Golf & Country Club Oudenaarde (Anker course)

Golf & Country Club Oudenaarde (Anker course): Laid out in the grounds of Petegem Castle (a very handsome stately pile), there are now two 18-hole courses at Oudenaarde, the Kasteel (Castle) and the Anker (Anchor). The longer Anker course utilises holes from the former Adbij (A), Anker (B) and Burcht (C) nines, and also includes seven new holes.

As before, the layout will test every facet of your game - not least your ability to hit the ball straight and true. Mature trees and garden-like bushes line most of the original holes, while the new additions take you out into more open rural countryside.

Among the new holes are two very tough and severely dog-legging par-5's that have trouble written all over them; both will test your course management to the hilt, especially as you try to navigate your way around the "bend" on each hole.

On both the longer front-nine and shorter back-nine, OB, water ditches and small lakes will also play their part in keeping you straight and honest on this predominantly flat layout. Wayward power-hitting is not the key to unlocking a good score on either the Anker or Kasteel courses.

If you think there is sanctuary to be found once you reach the putting surfaces, then think again. The generally fast and well maintained original greens, are sufficiently fast and sloping to test the nerve of even the best of putters. The much slower greens on the new Anker holes will need a couple of season's to catch-up in terms of pace.

As you play the newer stretch don't be surprised to hear the sound of barges chugging along the River Schelde, which runs alongside a couple of the holes.