GolfInFlanders: Did you know ... part 3

Golf in Flanders DID YOU KNOW… Part 3

FA C T S A N D F I G U R E S A B O U T G O L F I N F L A N D E R S

THE REGION OF LIMBURG, EAST OF FLANDERS

Golf in Flanders DID YOU KNOW…

LIMBURG HAD AT LEAST ONE VERY FAMOUS CITIZEN. AMBIORIX, LEADER OF THE EBURONES AND A NEMESIS TO JULIUS CAESAR. THE ROMANS BUILT A FORTIFICATION IN TONGEREN, THE REMNANTS OF WHICH ARE STILL VISIBLE. THE ROADS IN AND OUT OF TONGEREN STILL HAVE SIGNS OF THE ROMAN ROADS, THE HEART OF ROMAN EXPANSION.

ROYAL LIMBURG GOLF CLUB OLDEST GOLF CLUB IN LIMBURG WITH SIMILARITIES TO THE SUNNINGDALES OF THE GOLFING WORLD

SPIEGELVEN GOLF CLUB THE INITIATIVE OF A LOCAL DENTIST AND CARVED AROUND A ‘VEN’ (LAKE) BY RON KIRBY.

MILLENNIUM GOLF OPENED IN 2000 AND DESIGNED BY LOCAL GOLF ARCHITECT BRUNO STEENSELS, A MODERN LONG HITTERS GOLF COURSE




PART 3 IN AND AROUND LIMBURG GOLFINFLANDERS.COM

Did you know Ambiorix was leader of the Eburones, a tribe which was hailed by Caesar as the bravest of the ‘Belgae’ and Tongeren became a Roman stronghold to keep rebellious tribes under thumb.

Did you know that the Royal Limburg Golf Club started in 1966 because golfers from the region up till then had to head across the language border to Liege and the Royal Sart Tilman Golf Club. The town of ‘Houthalen’ agreed to provide a piece of nature reserve to build a golf course. Renowned British golf architect Fred Hawtree created a masterpiece that meanders through sand dunes, pine forest and between patches of heather. The course can generally be found in the top 3 of Belgian golf courses and has hosted a number of international and national pro and am events. The Telenet Trophy, a Challenge Tour event was won by David Horsey back in 2008. The course measures a modest 6,178 meters of the back tees but due to the nature of the terrain and the narrow tree lined fairways, puts emphasis on precision rather than power.

Did you know that Spiegelven Golf Club was the initiative of former Dentist Albert Bouts. Back in 1988, an area around the ‘Spiegelven’, referred to by locals as the ‘Mirror to heaven’ was turned into a challenging golf course by Ron Kirby who later designed the Old Head of Kinsale. The Par 72 golf course presents a different challenge on every hole. A pine tree that obstructs the view of the flag, little sandy islands surrounding trees and some small ‘vens’ (lakes) make you think on every shot.

The 6,093 meter par 72 course is playable for the mere amateur and the better player will be able to showcase a howl arsenal of different shots to tackle the specific challenges this course presents.

Did you know that Millennium Golf opened in the year 2000 and was then, the most challenging and championship worthy golf course to be built in Belgium Local architect Bruno Steensels, himself a credible amateur golfer, laid out a modern course with multiple tees, sweeping fairways and undulating large greens built around the ‘Paalse Plas’, a large lake used for water sports. This is a multifunctional area where cyclists and walkers go hand in hand with golfers in a safe way. There is always a slight to mild breeze swept up by the nearby water playing havoc with your shot selection and with ample water and one of the longest courses in Belgium in front of you this is course that needs to be played properly.




Golf in Flanders Did you know …

E U R O P E A N G O L F & T R AV E L M E D I A A S S O C I AT I O N W W W. E G T M A . C O M - I N F O @ E G T M A . C O M