Golfclub Almeerderhout

Almeerderhout has been around for more than forty years and, with over 1,700 members, is one of the largest golf clubs in the Netherlands. The course lies in woodland on the southern side of Almere, just across the Stichtse Brug bridge, which puts it within easy reach of the Gooi and Utrecht.

Three loops of nine

The 27 holes cover some 120 hectares of rolling ground and are split into three loops: IJmeer, Gooimeer and Markermeer. Each is par 36 and just over 3,000 metres long, so whichever two you combine you play a par 72. The longest hole is Markermeer 2, at 522 metres from the back men's tee. The club itself calls the course demanding, and the reasons are the doglegs, the water, no fewer than 113 bunkers and the wind that sweeps across the flat Flevoland landscape. Deer, foxes, birds of prey and waterfowl live in the surrounding woods.

Practice and the clubhouse

Besides the main course there is a full 9-hole par 3 course, with holes of up to just over 150 metres. The range has a largely covered hitting area, three practice bunkers, two chipping greens and a putting green. The restaurant is on the first floor of the clubhouse, and its terrace looks out over the closing holes of IJmeer and Markermeer.