklaus transformation
Nicklaus Design has transformed the former Grand Haven Golf Club in Michigan into the American Dunes Golf Club, a new public course that is now open for play
New course opens for play at Barnbougle
Bill Coore designs 14-hole layout with “sporty” holes on dune ridge above Lost Farm (golf carts allowed).
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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