Royal Golf Club du Hainaut
The Royal Golf Club du Hainaut is one of Belgium's oldest and finest courses, inaugurated in 1933 on a heathland estate near Mons. The original layout came from Tom Simpson, and Martin Hawtree added a third nine in 1990, giving the club 27 strategic holes of par 72 across heather and broom.
Photo: Royal Golf Club du Hainaut via Google.
The verdict
The Royal Golf Club du Hainaut is one of Belgium's oldest and most distinguished courses, inaugurated in 1933 on the heathland estate of the Princes of Croy at Erbisoeul, a few kilometres from Mons. The original layout came from the celebrated architect Tom Simpson, whose strategic, natural style suits the sandy soil and the heather and broom that frame the holes. Martin Hawtree added a further nine in 1990, giving the club 27 holes across three loops, Les Bruyeres, Le Quesnoy and Les Etangs.
This is classic continental heathland golf, firm underfoot and full of strategy rather than length. The Simpson holes in particular reward the player who plots a line and shapes a shot, and the whole property has the quiet, mature feel of a course that has been part of the landscape for the best part of a century. For golfers touring Belgium and northern France, it is an essential stop.
Royal Golf Club du Hainaut at a glance
- Opened
- 1933
- Designer
- Tom Simpson
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 27 holes, three nines
- Green fee
- From €87 weekday
Designer, opening year, par and layout verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. The Royal Golf Club du Hainaut was inaugurated in 1933 to a Tom Simpson design, with Martin Hawtree adding a third nine in 1990; it plays as 27 holes across three nines, the championship combination running to a par of 72. Indicative 2026 green fees are from €87 on weekdays and €102 at weekends for 18 holes; figures change, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Tom Simpson's hand shows in the routing and the bunkering, the hazards placed to make you think off the tee and the angles into the greens varying with the line you choose. The sandy heathland turf runs firm, the heather punishes the wayward, and the par is defended by position and nerve more than by sheer distance.
The three nines give plenty of variety, from the heather lined corridors of Les Bruyeres to the water that comes into play on Les Etangs. Mature trees and broom frame many holes, and the greens are subtle enough to keep a good score honest. It is a course that flatters accuracy and quietly exposes the loose shot.
For all its pedigree the Hainaut is welcoming to visitors, and a round here pairs beautifully with the wider heathland golf of the Low Countries. It is the kind of understated, strategic course that golf travellers remember long after the flashier resorts have blurred together.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Member club that welcomes visiting golfers with a green fee, subject to availability |
| Green fee | 18 holes from €87 on weekdays and €102 at weekends, with 9 hole rates available (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book through the club or a tee time platform; weekdays are easiest for visitors |
| On the day | Walking is straightforward on the heathland turf; buggies and rental clubs can be arranged |
| Getting there | Erbisoeul near Mons, easily reached from Brussels and just over the French border from Lille |
| Best months | May to September for the driest heathland conditions, with spring heather a highlight |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from the club and leading golf resources; rates are indicative and change by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Mons, a Belgian city a few kilometres away, is the natural base, with hotels, a handsome historic centre and good rail links to Brussels. Many golfers touring the region stay in or near Mons and play the Hainaut alongside other heathland clubs in Belgium and just over the border in northern France.
The course sits in easy reach of Brussels and Lille, so it folds neatly into a wider Low Countries or northern France golf trip. Pair it with the classic Brussels area courses for a varied few days of strategic continental golf.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Royal Golf Club du Hainaut.
Build a Belgium golf trip
We secure the Royal Golf Club du Hainaut tee times where access allows, pair them with the best of the region and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Royal Golf Club du Hainaut questions
Who designed the Royal Golf Club du Hainaut and when did it open?
The Royal Golf Club du Hainaut was inaugurated in 1933 with a layout by the renowned architect Tom Simpson, and Martin Hawtree added a further nine holes in 1990.
How many holes is the Royal Golf Club du Hainaut?
The club has 27 holes across three nines, Les Bruyeres, Le Quesnoy and Les Etangs, with the championship combination playing to a par of 72.
How much does it cost to play the Royal Golf Club du Hainaut?
Indicative 2026 green fees are from €87 on weekdays and €102 at weekends for 18 holes, with 9 hole rates available. Always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play the Royal Golf Club du Hainaut?
Yes. The Hainaut is a member club that welcomes visiting golfers with a green fee, subject to availability, and weekdays are generally the easiest time to secure a tee time.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.