Golf Club Beveren

near Antwerp, Belgium.

Undoubtedly one of Belgium’s best 9 hole golf courses and twinned with Blacklion GC, arguably one of Ireland’s finest 9 hole courses. Both associated with water where Beveren is surrounded by the Port of Antwerp, admittedly a significantly busier water feature than the tranquil Upper Lough MacNean bordering our course.

Beveren GC is a young and bustling golf club where bringing new golfers to the game has always been a priority. Once they were well underway with that, the decision was made to upgrade the course to become a full length 9/18 hole golf course to allow members to improve.

The setting is unique as it’s right on the side of the main lock into the Left Bank Harbour where amongst other, massive Ro/Ro ships enter the docks to unload their thousands of cars and pick up new cars to take to far flung destinations.

The River Schelde needs constant dredging to keep it open for the massive ships entering the Port of Antwerp and the excess sand had to go somewhere. As the left bank lay empty, the decision was made to add 7 meters of sand base on the clay ground. This made for ideal conditions to build a golf course. The result is a links like experience with fast and dry fairways.

Inland Links like fairways and greens …

Once matured, the course will definitely look like a links courses that has been there for centuries. Clever undulations make the smallish greens tricky to approach and the undulations demand tactical decisions of the tee.

Benefits for members of both clubs

The cooperation provides us with a few benefits for members.

Both clubs organise a yearly exchange match. The first leg will be played in Beveren GC this September 2020.

12 members of Blacklion GC will take on 12 members of Beveren GC and the return is planned to take place spring 2021 when a delegation of Beveren will come to Ireland.

Blacklion GC and Beveren GC members will have reciprocal rights where they can play 3 rounds for free on each other’s course and be treated as a ‘member for the day’.

Both clubs will provide sponsorship and / or prizes for one competition every year.