Europäischer Golfclub Elmpter Wald

Europäischer Golfclub Elmpter Wald is discreetly tucked-away deep in a tranquil forest near the village of Elmpt. The course sits within what used to be RAF Brüggen, a former Royal Air Force base for fighter jets. Built in 1954, the course served as an RAF golf facility for the British armed forces personnel who were located in and around Roermond.

Originally known as the RAF Golf Club - Germany, the club is now open to visitors, and a surprisingly good layout awaits those who play it. The gently undulating "wooded heathland" course, with its quiet tree and heather-lined holes, blends seamlessly into the surrounding forest and heathland.

The two nine-hole loops, played to the east and west of the clubhouse, comprise a lovely mix of gently doglegging and straightaway holes. Most are trimmed with heather, which lies beyond the good-width gently rolling fairways. The heather, as ever, is well worth staying out of. Bunkering alongside the fairways (and around several greens) is relatively light, while water hazards are confined to a couple of small ponds at the par-3 15th and par-4 17th. Beware the 15th, the pond is wider than you imagine from the tee.

The subtly-sloping greens resemble those of the UK's older heathland courses ... relatively small and uniformly circular. Also much in evidence are hole-defining Scots pines, oak and birch trees, and many other deciduous species. Chirruping birdlife is joyously ever present.

Pick of the holes: the par-3 6th, with a two-tier plateau green could easily fit into some of the best Surrey-Berkshire heathland layouts, while an exciting "crow's nest" tee awaits at the par-4 7th. It looks down on another of Elmpter Wald's gently doglegging holes ... this one tighter than most.