The best golf courses in Flanders: Arras & Lille.

Bondues - Blanc
Architects: Trent Jones Snr. & Jnr.
18 holes: 6012m: Par 72.
Uniquely the only course which both Trent Jones father & son had a hand in. American style layout as you might imagime, with water hazards and sand traps in abundance!

Bondues - Jaune
Architect: F. Hawtree.
18 holes: 6260m: Par 73.
A classic Fred Hawtree design. Traditional layout through long established forest, not the longest but with astute bunkering and diminutive greens - great fun!
Lovely Château clubhouse.

Le Sart
Architect: A. MacBeth.
18 holes: 5724m: Par 71.
Traditional parkland course ringing the bright white 18th Century château and clubhouse. Not long but quite testing in places; the ideal venue to get your tour off to a gentle start.

Arras Architect: J-C. Cornillot. 18 holes: 6117m: Par 72.
A varied course wending in part along the valley of the river Scarpe to begin with then rising and broadening onto the hillside above. New 9-hole course too for a leisurely afternoon round.

Aa St. Omer
Architect: J.F. Van Heel.
18 + 9 Holes: 6400m: Par 72.
A physically demanding course (buggies are available and recommended) that regularly hosts events on the European Challenge Tour. The holes around the Clubhouse are particularly hilly, further afield the course broadens out onto a high ridge with good views. Maintained to a high standard and the panoramic Clubhouse restaurant makes the most of the rural views.

Dunkerque
Architect: R. Berthet.
18 holes: 5710m: Par 71.
More than a little interesting this publicly run golf course has had a very avante-garde nine holes added to its original traditional parkland eighteen. The new holes are very angular and designed to reflect the town's ancient fortifications - a unique design that always causes much debate!
Conveniently placed for a stop on the way to or from the Channel ports and open to visitors at weekends (barring Club competitions).

Thumeries-Moncheaux Architects: Boomer & Rossi. 18 holes: 5659m: Par 70.
A small freindly Club with a very local Membership that not may have heard about. A level stretch of woodland and a cunning design makes for a very enjoyabel low-key round of golf. Two or three holes around the small Clubhouse are fairly open before the course heads off through the forest.

Vert Parc
Architect: P. Simon.
18 holes: 6242m: Par 73.
A recent design, fairly long with plenty of water hazards - particularly on the back nine. Old Manor House that has now been converted into the Clubhouse (there are also four rooms). Funding seems limited so course maintenance sadly quite variable.

Palingbeek
Architect: B. Baker (1992).
18 holes: 6159m: par 72.
Over the border into Belgium, Palingbeek hides in bucolic isolation. Indeed, the substantial Palingbeek Clubhouse seems a little incongruous amongst the pastoral setting in Flanders' fields.
The course itself has made good use of the land's gentle slopes and existing trees. Although some holes run adjacently there are also plenty of quiet corners to contemplate the meaning of life or that last slippery four footer...

La Brigode Architect: B. Baker. 18 holes: 6010m: Par 72.
One of Flanders' most private Clubs - ocassional access available for small groups, please enquire.

Click map for country page

Sample Itinerary

3 nights, 3 rounds and Eurotunnel crossings in April or October.

£357.00 at either the Hôtel du Golf or L'Univers.

Guest Comments

"9/10 - St. Omer
8/10 - Arras
7/10 - Hardelot Les Pins
9/10 - Overall
I have instructed my successor (as organiser) to use Golf Par Excellence next year. The champagne, tees and especially the maps are all great ideas. Keep doing things to make yourselves just a little bit different".
Mr. T. Walpole - London

"This was our first visit to France to play golf. Arras was an interesting town it has impressive architecture and a good selection of restaurants.
Overall it was a sucessful trip that hopefully will be repeated."
Mr. M. Glumart - Suffolk.

"10/10 for your UK service, travel arrangements and our hotel (Carlton). 10/10 for Arras G.C., 9/10 for Le Sart (tricky to find!) and 10/10 for Thumeries."
Mr. T. Howard - Sussex.

The best golf courses in Flanders: Arras & Lille.

Sample Itinerary

Guest Comments

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