Golfers' rating
8.3/10
Based on 325 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
Water on nearly every hole
Golfclub Groene Ster sits inside the Groene Ster nature reserve on the edge of Leeuwarden, in Friesland. Gerard Jol laid out the 18 holes here in 1988: a parkland course of par 72, playing 6,188 metres from the back tees across two loops. What shapes almost every shot is water — ditches and ponds sit on nearly every hole, and the back nine is the sterner half, with the toughest hole, the 10th, carrying stroke-index 1.
The numbers say this is a course for confident golfers. Its slope is 142 and its course rating 69.8, which puts it firmly in championship territory — a layout that rewards accurate, thoughtful golf over raw power. Golfers on LeadingCourses give it 8.0 out of 10 from 257 ratings, and on Hole19 it scores 4.6 out of 5 from 68 ratings. LeadingCourses also placed it in its Golfers’ Choice 2026 rankings as number 2 in Friesland and number 86 in the Netherlands (checked 25 September 2026).
Suits: a course like this speaks first to golfers who already hold a handicap and enjoy a proper test — the reward here is placing the ball well, not overpowering it. But the club welcomes more than the low handicappers. There is a junior programme, a ladies programme, group events and lessons on site, so families and improving players are part of the picture too.
Playing here as a visitor
Golfclub Groene Ster is a public, NGF-affiliated course, and visitors are welcome. You will need a valid handicap (a Dutch GVB card or equivalent) to play, and you can book a tee time online through the club. An 18-hole green fee is €70.
For practice, the club is well equipped: a covered driving range, a putting green, a short-game area and practice bunkers, plus a golf academy on site. That covered range is a real gift in Friesland — you can warm up properly whatever the weather before you take on all that water.
The course
18
Holes
72
Par
1988
Founded
Parkland
Type
6188
Length
★ Suits: handicap golfers seeking a championship test; improving players with the on-site academy; juniors and families.
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
A slope of 142 with water on almost every hole rewards one thing above all: a swing you can repeat under pressure. When I prepare a golfer for a course like this, we focus on controlled approaches and choosing the safe line — the skills that protect a scorecard when every green has a hazard beside it.
Ratings
What other golfers say
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Ratings from public sources — tap a name to see it. · checked 2026-09-25
What this course asks
With a slope of 142 and water in play on nearly every hole, Groene Ster rewards the golfer who can put the ball where they aim and shape a controlled shot into a guarded green. That control — trusting a repeatable swing under pressure, choosing the safe line over the hero one — is exactly the part of the game I most enjoy teaching before a round like this.
Good to know
Do I need a handicap to play at Golfclub Groene Ster?
Yes, a valid handicap — a Dutch GVB card or equivalent — is required to play here. If you are still working towards yours, the club has a golf academy and lessons on site to help you get there.
How much is a green fee?
An 18-hole round is €70. It is worth checking the club's website at leeuwardergolfclub.nl or calling ahead for the latest rates, as prices can vary by day and season.
Can I book a tee time online?
Yes — Golfclub Groene Ster offers online tee-time booking through their website at leeuwardergolfclub.nl. Visitors are welcome and the course is open year-round.
Is the course suitable for beginner or improving golfers?
The main 18-hole course is a genuine championship layout (par 72, slope 142) with water on nearly every hole, so a handicap card is the first step. The club runs a golf academy, junior programme and ladies programme, and they have a short-game area and covered driving range — so there is a clear path here for golfers at every stage of the game.
What practice facilities are available?
The club has a covered driving range, a putting green, a short-game area and practice bunkers, as well as a golf academy with lessons on site. The covered range is especially useful in Friesland, where the weather can surprise you.
Can Marina Romanik give me a lesson here?
Marina teaches at Chi Chi Golf in Utrecht and Golfschool Hoenderdaal in Driebergen — both are a good base for preparing for a round at a course like this. A session focused on controlled approaches and choosing safe lines will pay dividends when there is water on almost every hole.
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