There’s something really exciting about kicking off a golf trip with a drive across Europe. This year’s journey to the European Institute of Golf Course Architects annual meeting in Utrecht started exactly like that—plenty of miles, good anticipation, and the sense of a great few days ahead.
Arriving slightly later than planned meant missing the chance to join the group at Hilversum, but it worked out pretty well in the end with a stop at Royal Antwerp Golf Club.
A Tom Simpson design, Royal Antwerp sits on fairly flat ground, but there’s a lot more going on than first meets the eye. It’s full of subtle movement, clever bunkering, and angles that keep you thinking all the way round.
A few highlights stood out straight away. The par-5 3rd rewards good positioning rather than just trying to overpower it, the par-3 7th is an attractive, well-balanced hole, and the par-4 17th is one where strategy really matters, with a clever ridge running diagonally across the approach. Add in a relaxed, peaceful feel around the club and some excellent hospitality, and it made for a brilliant start to the trip.
The next day it was on to Utrechtse Golfclub De Pan, just outside Utrecht, and very easy to see why it’s so highly regarded.
Originally designed by Harry Colt, De Pan is one of those courses that just flows. It moves naturally through heathland and pine, with beautiful undulations and every hole feels like it belongs.
The routing is excellent, the elevation changes are subtle but effective, and the bunkering is classic Colt—strategic without being too heavy-handed. The greens while not large, have plenty of interest, .
It’s the kind of course that doesn’t shout at you, but I imagine the more you play it, the more you appreciate just how good it is.
Thursday started with the partner exhibition, which had a really good buzz about it—lots of conversations, plenty going on, and a strong sense of where things are heading.
From there, it moved into a day of education and discussion. The main topics were very much focused on current industry themes: how AI is starting to influence golf course architecture, the growing importance of biodiversity, and the role robotics is beginning to play in course management.
It all felt very relevant and practical rather than theoretical, which made the sessions particularly worthwhile.
The day wrapped up with an excellent President’s Dinner, a great way to bring everyone together and round things off in a more relaxed setting. A big shout out to the Karel V Hotel and the EIGCA's - Lindsey and Alison for their impeccable organisation.
Friday morning was a bit different, up early and hosting a recording of The Greenprint podcast before heading home.
It was a really enjoyable conversation with a great group: Andy Brown from The Toro Company, Toby Ingleton from GCA Magazine, Bruce Charlton, Jeff Lynch, and James Edwards.
A good mix of perspectives, delving into some different areas and a nice way to capture some of the key themes from the week.
All in, a really strong few days, some excellent golf on a couple of classic courses, plenty of good conversations, and lots of useful ideas to take away.
From the understated quality of Royal Antwerp to the quiet brilliance of De Pan, alongside the discussions in Utrecht, it was a great reminder of how much depth there is in golf course architecture right now.
Definitely one to build on.
