Royal Antwerp Golf Club Top 100 Review

Royal Antwerp Golf Club is Belgium's oldest golf club, established in 1888, with its current location in Kapellenbos north of Antwerp since 1912. The club features two courses: the Tom Simpson Course, an 18-hole layout (Par 73) designed by the renowned architect Tom Simpson, stretching over 6,600 yards from the back tees, and the Dormy House Course, a 9-hole layout (Par 66) designed by Willie Park Jr.

The courses exemplify classic wooded heathland design, characterized by excellent sandy soil, abundant heather, and mature pine trees lining numerous fairways. The terrain is relatively flat, making for easy walking despite significant challenges. Course management is essential due to plentiful bunkering and the requirement to navigate between trees and onto typically immaculate, fast greens. Water hazards are minimal, appearing on only a couple of holes. The layout rewards strategic placement and course management over power off the tee, with wind between the pines adding variable difficulty throughout the year. Royal Antwerp has achieved recognition as one of northwest Europe's finest wooded heathland courses and ranks among Continental Europe's top 100 golf courses.