Golfsociëteit De Lage Vuursche

Overview: Golfsociëteit De Lage Vuursche is an 18-hole course in Den Dolder, set between the woods of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug and the open land that preceded it. Kyle Phillips had to turn a relatively flat, high-water site into a varied golf landscape within about 56 hectares. Water, carefully placed movement and a routing that avoids the site’s less attractive views give the course its identity. The result is a polished modern design whose calm appearance hides a demanding series of strategic decisions.

History: The idea for a prestigious private golf society dates to 1985. Planning and permitting occupied much of the following years; the main procedures began in 1989, construction started on 12 November 1998, and the clubhouse followed in 1999. The course and society opened in 2000, with the formal opening performed by Prince Friso on 1 September. The founders gave Phillips room to keep refining the routing during construction.

Did You Know? Phillips initially thought the flat agricultural site, high water level and visible electricity pylons made it a poor candidate for a memorable course. His solution was to use routing, earth movement and selective views so effectively that the finished landscape appears far more natural and secluded than the original site suggested.