Hilversumsche Golf Club, Holland

Originally designed in 1910 by Burrows and Del Court Van Krimpel, the Hilversumsche Golf Club received an overhaul by the great Harry Colt in 1918 and not surprisingly resembles some of Colt’s finest courses on the English heathland. This is a very attractive forest property, with undulating tree lined fairways, plenty of heather and some outstanding slopes for golf. Although it is often too damp for really good play, when firm and fast it’s an excellent test of golf.

It’s the mix of heather, trees, slopes and distinct Colt design features that give this course a Heathland feel, though its best holes don’t quite stack up to the best near London. The par threes are very good, though each of 8 and 14 could use a few more yards, the 14th is superbly set beyond a heather-filled gully and would be superb with an 8-iron rather than a wedge in hand.

Other  holes of note include the beautiful short four 13th, with its blind pitch across hollows and the highly strategic 15th, which demands players flirt with heather down the left off the tee in to avoid having to negotiate deep greenside traps on the right. The longer par three 5th and the final third of the 11th are also very good.

Hilversumsche doesn’t really have any weak holes and is a fun golf course to play, with driving especially tight and some of the fairway undulations particularly attractive. The greens are quite tame and there are certainly too many trees through the interior of the course, but this is a rock solid layout and with keen links turf and some strategic tree lopping would be a cracking test of golf. (source)