Machineweg 1b,
Halfweg, Noord Holland 1165 NB
Office
+31 (0)23 513 2939Pro shop
+31 (0)23 513 2933Fax
+31 (0)23 513 2935Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Sander van Duijn (Head Professional).The Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Open countryside and woodland.
Designer:
Gerard Jol & Roel van Aalderen
Across the road from Houtrak, although a 4.5 km drive entrance-to-entrance, is the 18-hole Amsterdamse Golf Club (see separate Where2Golf details).
52.404049
4.728777
11 km W of Amsterdam
Leave the A9 motorway to the west of Amsterdam at exit Haarlem / Halfweg and take the A200 direction Halfweg. After 2 km take the Halfweg / Spaarwoude exit and head north direction Spaarwoude. After a few hundred meters, at traffic lights turn left and cross the railway, direction R105. After 50 metres turn left on to Houtrakseweg. After 2.3 km golf entrance is on your left..
Houtrak
Golfclub Houtrak: Six holes radiate out from Houtrak's impressive clubhouse like the spokes of a wheel, three heading out, three coming back. Most other holes occupy the more water-laden stretches of this enjoyable and relatively new layout, which is located just outside Amsterdam.
You may see references to two different courses at Houtrak: the Nord-Zuid (North-South) course and the Buiten-Binnen (Outer-Inner) course, but don't expect to find 36-holes. The two courses comprise exactly the same 18-holes, but routed differently depending on the season: summer (Nord-Zuid); winter (Buiten-Binnen).
Usually excellent greens, splendidly rolling fairways, good landscaping and new tree planting are all integral to this relative newcomer to golf in the Netherlands. The surroundings beyond the course cannot be described as overly scenic, with a mix of industrial, marine, wind-power and a motorway all somewhere on the horizon. But Houtrak is still able to exude an out-of-the-way, natural openness, where abundant birdlife inhabit the copious water hazards.
The layout here at Houtrak presents an enjoyable test of your course management and shot-making, especially with so much water in play. If there is a drawback, it's the fact that course is under the approach lanes to busy Schipol airport - although this should prove a relatively minor inconvenience, if you keep your mind on avoiding all that water.
Visitors welcome on weekdays; more restricted on weekends.
Must book in advance. Maximum handicap: 35.
Players generally walk this course.
Good
The dual numbering of each hole reflects differences in the order the holes are played during winter months versus other times of year.
No
No
Amsterdamse; Houtrak; Kennemer
Toekanweg 2, 2035 LC Haarlem
+31 (0)23 536 7500
Visit websiteA member of the Van der Valk group of hotels.
No
Kennemer
Houtrak; Amsterdamse; Noordwijkse
Presidents Cup: Geoff Ogilvy’s International Team take on Brandt Snedeker’s USA Team at the revered Medinah Country Club, near Chicago. The Internationals are trying to halt a run of 11 consecutive American wins. (Sept 24-27).
French Open: Continental Europe’s oldest national championship, dating from 1906, is once again staged on the Albatros Course at Le Golf National, near Paris. Defending champion is America’s Michael Kim. (Sept 24-27).
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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