Golfers' rating
8.8/10
Based on 370 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
Colt’s heath, born 1895
Hilversumsche Golf Club opened in 1895, which makes it one of the oldest golf clubs in the Netherlands. The course you play today was shaped by Harry S. Colt, the English architect behind many of Europe’s great heathland layouts. From the club’s own description, the 18 holes run to 5,859 metres at a par of 72 across true heathland: narrow fairways lined with beech, oak, pine, spruce and birch, with patches of purple heather in between. The ground itself is ancient, glacial terrain formed some 150,000 years ago, and the course holds nature-monument status. Walk between the second and third holes and you pass the historic Leeuwenpalen, the old boundary posts along the Hollandse Sloot.
This is a real championship layout. The course rating is 71.2 and the slope is 135, and the club has a long tournament history: it hosted Het Open (the Dutch Open) many times between 1923 and 2010, with Seve Ballesteros winning here in 1980 and Martin Kaymer in 2010. Golfers rate it warmly too. On LeadingCourses it holds 8.6 out of 10 from 295 ratings, and on Hole19 it scores 4.8 out of 5 from 75.
Who does it suit? Experienced players with a solid handicap first, then anyone who loves classic heathland architecture, and anyone keen to walk a genuine Dutch Open course.
Playing here as a guest
Hilversumsche is a members-only, NGF-affiliated club. Visitors are welcome as the guest of a member, so contact the club to arrange a visit, or ask a member to introduce you. A valid handicap is required, which means your Dutch GVB card or an equivalent recognised handicap is checked before you tee off. The guest green fee is around €140 for 18 holes. For practice there is a driving range, a putting green and the club’s own golf academy, plus a restaurant to relax in after your round.
Address
Soestdijkerstraatweg 172, 1213 XJ Hilversum
Phone
+31 35 685 7060Website
hilversumschegolfclub.nlThe course
18
Holes
72
Par
1895
Founded
Heathland
Type
5859
Length
★ Suits: experienced players with a solid handicap, golfers drawn to classic heathland architecture, and anyone keen to play a genuine Dutch Open venue.
Facilities
- Driving range
- Putting green
- Golf academy
- Clubhouse & restaurant
Marina's note for learners
A slope of 135 rewards players who trust their ball-striking — I always suggest a few lessons on fairway accuracy and course management before tackling Colt's narrow lines. Build that confidence first and a demanding heathland course stops feeling daunting and starts feeling exactly right.
Ratings
What other golfers say
Ratings from public sources — tap a name to see it. · checked 2026-09-05
Trust your lines
A slope of 135 and Colt’s narrow, tree-lined fairways reward accuracy far more than raw distance. The round comes down to picking a line and repeating the same reliable swing. That kind of control is the part I most enjoy teaching, and it is exactly what turns a demanding heathland course from daunting into pure fun.
Good to know
Can visitors play at Hilversumsche Golf Club?
Hilversumsche Golf Club is a members-only club. Visitors are warmly welcome as the guest of a member — contact the club directly to arrange a visit, or ask a member to introduce you.
Do I need a handicap to play here?
Yes, a valid handicap is required. The club is NGF-affiliated, so your Dutch GVB card — or an equivalent recognised handicap — will be checked before you tee off.
How much is the green fee?
The green fee is around €140 for 18 holes. As a members-only club, visitors play as a guest, so it is worth contacting the club directly for the latest rates and availability.
What practice facilities are available?
The club has a driving range and a putting green, plus its own golf academy — ideal for warming up before your round or spending time on a specific part of your game.
Is there a restaurant at the club?
Yes, there is a restaurant where you can relax with fellow golfers after your round — a fitting way to end a day on one of the Netherlands' most historic courses.
Can Marina Romanik help me get ready for a course like this?
Yes. Marina is a PGA-certified instructor who teaches at Chi Chi Golf in Utrecht and Golfschool Hoenderdaal in Driebergen — not at Hilversumsche itself. A few lessons with her will build the ball-striking accuracy and course management skills that a demanding slope-135 heathland course genuinely 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