Playing Golf in Belgium
If you are willing to have a culturally-saturated golf break you should definitely take a look at Belgium, a small, yet quite diverse and interesting country in the center of Europe. The bi-lingual Belgium cannot boast the scope and varying topography of other countries that stretch upon various landscapes and encompass several time zones, yet nevertheless it could be a cozy and interesting destination for a short golf break.
Geography of Belgium
Belgium, as we all know, has a French-speaking and a Flemish-speaking part. The former one encompasses the southern territories of the country and has its center Belgium capital Brussels, while the latter one encompasses the northern territories, borders the Netherlands and has a financial and cultural hub the beautiful city of Antwerp. Belgium, which borders France, Germany, Luxemburg and the Netherlands, has also a small sea outlet. Its north-west territories border the North Sea and diversify the country’s landscape with sand dunes and ponders.
Weather in Belgium
Any golfer that plans to make some research on the golf environment in a particular country, notwithstanding the reasons that he or she has for visiting the country – be it an appointed golf-break, a business trip with a golf detour, a golf course, a team building using golf, a tournament, etc. , should consider the weather of the given country beforehand. Belgium’s climate is marked by high annual precipitation, which means that chances are you will have at least one rainy day during your stay. On the bright sight, however, the temperatures are moderate, which suggests no extremes in heat or chills. With a summer average of 18° and a winter of 3°, Belgium boasts a proper moderate climate. In terms of its geographic location, the country is definitely accessible to European citizens not only through flights, but also through other means of transportation, including a train, a car, a bus and a ferry across the English Channel.
Golf Courses in Belgium
For the history lovers it might be curious to know that Belgium prides in some of the oldest golf courses in Europe, some of which founded by royalties. Take for instance Brussels’ oldest course - Royal Golf Course of Belgium in Tervuren. This magnificent course dates back to 1906 and was built under the auspices of King Leopold II. Though Belgium has lower per-capita number of golf courses compared to other European countries the golf venues available there are definitely worth the shot. Among the more imposing courses are the Royal Ostend Golf Club, Royal Golf des Fagnes, Royal Antwerp Golf Club, Royal Latem Golf Club and Royal Zoute Golf Club. Another interesting fact is that Belgian golf courses receive the title Royal to their name when they reach 50 years existence. According to the Royal Belgian Golf Federation the number of the golf courses which are affiliated members in the association is about 90.
Why Golfing in Belgium
What makes Belgium an interesting golf destination is also the fact that there you could move easily from course to course because the country is small and its infrastructure – very well developed. You can use the public transport or your own car to go sightseeing in different provinces and meanwhile book a round at a local golf course of your preference. Belgium, which is the country where the European Parliament is located, is nowadays a hub of international diplomats, politicians and intelligent technocrats. This has definitely driven the standards of the golf establishments quite up. The small central European country is also famous for its chocolates, its traditions in art and painting and last but not least – its beer. So, if you want to golf and sightsee and enjoy a true European experience, give Belgium a chance.