Gebbeveenweg 1,
Aalden, Drenthe 7854 TD
Office
+31 (0)591 371 929Pro shop
+31 (0)591 371 929Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Ralph Grinwis / Gijs Kras.Academy
Topgolf NederlandThe Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined & open heathland. Relatively flat terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Open rural countryside.
Designer:
Original 9-hole design by Frank Pennink (1972); extended to 18 holes by Donald Steel (1992); renovated by Frank Pont (2011).
52.800703
6.696762
2.5 km NW of Aalden / 72 km NE of Zwolle.
Drenthe Golfclub "De Gelpenberg": as the oldest golf course in the Dutch province of Drenthe, "De Gelpenberg" offers a partly-wooded and partly-open heathland layout, guaranteed to test all facets of your game. It is arguably the best of the country's more northerly layouts, together with Lauswolt (50 km away to the north-west). Both these courses were originally the work of celebrated English golf course architect Frank Pennink, and both were extended to 18-holes by Pennink's one-time partner Donald Steel.
The two nine-hole loops of "De Gelpenberg" journey out to the north and south of the clubhouse. Early in the front-nine loop, water is threateningly encountered at the par-3 2nd hole. The same u-shaped lake also provides the intimidation factor at the tough dog-legging par-4 7th and short par-3 8th.
Water hazards are not encountered on the back-nine, but this is where Pennink's partly tree-lined fairways will feel at their tightest, and the rough beyond them is at its most heathery!
Pick of the holes: The excellent right-to-left doglegging par-4 18th requires a gentle draw from the tee (if you can), before you hit over a huge cross-bunker on your approach to the green. This "infamous" sand trap provides a final reminder of the layout's easy-draining sandy sub-soil, a prerequisite on all true heathland courses.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance.
Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available for hire (book in advance).
Good
Drenthe GC "De Gelpenberg" participates in the Netherland Golf Federation's "Committed to Green" programme, designed to stimulate and assist golf course managers to consciously deal with sustainable golf course management. Specific attention is given to the natural and environmental aspects of the course. After completion of the program, international certification can be requested by the Golf Environment Organization (GEO) ... not unlike the USA's Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.
Netherlands' 20th best course (Golf World, 2022).
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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