Golf Course Review by: Billy Satterfield
Rankings:
The Takeaway: One of two courses in the Netherlands that is often recognized in Top 100 World rankings, De Pan feels like a course from the Surrey region of England with trees lining the fairways, sandy soil, and colorful heather. While there are some stretches of brilliance and a lovely setting, its ranking among the Top 100 courses in the world may be a bit lofty. Grade A-
Quick Facts
Designer: Harry S. Colt 1929
Cost: €50 - €175 Click for current rates
Phone Number: +31 30 69 69 120
Course Website: Official Website - Visit Utrecht Golf Club De Pan's official website by clicking on the link provided.
Directions: Get here! - Amersfoortseweg 1 , Bosch en Duin, Utrecht 3735 LJ – NETHERLANDS
Photos: See additional photos of Utrecht Golf Club De Pan
What to Expect: Long regarded as being one of the top two golf courses in the Netherlands, Utrecht de Pan is a 1929 Harry S. Colt design; though the club dates back to 1894 when it was originally a nine hole course on a previous site. Upon arriving at the clubhouse you'll very much know you are in The Netherlands as the thatch roof covers the structure; a common occurrence in Dutch country. As with the vast majority of European courses, you can plan on walking while enjoying your round although carts are available for players with medical clearance. The routing takes players through a forested property with gentle movements in the property with the largest elevation changes occurring on the 17th hole where the tee shot plays nearly ten feet downhill before players are faced with an approach shot that plays over ten feet uphill to a green where much of the surface is blind. There are a few blind shots to contend with on the day while the terrain is characterized by purple heather on the ground and mature trees soaring in the air with a wide variety of species being represented. For anyone that has played in the Surrey area of England, they will find themselves making instant comparisons to De Pan. The best part of the property is found where the 4th and 8th greens meet up with the 5th and 9th tees in an open area that affords more distant views across the course, but it is the 6th hole that begins taking De Pan to another level. That being said, the back nine is the better of the two sides and gives players reason to believe they are on a special course that is often regarded as a Top 100 World track.
By the Numbers
| Tees | Par | Yardage | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 72 | 6668 | 72.5 | 141 |
| Yellow | 72 | 6251 | 70.5 | 135 |
| Blue | 72 | 5848 | 68.6 | 129 |
| Red | 72 | 5397 | 66.2 | 120 |
| Orange (Ladies) | 72 | 5224 | 70.7 | 131 |
Individual Hole Analysis
Signature Hole: 10th Hole – 371 Yard Par 4 – The back nine starts with a memorable two-shotter that tightens as it travels towards the green. The tee shot plays to a rippled fairway that is lined by trees on each side and tightens down to a needle's eye width at the moment that the fairway enters the most undulated terrain found on the hole. The wavy terrain paired with the trio of bunkers creates a semi-blind shot into the green that is set in an amphitheater of trees. This hole requires the type of shot making Utrecht de Pan demands if you are going to be successful navigating here.
Best Par 3: 15th Hole – 176 Yards – The final one-shotter at UGC de Pan plays in a southwesterly direction to a green that is nearly three times as deep as it is wide. The edges of the green curl up like a Pringle to offer some reward in feeding balls back towards the center of the green when successfully hit. With the right side flanked by a bunker and the left side built up with a slope, favoring the left side and bounding a ball towards the flag is certainly a strategy that will pay dividends.
Best Par 4: 7th Hole – 333 Yards – The third consecutive blind full shot, the tee ball on the 7th is played to a fairway you have to just trust is there and doglegs to the right beyond a set of trees that stand on a hill on the inside bend. A bomb over the trees on the right will yield a flip wedge into the green and a great opportunity to score, but miss the fairway left or right and the penalty is severe with thick foliage and trees waiting to inhibit a clean second shot into the green. The approach shot plays to a putting surface that is pinched in front by a bunker which results in a small area to place a flag, while the back two-thirds of the green opens up significantly to more generous pin placements. It is a fantastic risk/reward hole that requires a bit of faith on the tee and confidence on the approach.
Best Par 5: 11th Hole – 502 Yards – The distinguishing characteristic of the reachable par five 11th is the heather and fescue covered hill 200 yards from the green and located on the outside bend of the fairway. The undulated fairway doesn't yield many level lies and will require some shotmaking in order to hit a second shot close to the green. Heavy tree lines border each side of the fairway and the entrance into the green tightens as is snakes between a pair of bunkers enroute to the front edge of the putting surface. This isn't a long hole, but like many at de Pan, you better be dialed in on your accuracy if you want to score well.
Birdie Time: 17th Hole – 318 Yard Par 4 – Utrecht de Pan isn't really a course where you stand there and say "wow" very often, but at the 17th that is exactly what should happen. The tee shot plays from a raised box and gives more elevation for your ball to fly through than perhaps any other hole on the course. The fairway is framed on both sides by beautiful purple heather before giving way to a hill that rises up to a group of trees that then crescents around the remaining fairway and green site. The ideal tee shot splits the fairway and finishes just short of the 10' tall hill that rests 50 yards from the center of the green and hides the view of a portion of the putting surface. The pair of bunkers resting on the right side of the green should be of no concern with a wedge in your hand as you go flag hunting in an effort to stick an approach shot as tight as possible to the pin. 17 is simply a beautiful hole and a great opportunity to take a stroke back from Old Man Par late in the round.
Bogey Beware: 6th Hole – 428 Yard Par 4 – The first of Utrecht de Pan's most famous back-to-back holes, the 6th is a devilish encounter that will require some mental and physical game to conquer. Uniquely designed, the hole opens with a blind tee shot to a rising fairway and players are then presented with a second blind shot to a green located beyond a large bunker and hill on the left side that block the view into the putting surface. If a hole were designed that way today the architect would be criticized relentlessly, but at an old course like de Pan it is often lauded for its character and uniqueness. The entrance to the green is wide open, forgiving, and bunkerless to counter the challenges found up to that point, so if you can convince yourself to trust your lines and your swing, a reward awaits. Unfortunately, most players will find themselves in trouble here and walk away with a bogey.
