Golf & Country Club De Dommel (Sint-Michielsgestel)

H.S. Colt heathland, since 1929

Golf & Country Club De Dommel is one of the oldest courses in the Netherlands. It sits on the historic Zegenwerp estate near Sint-Michielsgestel, and the club dates its golf back to 1929. The layout is the work of H.S. Colt, the English architect whose heathland courses are loved by golfers all over Europe. From the club’s own description, twelve of the holes run through woodland and heather, and six open out into the surrounding countryside — with drift sand, rolling fairways, strategic bunkers and lanes of monumental oak and beech.

Golfers seem to agree it is special. On LeadingCourses it holds 8.4 out of 10 from 164 ratings, and on Hole19 it scores 4.7 out of 5 from 70 golfers (checked 25 September 2026). Those are the kind of numbers a classic Colt design earns: 18 holes, par 70, and around 5,431 metres — not long on paper, but shaped so that where you place the ball matters more than how far you hit it.

Who does it suit? De Dommel is a challenging heathland course, best for golfers who already have a steady game and enjoy thinking their way around. The narrow, bunkered fairways reward good iron play and clear decisions, so a round here feels like a real test in the nicest sense.

What a visitor needs

De Dommel welcomes visiting golfers, and the club asks for a valid handicap plus an introduction — so call ahead on 073-551 9168 or email info@gcdedommel.nl to arrange your round. The green fee for 18 holes is €85, and tee times can be booked online. Before you play there is a covered driving range, a putting green, a short-game area and practice bunkers, plus a golf academy on site. Afterwards, the restaurant and the bar terrace are a lovely place to sit. Juniors are warmly welcomed too, with their own program.

The part I’d practise first

Colt built these fairways narrow and let the bunkers do the talking, so De Dommel rewards a repeatable swing and smart club choice over raw distance. If I were getting a golfer ready for a course like this, we would work on steady iron play and simple course management — knowing when to take less club and aim for the fat of the green. That is the part of the game I most enjoy teaching.