Golfers' rating
9.1/10
Based on 870 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
Links by Montgomerie
The Dutch opened in 2011, designed by Colin Montgomerie with European Golf Design, and it plays as an inland links — the Scottish idea of golf, built on Dutch ground. From the club’s own description it is a par 71 over 18 holes, with rolling terrain, generous fairways and fast greens that ask for real thought on the way in. The finish on the back nine is a proper test.
The record backs up the reputation. Golfers on LeadingCourses give it 9.0 out of 10 from 707 ratings, and on Hole19 it holds 4.9 out of 5 across 163 ratings (checked 25 September 2026) — scores that sit at the very top for a Dutch course. It has been voted the best-maintained course in the Netherlands eight years in a row, it hosted the KLM Open in 2016, 2017 and 2018, and in the Golfers’ Choice 2026 list it ranks #1 in Gelderland and #3 in the whole country.
Suits: the ambitious, experienced player first. This is a championship links, and it rewards someone who can shape a ball and manage a card. It is a bucket-list round — the kind of goal a golfer keeps in mind and works towards.
What a visitor needs
The Dutch is a private members’ club, so play is normally for members and their guests. A valid handicap is required. If you would like to see the course, the club asks you to contact them directly — 088-339 91 20 or membershipservices@thedutch.nl — about guest and membership options.
For a day here the club has everything you could want to prepare: a full driving range, a putting green, a short-game area, practice bunkers and a golf academy on site, plus a pro shop, restaurant, bar and terrace, buggies, lockers, showers and a fitness room.
The course
18
Holes
71
Par
2011
Founded
Links
Type
★ Suits: ambitious experienced players and mid-to-low handicappers who want to test themselves on championship links terrain.
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 round like this rewards everything I work on with students — a repeatable iron, a calm short game, and a putting stroke that holds on fast greens. If championship links is your goal, ball control and short-game consistency are exactly where I would start.
Ratings
What other golfers say
Ratings from public sources — tap a name to see it. · checked 2026-09-25
The swing this course asks for
Montgomerie built The Dutch as a links, so the ground moves, the greens run fast, and the finish gives nothing away. A round like this rewards a repeatable swing and a calm short game far more than raw power — control off the tee, and a putting stroke you trust on quick greens. That control is exactly the part I most enjoy building with a player, one small change at a time.
Good to know
Can visitors play at The Dutch, or is it a private club?
The Dutch is a private members' club — play is normally reserved for members and their guests. Contact the club at 088-339 91 20 or membershipservices@thedutch.nl to ask about guest rounds and membership options.
Do I need a handicap to play here?
Yes, a valid handicap is required. The Dutch is a championship links and expects players who can manage a scorecard — it keeps the pace enjoyable for everyone on the course.
How far is The Dutch from Utrecht and is there parking?
The Dutch is about 29 minutes by car from Utrecht. The club is at Haarweg 3, 4212 KJ Spijk in Gelderland, and parking is available on site.
What facilities are on site?
The club has a full driving range, putting green, short-game area, practice bunkers, and a golf academy, plus a pro shop, restaurant, bar and terrace, buggies, lockers, showers, and a fitness room.
Is The Dutch suitable for beginners?
The Dutch is a championship links designed for experienced, ambitious golfers — it is a wonderful goal to work towards rather than a first course. A series of lessons with a PGA instructor is a great way to build the ball control and short-game skills that make a round here truly rewarding.
Can I take a lesson with Marina Romanik to prepare for a course like this?
Yes — Marina teaches all levels, including players who want to sharpen their game before stepping up to championship links conditions. She teaches at Chi Chi Golf in Utrecht and Golfschool Hoenderdaal in Driebergen; book online, send a WhatsApp, or give her a call to get started.
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