Golfers' rating
8.1/10
Based on 377 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
Parkland by Gerard Jol
Golfbaan Houtrak opened in 1996 to a design by Gerard Jol, and it sits in a green pocket of Noord-Holland between Amsterdam and Haarlem. The club describes a full 18-hole parkland course playing to par 72 over roughly 6,116 metres, with a course rating of 72.7 and a slope of 132 — the numbers of a real championship layout, not a gentle stroll. From the clubhouse terrace you look out over six of the holes, including the heavily undulating 18th green that finishes the round right in front of you.
Golfers rate it warmly. On LeadingCourses it holds 7.8 out of 10 from 264 ratings, and on Hole19 it sits at 4.4 out of 5 from 113 ratings (both checked 25 September 2026). The par-3 14th is the hole players single out most often — a short, pretty test that stays in your memory long after the card is signed.
So who enjoys Houtrak most? Players with an established handicap who want a course that gives back what they put in. The slope of 132 tells you the design has teeth, and it rewards thoughtful golf. It is not the place to swing your very first club — but it is a wonderful place to grow, once the basics are in your hands.
What a visitor needs
Good news for guests: Houtrak is pay-and-play and open year-round, so you do not need a membership to book a tee time. Online booking makes it simple. A valid golf handicap (GVB or equivalent) is required — this keeps the round flowing nicely for everyone and fits the championship character of the course. Green fees run about €75 for 18 holes and €32.50 for 9, which is fair value for a course of this quality.
The practice side is a real strength. There is a covered, floodlit driving range, a putting green, a dedicated short-game area and practice bunkers, plus an on-site golf academy and pro shop. Juniors are warmly welcome and the club runs its own junior programme. A restaurant with a bar and terrace waits at the end, and there is parking on site.
The course
18
Holes
72
Par
1996
Founded
Parkland
Type
6116
Length
★ Suits: established handicap golfers looking for a genuine championship test, juniors with the club's own junior programme, and players who want full practice facilities alongside their rounds.
Facilities
- Driving range
- Putting green
- Short-game area
- Practice bunkers
- Golf academy
- Pro shop
- Clubhouse & restaurant
- Buggy rental
- Club rental
Marina's note for learners
Before heading to Houtrak, I always tell students that a slope of 132 rewards calm course management far more than raw distance — it is the kind of layout where solid fundamentals really start to show. A few sessions on iron consistency and short-game control will help you get the most out of what Gerard Jol designed.
Ratings
What other golfers say
Ratings from public sources — tap a name to see it. · checked 2026-09-25
The swing this course wants
A slope of 132 over par 72 asks for a swing you can trust on every hole, not just your favourites. Gerard Jol’s parkland design rewards a repeatable shot and calm course management over raw power — and that steadiness is exactly the part of the game I most love to teach.
Good to know
Do I need a handicap to play at Golfbaan Houtrak?
Yes, a valid golf handicap (GVB or equivalent) is required. Houtrak is a genuine championship layout with a slope of 132, and the handicap requirement helps keep the pace of play enjoyable for everyone on the course.
How much is a green fee, and can I book online?
Green fees are around €75 for 18 holes and €32.50 for 9 holes. Houtrak is pay-and-play, open year-round, and you can book your tee time online — no membership needed.
Is Golfbaan Houtrak suitable for beginners?
Houtrak plays best once you have an established handicap. The 18-hole par-72 layout with a slope of 132 is designed to reward solid fundamentals, so a few lessons first will help you build the skills to really enjoy it.
Are juniors welcome?
Absolutely. Juniors are warmly welcome at Houtrak, and the club runs its own junior programme to help young players develop a love for the game.
What practice facilities are there?
There is a covered, floodlit driving range, a putting green, a dedicated short-game area, and practice bunkers — plus an on-site golf academy and pro shop. Everything you need to warm up properly or work on a specific part of your game.
Can Marina Romanik help me prepare for a course like Houtrak?
Yes — Marina is a PGA-certified instructor teaching all ages and levels in Dutch, English, Ukrainian and Russian. She is based at Chi Chi Golf in Utrecht and Golfschool Hoenderdaal in Driebergen, not at Houtrak itself, but a few lessons with her is a great way to build the handicap and course-management skills that a slope-132 layout rewards.
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