Royal Zoute not a classic?

[Ulrich Mayring]

Reading the history on their web page it seems as if the original Colt course is lost and today's championship course was designed by a Colonel Allen after the second World War. I always thought this was a classic, golden-age layout?

Some of the pictures I saw of the course were also not overly impressive, it appears to be largely flat with small, roundish greens and half-hearted bunkering. A number of holes look fairly similar. It may be interesting to play, but sure isn't a looker.

I may be in the area this summer, but Royal Ostende and Ravenstein (both Seymour Dunn) appear more enticing than Zoute at this time, not to speak of affordable

Any other opinions?

http://www.zoute.be/golf/pages/about_us/history.htm

Ulrich

[Paul_Turner]

Ulrich

It's a really good course and the greens aren't flat at all.  Don't expect big dunes, but the land is nicely rumpled.

There's quite a lot wrong on the website history.  Colt built the 36 hole complex on the current site but it has been changed a fair amount. From a stick diagram drawn in the 1920s, I estimate about 60% of the routing is original.

The website is correct that a third course (also Colt and Alison) at Letterbek was lost during the war.

I know Colt worked on the original Knokke course, on a different site, but 1907 seems early.

I'm not sure how Allen was involved perhaps he was responsible for the redesign of the 36, after WW2.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

I spent some time there a few years ago and could find out nothing about the architectural history.  I was reminded of Royal Lytham in that it looks nothing and is some distance inland, but there the comparison stops.  There were quite a few trees on it and it doesn't really feel like a links despite the plentiful movement in the ground.  My view of the course was probably a little clouded in that I was given permission to play (without fee) by the Secretary.  When I came up behind the President of the club and his fourball I was roasted for being out as a single player, not displaying a visitor's green fee badge and for playing as a visitor on a Sunday.  Probably I should simply have walked off, but I showed him the letter of introduction from the Secretary.  He left the course and went straight into the Secretary's office and took her apart (yes, she worked on a Sunday).  He was a horrible man - a bully.

What does anyone think of Belgium's other links (alright, part-links) Royal Ostend?

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Mark, that is amazing. You should have let him have a taste of your best slang vocabulary words and maybe a leg shake. One would think with a name starting with a Z, visitors would be welcomed for their committment to golf alone.

[Andrew Hastie]

I have played Royal Zoute several times and have  really enjoyed the course.
There are a number of photos in the club house of the early years of the course and it looks a lot like a links.Over the years houses were build around the boundary and trees planted and now it has more of a heathland feeling.There are still some quite open areas that still have a links feeling. There is also a photo of Royal zoute (Knocke) in the book"Some Essays on GCA".Colt & Alison.page 68.There have been a lot of trees planted but all fairly well set back so there is not really a claustropphobic feeing.The other 18 holes is a lot shorter a sort ladies course.
Certainly by Dutch(not Belgium) standards the greens are very good.
The course reminds me a lot of Royal Sydney GC.