WATERLOO GOLF COURSES
The best golf courses for Waterloo golf holidays.
Royal Waterloo - La Marache Architect: F. Hawtree (1960). 18 holes: 6,271m: par 72.
The
old lady of Waterloo. La Marache is an exceptional course, studded with specimen trees and after a year of renovation work back in 2016 it is once again in absolutely first-class condition. The holes you see from the plush clubhouse look straightforward(ish) but over the horizon the layout delves into the enchanting nooks and crannies of the deep dark forest.
Royal Waterloo - Le Lion Architect: P. Rolin (1988). 18 holes: 6,215m: par 72 .
Le Lion is another good quality woodland second course that any self-respecting Golf Club would be pleased to own! The land here is generally flatter and more open than La Marache, but it is a good test of golf nevertheless.
All in all: two old-style parkland layouts + a very welcoming clubhouse
= a great day out.
Bercuit Architect: R. Trent Jones Snr. (1965). 18 holes: 5,931m: par 73.
The hilly terrain of Bercuit, allied with a few streams, ponds and gulleys generates some spectacular holes.
The course itself lies in a very well-to-do residential area of Waterloo and the look and feel is of a similar standard to the desirable dwellings that surround it.
Hulencourt Architect: J-M. Rossi (1988). 18 holes: 6,215m: par 72.
A large estate that was once a manorial farm has been converted into one of Belgium's premier golf courses thanks to a huge investment by the current owner. No expense has been spared in the construction of the course, where you will find well-drained, verdant fairways and slickly smooth Greens.
You will also be very well looked after in the small but smart clubhouse - not least by the charismatic Honorary Secretary - John Heath.
Rigenee Architect: P. Rolin (1982). 18 holes: 6,450m: par 73.
The village of Rigenée sits quietly in the midst of vast tracts of farmland and pasture, making it a lovely spot to play golf. The course wends its way at first through the pretty village and then broadens out onto the plain opposite. You are assured of a great day at this most welcoming of clubs that is fiercely proud of its Solheim Cup player and is a place where the spirit of the sport is paramount.
Chateau de La Tournette Golf Club
The huge white farmhouse that nowadays forms the elegant clubhouse at La Tournette, stands guard over two contrasting courses that you would be happy to play over and over again. It would be very hard to choose a favourite between these two highly enjoyable golf courses; your debate will run and run...
Chateau de La Tournette - American Architect: C. Clark (1988). 18 holes: 6,031m: par 72.
There is a very US feel to the 'American' course (as you might expect!) with its generously sized water hazards and generous quantity of sculpted bunkers. Thankfully the Fairways are wider too so there is plenty of room for manoeuvre, although it may make your overall journey a little longer. Greens are large with plenty of borrow - just to complete the US picture.
La Tournette - English Architect: P. Alliss (1983). 18 holes: 6,024m: par 71.
The 'English' on the other hand is more reserved course (as you might guess by the architect's laconic style) relying more on the natural features and woodland of the landscape to define each hole. Water has however been added here and there, so expect a few surprises on your way around.
Sept Fontaines Golf Club
Two of the closest courses to Waterloo and also two of the prettiest. The old château forms a splendid clubhouse and the dense varied foliage that surrounds it harbours two very high class courses.
Sept Fontaines - Le Chateau Architect: J-M. Rossi (1990). 18 holes: 6,066m: par 72.
The Château course at Sept Fontaines is by far the tougher of the two courses, but it is a delightful test of golf over lushly wooded terrain with some very appealing hole designs, some slopes to contend with and a splash of water here and there.
Sept Fontaines - La Foret Architect: J-M. Rossi (1990). 18 holes: 4,870m: par 69.
Don't be fooled into thinking
that the shorter Forêt course is an easy stroll - you will need at least your B-game to negotiate the tight tree-lined fairways. Ideal in the Summer months as there is plenty of shade to be found on every Fairway thanks to the towering and varied forest.
Chateau de la Bawette Architect: T. McAuley (1996). 18 holes: 6,076m: par 72.
From the high château the course falls away to the river valley below, where it winds through thick forest. The nature of the course and clubhouse belies the imposing sight of the old chateau as it is somewhat 'rustic' in character.
L'Empereur Architect: M. Vercruyse (1986). 18 holes: 6,328m: par 72.
One of the newer clubs on the Waterloo scene that serves as a very good introduction to the game for local Belgians; as such it's a very good place to start your week. The fairways are (generally) roomy and encourage use of the Driver: elevation changes make for interesting club selection... The old manorial farmhouse serves as Clubhouse and now a small hotel too.
Other local courses to consider:
La Bruyere; Louvain-la-Neuve; Pierpont.
Three courses that until now lagged behind the others in terms of quality, however recent management changes and cash injections have brought them up to scratch. We are now happy to recommend these golf courses too for your holiday in Waterloo.
THE BEST HOTELS FOR GOLF HOLIDAYS IN WATERLOO
Where to stay on your Waterloo golfing break.
Chateau du Lac***** - Genval les Bains
Genval les Bains is a small lakeside village about ten minutes from Waterloo that is popular with the locals for its calm quietude, inland sailing and array of restaurants lacing the water’s edge.
Here, the Château du Lac is one of the most luxurious hotels in Belgium; the imposing building (once the headquarters of Schweppes) dominates the waterfront and benefits from pleasant gardens all around.
Internally the hotel has been stylishly decorated without disposing of any of the traditional charm of the fine old edifice. Bedrooms come in various categories including Four-Poster, Jacuzzi, Suites, but the ‘Charming’ rooms have proved to be comfortable enough for most.
You will be spoilt at dinner time in the Michelin-starred restaurant, although you may not wish to eat there every night with such a rich menu. If so, for less gastronomic fare, simpler dishes are available in the comfortable bar. Should you be concerned about the extra calories, there is always the fitness suite, swimming pool and sauna on the top floor.
Grand Hotel****- Waterloo
A modern hotel, not far from the centre of Waterloo in a area that has been steadily developing over the last decade, it provides excellent accommodation along with quick and easy access to all of the surrounding courses.
Intriguingly converted from an 1836 sugar refinery and spice warehouse, the Grand Hôtel has all the amenities you would expect from the premier hotel in Waterloo. Bedrooms are amply sized with comfortable beds and bright, functional bathrooms.
On the ground floor there is a cosy bar, below which at the hotel's core is the stunning ex-sugar-and-spice store with its ancient-brick vaulted ceiling which has appropriately evolved into the ‘Sucrèrie’ restaurant. With a pinch of culinary irony, the spices once traded from here have returned to be recombined in its scintillating mix of traditional and avant-garde cuisine.
Martin's Lodge***- Waterloo
Right beside the Grand Hotel (the buildings practically adjoin) is the new Martin's Lodge. Another refurbished red-brick building dating from the days of the Spice Trade that now offers simpler (and cheaper) accommodation to the Grand Hotel, yet with easy access to all of the facilities in the Grand Hotel.
Martins Lodge has just 29 bedrooms, all styled in a very modern fashion and with all the expected facilities - even air-conditioning in case of a Belgian heat wave!
The hotel has no restaurant so breakfast is served in the restaurant of the Grand Hotel, which is naturally an option for dinner too. There are also several other restaurant options in the locale for dining in the evening.
Le Relais du Marquis***- Ittre
In the small, rather interesting, village of Ittre, you will find the compact, family-run Relais du Marquis. This hotel is in marked contrast to the larger hotels to be found in Waterloo. And unlike its more business-oriented counterparts, it does not impose hefty surcharges for mid-week stays - which is when the golf courses are at their best value (and pretty empty too).
The thirty bedrooms at Le Marquis are situated around a central courtyard - which also serves as an exterior extension to the bar on sunny afternoons. The bedrooms themselves are compact but clean and comfortable with their simple furnishings. Single supplements are very reasonable so well worth considering. Another huge attraction (and possibly surprise) of the hotel is the large indoor pool which is open (and heated!) all year round. Le Relais has a large bar/diner that serves great value, traditional Belgian fare.
No midweek Supplements!
& Single rooms are very good value.
The village of Ittre itself is very deceptive: it appears to be a sleepy hamlet, but scratch the surface and you will find half-a-dozen superb restaurants (plus a couple of swanky bars) all within the bounds of the village (maximum five minutes walk from the hotel!). In fact, we would champion Ittre as the undiscovered gastronomic capital of the Waterloo region!
