Royal Belgium (Old)

Overview: Royal Belgium (Old), the Arboretum Course at Ravenstein in Tervuren, is an 18-hole parkland course defined by its extraordinary variety of mature trees. The setting is more than a backdrop: the club's history explains that King Leopold II planted species from his nearby arboretum on the golf property, giving the course a distinctive botanical character. The test is one of placement and precision, with a classic scale that asks players to find the right lines through a richly planted landscape.

History: The Royal Golf Club of Belgium was founded in 1906 by King Leopold II, and the Ravenstein estate became its historic home. The club's official history records that Seymour Dunn claimed responsibility for the original 18 holes, while Tom Simpson visited in the early 1920s and left features that bear his mark. A ten-year modernisation programme led by Martin Hawtree began in 1990, so the current course reflects several layers of design history rather than one uncontested architect credit.

Did You Know? The club house stands in Ravenstein Manor Farm, a property whose history reaches back to the fifteenth century, with the present building begun in 1748. The Belgian State acquired the property in 1880, and it was transferred to the Royal Donation in 1903 to become the club house for the new golf club. That unusual setting helps explain the course's formal, estate-like atmosphere.