The new nine-hole Park course designed by Jonathan Davison of Create Golf at Bois d’Arlon Golf and Resort in southern Belgium is now open for private play.
The Park course is part of a 27-hole golf complex being developed by Luxembourg-based property investor Roby Schintgen that will also include an eighteen-hole Heath course designed by Stuart Hallett and a hotel that is currently in construction.
Davison originally designed the Park as an eighteen-hole layout, however planning issues led to only nine holes being built. The final routing includes some holes from Davison’s original plan and other created once the decision to build nine holes had been taken.
“The client wanted holes to start and finish from the new hotel and clubhouse but also wanted to incorporate holes around the existing chateau,” said Davison. “One of the initial ideas for the project was to have two contrasting golf courses and I think myself and Stuart have achieved this. The Park course has different soils, vegetation and a cleaner look to represent a parkland landscape. The fifth hole will surely leave an impression on golfers starting from an existing lake with views up through an avenue of trees with a green close to the chateau.”
The Park course was seeded first, in April 2022, because the resort wanted holes near the chateau and therefore seen by guests to be complete as early as possible due.
GolfLink Evolve is handling construction of both courses, with a Rain Bird irrigation system being installed by Hydroplan and lakes being built by local contractor Eecocur.
The Heath course is on track to open in March 2024. “A full sandcap of the site made the grow-in demanding through the winter months,” said Hallett. “Managing stormwater has been a challenge and the greens and tees are currently in good condition and are more or less ready.”
Hallett’s design has been built to complement the site’s natural landforms. “We worked hard on some of the weaker holes on paper to make them come to life,” he said, referencing holes three, eight, fifteen and seventeen. “The difficulty of the golf course ebbs and flows, from subtle or understated landforms to spectacular features that inspired unique golf holes.
“On my first visit, I picked out several holes including the par-three fifth, par-three fourteenth and par-five sixth to be natural. Scoring well will not only be about choosing the right numbers but also shot trajectories, using the site topography and understanding the options available.”