The Venice of the North has never looked better. Just 90 minutes from Calais, Bruges has long-been famous for its brasseries and chocolate shops, but this ancient and beautiful city has reinvented itself over the last 10 years and now boasts amazing galleries and museums and an astonishing range of hotels.
The golf is impressive too with Royal Zoute – rated in the Top 10 of Europe – looking gorgeous after some very clever design and irrigation work. I’ve always liked the rather quirky links at Royal Ostend and Royal Latem is a true hidden gem. A very popular club is the 27-hole Damme just outside Bruges, an “away-day” in Holland can be had at the target-course of Oostburg and the new parkland and links at Koksijde is pretty much halfway between Calais and Bruges. So it’s possible to play golf designed for princes and stay at hotels made for kings or I can book you some great-value golf at lesser-known (but equally enjoyable) courses and hotels.
You can either have a busy two-night, three-game stay or stretch your holiday over a week and take the time to play some golf and really get to know the area. Whatever your preference, Bruges will keep you as busy as you want to be. And when you want to relax, I know the right places and the right hotels which can put you really at ease.
There’s no need for the expense or hassle of flying…And that also means you should have some space in your car for some food and wine to take back home.
Bruges really is a self-drive destination which offers something for everyone.
