Golfclub Wittem (Gulpen)

Hawtree’s parkland, since 1956

Golfclub Wittem sits in the hills above Gulpen, in the south of Limburg. Fred W. Hawtree laid out these 18 holes, and the club opened in 1956. It plays to a par of 71 over 5,137 metres, so length is not the whole story here — placement is. From the club’s own description, wooded holes with narrow fairways trade off with open, rolling ground, real elevation change from tee to green, and wide views across the countryside. In 2012 it became GEO-certified for sustainable course management, the first club in South Limburg to earn that mark.

Golfers rate it warmly. On LeadingCourses it holds 8.3 out of 10 from 569 ratings, and its Golfers’ Choice 2026 placing is 3rd in Limburg and 42nd in the Netherlands. On Hole19 it sits at 4.7 out of 5 from 64 ratings.

The club calls the course a proper test, and the tree-lined fairways and sloping lies back that up. It suits experienced players who enjoy shaping a shot into a tight target first of all. Improvers are welcome too — the setting is a beautiful place to grow, and every good swing feels earned.

Playing here as a visitor

Wittem welcomes visitors on an introduction basis, so you normally play with or through a member, and a valid handicap card (GVB) is required. Tee times can be booked online at zlgolf.nl, and the course stays open year-round. The green fee is €95 for 18 holes and €60 for 9. For practice there is a driving range, a putting green, and an on-site academy, plus a restaurant for after the round.

Sloping lies reward preparation

A hilly, tree-lined card like this asks for control over distance more than raw power — the ball rarely sits flat, and the fairways ask you to aim. Before a round on hills like these, I work with my students on uphill and downhill lies, because reading a tilting fairway is a real skill. Build that first, and holes that look tight start to feel fair.