Koksijde Golf ter Hille

Koksijde Golf ter Hille: It appears the townsfolk of Koksijde are receiving a good return for their investment in this relatively new Belgian course. On what was previously open farmland, an enjoyable and challenging links-style layout has been crafted. Perhaps the inspiration for Koksijde's new course came from a renowned Harry Colt layout that existed in the 1920s just a couple of kilometres to the west (see Did You Know section below).

Supported by excellent clubhouse, practice and teaching facilities, the new layout at Koksijde certainly fills an important gap between Royal Ostend to the east and the Hardelot-Le Touquet courses to the west. The layout is clearly of championship length, giving the possibility of hosting top level competition, and perhaps the European Challenge or Senior tours in years to come.

The shaping of the holes creates plenty of challenges, with no shortage of rolling mounds along the fairways, copious bunkering and a lot of water in play. Only the tightish par-4 6th, long par-4 9th and short par-4 16th are not threatened by water.

On a first outing some of the hazards may catch you out, especially the narrowness of the landing area on the doglegging par-4 7th, the "hidden" water on the short par-4 13th (and a few other holes), and the concealed fairway bunkers on the par-4 16th. The long par-3 8th is the toughest of a nicely varied quartet of par-3s, all of them defended by water and significant bunkering.

From the opening par-5 on the front-nine loop through to the closing par-5 on the back-nine, these open links will thoroughly test and challenge your game. Make that a really tough test when the wind blows across this relatively flat and treeless terrain.

Among the biggest tests facing the course itself (as for any course) will be producing fast and true greens; they are currently a bit on the slow side. And, as for many a man-made links, keeping the mounds free of overly thick and lush vegetation will also be a challenge. Koksijde Golf ter Hille, to give it its full title, is a challenging and enjoyable course that should continue to develop in a positive way.