Golfers' rating
8.5/10
Based on 516 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
Foxes on the fairways
Golfclub Papendal sits in the wooded hills of the Veluwezoom, the stretch of southern Gelderland forest between Arnhem, Oosterbeek and Ede. It is an 18-hole heathland course, par 71, that runs to 4,894 metres — laid out in two eras by two hands: Frank Pennink drew the first nine (opened 1984) and Joan Dudok van Heel the second (1992), on a club founded back in 1981. The setting is the real character here. Deer, foxes, badgers, kestrels and woodpeckers live in these trees, and the clubhouse terrace looks out over the surrounding forest.
Golfers rate it warmly. On LeadingCourses it holds 8.3 out of 10 from 413 ratings, and Hole19 golfers give it 4.6 out of 5 from 103 (checked 26 September 2026).
Suits: golfers who love quiet, tree-lined golf and a bit of wildlife with their round. The fairways are cut through forest, so it rewards steady, accurate play. It is also a genuinely welcoming place to learn — the club is beginner-friendly, runs a junior programme, and has a full academy, a covered driving range, a putting green, a short-game area and practice bunkers on site.
Playing here as a visitor
Papendal is a members’ course that welcomes guests with an introduction. You need a valid GVB / handicap card, and a first visit should be arranged through an NGF member. The club is NGF-affiliated, so your Dutch handicap card is accepted, and you can book your tee time online. Green fees sit in the mid-range: around €74 for 18 holes and €47 for 9. Buggies, trolleys and rental clubs are all available, which helps on the gently hilly forest terrain.
The course
18
Holes
71
Par
1981
Founded
Heathland
Type
4894
Length
★ Suits: golfers who enjoy accurate, tree-lined play in a natural forest setting; also welcoming for developing players with GVB card and juniors joining the academy or junior programme.
Facilities
- Driving range
- Putting green
- Short-game area
- Practice bunkers
- Golf academy
- Clubhouse & restaurant
- Buggy rental
- Club rental
Marina's note for learners
A woodland layout like Papendal rewards a controlled, on-line swing above all else — the trees punish a loose shot quickly. If you are building that kind of reliable ball-striking, a few lessons on fundamentals are the best preparation you can give yourself before a round here.
Ratings
What other golfers say
Ratings from public sources — tap a name to see it. · checked 2026-09-26
Golf that rewards a straight ball
Woodland fairways like these leave little room to spray the ball — the trees do the punishing. That makes a repeatable, controlled swing worth far more here than raw distance, and building that kind of reliable, on-line contact is exactly the part of the game I most enjoy teaching.
Good to know
Do I need a handicap (GVB) to play at Golfclub Papendal?
Yes — a valid GVB card or handicap certificate is required to play here. Papendal is a members' course that welcomes guests, but your first visit needs to be arranged through an NGF member who can introduce you. Your Dutch handicap card is fully accepted as the club is NGF-affiliated.
How much is a green fee at Golfclub Papendal?
Green fees are around €74 for 18 holes and €47 for 9 holes. Prices can vary by day and season, so it is worth checking the current rates at edesegcpapendal.nl or calling the club on 026-482 1985.
Can I book a tee time online?
Yes — Golfclub Papendal offers online tee-time booking through its website, so you can pick your preferred date and time without needing to call.
Is Golfclub Papendal suitable for beginners and juniors?
It is a welcoming place to develop your game. The course is beginner-friendly, the club runs a dedicated junior programme, and there is a full on-site academy with a covered driving range, putting green, short-game area and practice bunkers. You do need a valid GVB card to play the main course, so completing your baanpermissie first is the usual route for new golfers.
How do I get to Golfclub Papendal?
The club is at Papendallaan 22, 6816 VD Arnhem, in the forested Veluwezoom between Arnhem, Oosterbeek and Ede — about 50 minutes by car from Utrecht. Buggies, trolleys and rental clubs are available on site, which helps on the gently hilly terrain.
Can I take a lesson with Marina Romanik at Papendal?
Marina teaches at Chi Chi Golf in Utrecht and Golfschool Hoenderdaal in Driebergen, not on-site at Papendal. A few lessons with her before your round here are a great way to build the controlled, straight ball-flight that woodland fairways reward — you can book directly on this website.
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