Royal Golf Club de Belgique

Château de Ravenstein,

Tervuren, Brabant 3080

  • Office

    +32 (0)2 767 58 01
  • Pro shop

    +32 (0)2 767 55 60
  • Fax

    +32 (0)2 767 28 41
  • Golf pro

    François Nicolas (Head Professional).

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Tree-lined parkland. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.

  • Surroundings:

    Woodland.

  • Designer:

    Original design by Seymour Dunn (1905); modified by Tom Simpson (1928).

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Metres
6033
5775
5088
Par
72
72
72
SSS or slope
72.1
70.7
71.8

At the same location:

Above distances are for the championship Arboretum (Old) course. Also at Royal Belgique is the 9-hole Parc (New) course (par-32; 3819 mtrs from mens tees).

Location

Latitude:

50.813715

Longitude:

4.486415

How to get there:

10 km E of Brussels

From the east side of the Brussels ring, leave at exit 1 (N3 Brussels / Tervuren). At traffic lights take the N3 direction Tervuren / Leuven. After o.5 km turn right into golf (look out for small "Ravenstein" sign on your right).

Royal Golf Club de Belgique - Ravenstein

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.

Est. 1905

Royal Golf Club de Belgique (Ravenstein): The Royal Golf Club of Belgium, better known as "Ravenstein", is a lovely old course. Always beautifully maintained, a stunning variety of trees and bushes line the gently undulating fairways. In spring, the flowering rhododendrons create an abundance of colour, adding significantly to the course's inescapably garden-like character.

This is a layout that exudes all the hallmarks of an aristocratic past, where Belgian kings have expertly played the game over many decades. The stunning clubhouse is just one of Ravenstein's many attractive features. Although not an overly long layout, several holes demand an accurate, well-placed tee-shot rather than something of booming length. Among many excellent holes, the uphill par-3 3rd and the dauntingly tight par-4 11th are both worthy of a special mention.

Without doubt this is the most difficult golf club in Belgium to join; to even think of putting your name down, your connections had better be aristocratic or diplomatic (at the most elevated levels). But thankfully, there is the opportunity to pay a green fee at certain times, and enjoy the hallowed greens and fairways of this most royal of clubs.

List of courses: Around Brussels

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays; no visitors on weekends. Closed Mondays.

Must book in advance. Maximum handicap on the Old course: men 20, women 24. Proof of handicap must be shown.

Green fees

Visitor fee, 18-holes: €140 (weekdays only).

Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2023].

Other information

Players generally walk this course. Electric push-trolleys available for hire; golf carts available (valid medical certificate required).

Practice facilities

Good

Did you know?

King Leopold II conferred the Royal prefix on GC de Belgique in 1906. In Belgium 13 golf clubs are permitted by royal prerogative to use the "Royal" prefix. They are: Antwerp, Anderlecht, Bercuit, Chateau d'Ardenne, des Fagnes (Spa), Hainaut, Latem, Limburg, Ostend, GC de Belgique (Ravenstein), Sart Tilman, Waterloo and Zoute.

The Château de Ravenstein, first owned by Philippe de Cleves (Squire of Ravenstein), now serves as the clubhouse - one of the most beautiful in Europe, The manor farm has a history that stretches back to 1460. The first stone of the present Château was laid in 1748 by Charles-Henry Francolet de Terweynt. After several changes of ownership the property was bought from the Belgian State in 1880 by Leopold II who presented it to the "Royal Donation" in 1903, so that it could become the clubhouse for the projected golf course.

Published ranking

Belgium's 3rd best course (Golf Digest, 2022).
Continental Europe's 72nd best course (Golf World, 2023).

Where2Stay

  • Le Meridien Brussels5-star

    Carrefour de l'Europe 3, 1000 Brussels

    +32 (0)2 548 4211

    Visit website

    Ideally located close to the historic Grand-Place in the heart of Brussels, Le Meridien enjoys direct access by railway to the International Airport and to the TGV / Eurostar and Thalys rail terminal.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 10 km:

      No

    • Golf within 30 km:

      Royal Golf Club de Belgique (Ravenstein); Sept Fontaines, La Tournette (Americain and Anglais courses); Royal Waterloo (Marache and Lion courses), Empereur; Hulencourt.

  • Sodehotel la Woluwe4-star

    5 Avenue E. Mounier, 1200 Brussels

    +32 (0)2 775 2111

    Visit website

    Located in the Brussels suburb of Woluwe Saint-Lambert, next to the famous farm and windmill Hof ter Musschen.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 10 km:

      Royal Golf Club de Belgique (Ravenstein)

    • Golf within 30 km:

      Royal Bercuit; Louvain-la-Neuve; Royal Waterloo; Hulencourt; Empereur; Sept Fontaines.

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