Golfers' rating
8.6/10
Based on 799 public ratings on LeadingCourses and Hole19
Aggregated from public ratings by other golfers — not Marina's own score.
Review by Marina Romanik PGA-certified golf instructor Compiled from the club's own information and online ratings by other golfers · checked
Heathland golf since 1970
Drentse Golfclub De Gelpenberg sits on 60 hectares of Drenthe landscape near Aalden — heathland, old juniper trees, water and gently rolling ground. The club describes a course founded in 1970 and shaped over the years by three designers: Frank Pennink laid out the original in 1972, Donald Steel extended it in 1992, and Frank Pont renovated it in 2011. Today it plays as a par-72 course over 18 holes, set in two loops, in the true heathland style.
Golfers rate it warmly. On LeadingCourses it holds 8.5 out of 10 from 742 ratings, and on Hole19 it scores 4.7 out of 5 from 57 golfers. The club has also been named Players First Golf Course of the Year three years running — 2021, 2022 and 2023 — and has hosted the Pro Golf Tour four times, the NK Strokeplay twice, and an NGF Hoofdklasse final.
The closing hole is one to remember. The 18th plays alongside the course’s largest natural sand drift, a Drenthe zandverstuiving that gives the finish real character.
Suits: experienced golfers first. This is a championship heathland test, and it rewards players who love a demanding round in beautiful nature. Newer players are welcome too. The club runs its own academy on site, a practice course for players still building their game, a junior programme and a ladies’ programme.
Play it without a handicap
Good news for a visitor: De Gelpenberg is pay-and-play, so no handicap is needed. The club welcomes golfers of every level and lists year-round play with online tee-time booking on its own site. To warm up you have a driving range, a putting green and a short-game area, and after your round there is a pro shop, restaurant, bar and terrace, plus buggy and club rental, lockers and showers. An 18-hole green fee is around €60, and because the club is NGF-affiliated an NGF card may earn you a discount.
The course
18
Holes
72
Par
1970
Founded
Heathland
Type
★ Suits: experienced golfers chasing a championship heathland test, beginners using the practice course and academy, juniors, and ladies.
Facilities
- Driving range
- Putting green
- Short-game area
- Golf academy
- Pro shop
- Clubhouse & restaurant
- Buggy rental
- Club rental
Marina's note for learners
A championship heathland layout rewards tee-to-green control and a clear plan around water and natural sand features, so those are exactly the things I build with students before a round like this. The club's own academy means the learning can continue on site.
Ratings
What other golfers say
Ratings from public sources — tap a name to see it. · checked 2026-09-25
See the course from the air
Golf.nl filmed this course. Press play to fly over the holes before you book your round — nothing loads from YouTube until you do.
Golf.nl · Club portrait 2015
Clubportret De Gelpenberg
Play video · privacy-friendly playerA round that rewards control
A championship heathland course asks for control from tee to green, and a clear head around the water and the natural sand. On ground like this, a repeatable swing and a smart plan do more for your score than raw power. That steady, thinking part of the game is the part I most enjoy building with a student before a round like De Gelpenberg.
Good to know
Do I need a handicap to play De Gelpenberg?
No handicap is required. De Gelpenberg is a pay-and-play course that welcomes golfers of all levels — just book a tee time and arrive ready to play.
How much is the green fee?
An 18-hole green fee is around €60. The club is NGF-affiliated, so an NGF card may earn you a discount.
Can I book a tee time online?
Yes — tee times can be booked directly on the club's website at dgcdegelpenberg.nl. The course is open year-round, so there is always a good time to visit.
Is De Gelpenberg suitable for beginners and juniors?
Yes. The club has a short course for beginners, a junior programme for younger players, and a ladies' programme. There is also an on-site academy and a driving range to help you prepare.
What practice facilities are there?
You will find a driving range, a putting green, and a short-game area. After your round the restaurant, bar, and terrace are a great place to relax — and the club has a pro shop, lockers, and showers on site.
Can I take a lesson with Marina Romanik before playing here?
Marina teaches in Utrecht at Chi Chi Golf and in Driebergen at Golfschool Hoenderdaal — a lesson with her before your visit to De Gelpenberg is a great way to feel confident on a championship heathland course. Book online, via WhatsApp, or by phone.
About this review
Compiled by Marina Romanik, PGA, from the club's own information and public ratings by other golfers — not from a visit. Checked .
Manager of this club? If anything is out of date or missing, send a correction