Royal Zoute Golf Club - Belgium
The Royal Zoute Golf Club is a beautiful links style golf course of Belgium and considered to be amongst it finest courses.
History of the Course:
The Royal Zoute Golf Club is located in the Knocke de Sur region of West Vlaanderen, near the North Sea coast, in Belgium.
Golf began here ages back, since 1899 and was known then as the ‘Knocke Golf Club'; but suffered immensely during both the World War years. Recovering from the setback, the present course plans were drawn up and with the backing of the Lippens family, and architect H. Colt created the masterpiece course what stands today as the Royal Zoute Club.
The Royal Zoute Golf Club now consists of two spectacular 18 hole courses- the Championship Course , and a second course that runs parallel alongside the first layout, its Executive Course .
The 6750 yards, par 72 Championship Course of the Royal Zoute Golf Club was designed in 1945 by architect Harry S. Colt, while, its second, 3946 yards, par 64 Executive Course was designed by Claude Bertier.
The two courses of the Royal Zoute Golf Club are both excellent seaside links courses and contain two loops of nine holes.
The course is subtly crafted amidst the rolling sand dunes and pine, birch and poplar forests of the Zoute terrain. Its layout consists of well manicured and contoured subtle greens; vast undulating fairways spread with links style bunkering, along with the roughs, natural mounds and slopes of the dunesland settings. Combined with the blowing winds of the North Sea, the climate also makes a for a perfect links golf experience for all golfers.
The historic Clubhouse of the Royal Zoute Club was built in 1909, on the highest sand dune, overlooking the picturesque sea and still remains today as a pride for the course.
Course Trivia:
- The Royal Zoute Golf Club received its “Royal” title in 1925, awarded by the King to the then president, Sir Maurice Lippens, who had immensely contributed to the Club's development to where it stands today.
- The Royal Zoute Golf Club Course Record is a score of 62 , held by world renowned English golfer, Greg Owen.
- The Royal Zoute Golf Club has hosted numerous golf events including the Belgian Open on three occasions, the Dunhill Open, Piaget Open and the Belgacom Open.
- Amongst golf's greatest, some that have played at the Royal Zoute Golf Club over the years include Nick Faldo, Lee Westwood and Miguel Angel Jimenez, The Championship Course was voted as Europe's greatest course in 1992/93.
