Golfing holidays in Wallonia 2021 - 2022 Les Thermes de Spa © Eric Martin Figarophoto Boulets Liégeois © WBT E. Mathez Waterloo ‘Mont St Jean Brasserie’ © WBT- D. Erroyaux Royal Bercuit GC © Peps Photography Tune In, Tee Off, Take a Break in Wallonia Royal GC Des Fagnes © Peps Photography AMSTERDAM ROTTERDAM ANTWERPEN THE NETHERLANDS BRUGGE LEUVEN FLANDERS MAASTRICHT British golfers planning short breaks some new courses. Tom Simpson Liège has one of the largest pedestrian KORTRIJK Ring Est KÖLN or longer holidays abroad usually go was a qualified barrister who took up shopping zones in Europe. Known Ring AACHEN Ouest 17 Ploegsteert Eben-Emael Mouscron 2 16 through a checklist before choosing golf course design as a hobby and as ‘Le Carré’, it’s the place to go for Genval Wavre 8 1 10 Jodoigne their destination. Is it easy to reach, eventually devoted his working life luxury brands and fine foods, and off Waterloo 6 Loncin Fexhe-le- Louvain- Leuze-en-Hainaut Senne la-Neuve Haut-Clocher Lac d’Eupen 4 Barrage meaning less travel-time and more to it. Between the wars he created the main drag you’ll find unique and/ Tournai Mehaigne Liège Herve de la Vesdre Ath 9 Vesdre 5 Barrage de Eupen Dyle LILLE Nivelles Burdinne 19 la Gileppe golf-time? Are the courses any good? a number of courses in Wallonia or bizarre boutiques where young Gembloux Verviers Lac de CALAIS Villers- la Gileppe LONDON Erbisoeul la-Ville 7 13 Wanze (Naxhelet) 15 Are the green fees affordable? What that ranked alongside anything in creatives show off their wares. 3 Ligny 12 11 20 18 Les Bons Meuse Huy 14 Villers about places to see and things to do Continental Europe. La Louvière Namur Spa Malmedy Mons Lac de Lac de If pampering and relaxation is more Sambre Barrage de Robertville Butgenbach Francorchamps Robertville for my non-playing partner? Are the FRANCE La Gleize Barrage de If he were around today, Simpson your thing, the bubbling waters of Spa Charleroi Stavelot Butgenbach hotels and clubhouses COVID-secure? Binche Amblève would be dismissive of the big hitters have been revitalising visitors since the 21 Durbuy Ourthe Thuin Méan Wallonia, the French-speaking part who are forcing modern golf architects Roman era. Spa also boasts top-notch Sambre Eau d'Heure Vielsalm Hotton of southern Belgium, ticks all these to lengthen their courses. He was more hotels, Europe’s oldest casino and one Dinant FRANCE Meuse Lacs Florennes La Roche-en-Ardenne boxes. Travel there by car and the interested in posing the ‘touch’ player of motorsport’s iconic racetracks. de l’Eau Marche-en-Famenne d’Heure Lac de GERMANY Nisramont nearest courses are within two hours a series of subtle tests: “The vital Ourthe orient. Froidchapelle Lesse Barrage de For those with a keen sense of Nisramont of the Eurotunnel exit. Unlike France, thing,” he said, “is that a hole should Givet Han-sur-Lesse Lac de Ourthe occident. Liège, Mons Virelles there are no motorway tolls, and be more difficult than it looks, or look history, the towns of Barrage du and Waterloo offer excellent sport Chimay Ry de Rome Saint-Hubert Bastogne there’s a wealth of cultural, historic and more difficult than it is. It must never Couvin Ry de Rome Libin alongside evocative relics from Brûly-de-Pesche gastronomic attractions, even if the be what it looks.” Simpson’s courses Cendron several conflicts. Interested? local specialities of frites, chocolat and reflect that philosophy. Five of them REIMS bière will challenge the waistline. Local have ‘Royal’ in their title – an honour visitwallonia.be/en/golf Neufchâteau GRAND DUCHY OF Vresse-sur-Semois Bouillon members are delighted to host players bestowed on Belgian golf clubs when Tour operator specialist ‘A Golfing LUXEMBOURG from the island that invented the they reach their fiftieth anniversary. Experience has explored them all and Semois Barrage de game, and the green fees are lower here is a selection of the best courses Florenville la Vierre than equivalent courses in the UK. But while keen golfers want to play FRANCE Arlon as many rounds as possible, their and hotels in the region with some In fact, the connection between British enthusiasm is not always shared by tips for how to enjoy Wallonia from the and Walloon golf runs deep. In the their partners. Happily, Wallonia has nineteenth hole and beyond... 1920s, a flamboyant Englishman came attractions to suit all tastes. to the region with a brief to design Page 2 Contents Golf in Mons and Waterloo 4 - 5 Golf in Liège and Spa 12 - 13 Martin’s Dream Hotel (Mons) 6 Congres Hotel Van der Valk (Liège) 14 Congres Hotel Van der Valk (Mons) 7 Selys Hotel Van der Valk (Liège) 15 Utopia Hotel (Mons) 8 Radisson Blu Balmoral (Spa) 16 Martin’s Grand Hotel de Waterloo 9 Radisson Blu Palace (Spa) 17 Nivelles-Sud Van der Valk Hotel 10 Manoir de Lebioles (Spa) 18 Martin’s Chateau du Lac (Genval) 11 All in golf package Naxhelet Resort 19 Chateau De La Tournette GC © WBT M.Warzee © Selys Hotel Van der Valk Liège © WBT- O.Legardien AMSTERDAM ROTTERDAM ANTWERPEN THE NETHERLANDS BRUGGE LEUVEN MAASTRICHT KORTRIJK FLANDERS Ring Est KÖLN Ring AACHEN Ouest 17 Ploegsteert Eben-Emael Mouscron 2 16 Genval Wavre 8 1 10 Jodoigne Waterloo 6 Loncin Fexhe-le- Louvain- Leuze-en-Hainaut Senne la-Neuve Haut-Clocher Lac d’Eupen 4 Barrage Tournai Mehaigne Liège Herve de la Vesdre Ath 9 Vesdre 5 Barrage de Eupen Dyle LILLE Nivelles Burdinne 19 la Gileppe Gembloux Verviers Lac de CALAIS Villers- la Gileppe LONDON Erbisoeul la-Ville 7 13 Wanze (Naxhelet) 15 3 Ligny 12 11 20 18 Les Bons Meuse Huy 14 Villers La Louvière Namur Spa Malmedy Mons Lac de Lac de Sambre Barrage de Robertville Butgenbach Francorchamps Robertville La Gleize Barrage de FRANCE Charleroi Stavelot Butgenbach Binche Amblève 21 Durbuy Ourthe Thuin Sambre Méan Eau d'Heure Vielsalm Hotton Dinant FRANCE Meuse Lacs Florennes de l’Eau Marche-en-Famenne La Roche-en-Ardenne d’Heure Lac de GERMANY Nisramont Ourthe orient. Froidchapelle Lesse Barrage de Nisramont 1 Golf du Château De La Bawette (Wavre) Givet Han-sur-Lesse Lac de Ourthe occident. Virelles 2 Royal Bercuit Golf Club (Grez-Doiceau) Barrage du 3 Golf la Bruyere (Sart-Dames-Avelines) Chimay Ry de Rome Saint-Hubert Bastogne Couvin Ry de Rome Libin 4 Golf de l’Empereur, Relais & Country Club (Ways) Brûly-de-Pesche Cendron 5 Golf Club d’Hulencourt (Vieux-Genappe) 6 Golf Club de Louvain-La-Neuve (Louvain-La-Neuve) REIMS 7 Golf de Rigenée (Villers-La-Ville) Neufchâteau GRAND DUCHY OF Vresse-sur-Semois Bouillon LUXEMBOURG 8 Golf Club de Sept Fontaines (Braine L’alleud) 9 Golf Château de la Tournette (Nivelles) Semois Barrage de 10 Royal Waterloo Golf Club (Lasne) Florenville la Vierre FRANCE 11 Royal Golf Club du Hainaut (Erbisoeul) Arlon 12 Golf du Mont Garni (Baudour) 17 Golf Club Mergelhof (Gemmenich) 13 Golf de Pierpont (Les Bons Villers) 18 Naxhelet Golf Club (Wanze) 14 Royal Golf Club des Fagnes (Spa) 19 Royal Golf Club du Sart-Tilman (Angleur) 15 Liège-Gomzé Golf Club (Gomzé) 20 Golf & Hotel de Falnué (Mazy) 16 Golf & Country Club Henri-Chapelle 21 Golf de Rougemont (Profondeville) Page 2 Page 3 Golf in Mons and Waterloo Get ready for Battle Tip: In Mons, try the local beer “La Montoise” and enjoy the local dish “Côtelette al’berdouille” (Pork chop)... Chateau De La Tournette GC © WBT- O.Legardien with chips of course. THE REGION OF MONS Is the closest accommodation hub from the Eurotunnel exit, just under 2 hours’ drive (via Lille). It’s ideal for 2-night breaks. Filled with reminders of WW1 history where Britain began and ended their campaign on the Western Front, the town has everything you need for the ‘after’ golf activities. You have the superb course Royal GC du Hainaut. Designed by renowned golf architect Tom Simpson and inaugurated in 1933, it will challenge your skills with its three courses (27 holes in total) in the middle of lush, soothing nature. There is also the Mont Garni which covers 6,331m (par 73) and is one of the longest in Belgium, divided by three loops of 6 holes designed by Irish architect Tom McAuley around the fabulous Club House. You are also very close to the golf Mont Garni © WBT-JPRemy courses of Hulencourt, Pierpont and Chateau de la Tournette, offering even more golfing options. THE REGION OF WATERLOO Just over 2 hours from Calais moving further east from Mons you will find no less than a dozen courses all handily within the same 15-mile radius close to the historic site where Wellington and Blucher finally defeated Napoleon over 200 years ago. Known in Belgium as the rich playground of the Belgian people, the golf courses have a great strength in depth, with Royal Waterloo and Royal Bercuit (both previous venues of the Belgian Open) and great juxtaposition in styles of courses, parkland, stadium and heathland, big ones, small ones, quirky ones, difficult ones – each a character of its own. Our most popular golf venues are Chateau de la Tourette and Golf Club de Sept Fontaines which are both 36 hole venues. Hulencourt and Royal Waterloo are the pick of the bunch. © Royal GC Waterloo Page 4 Golf in Mons and Waterloo Get ready for Battle Pierpont GC © Peps Photography GOLF CHATEAU DE LA BAWETTE GOLF L’EMPEREUR GC was originally designed by Tom McAuley in the eighties in a beautiful One of our favourites. A magnificent Chateau Clubhouse and a classy course.