Large specimens of the Northern Pike can be found in the lakes and ponds of the golf course. This predatory fish feeds on smaller fish and amphibians. To catch its prey, the pike hides in the weeds. Sometimes during spring you can see the pike sunbathing in the shallow parts of the water. Keep quiet as you walk from the 2nd green towards the 3rd tee and you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a pike in the pond on your left.

The Red Squirrel feels at home amidst the fir trees of the golf course. He builds his nest with branch material in these trees. He feeds himself with nuts, buds, mushrooms and sometimes small birds. During the winter they only come to the ground when necessary to search for food or to bury food items. Often seen in the trees on the left, half way along this hole.

On these sandy hills to the right of the 4th fairway, one can notice several small plants like the Little White Bird’s-Foot, Cat’s Ear and Fall Dandelion. These are characteristic plants that live in a poor soil and don’t like manuring. Amongst these plants you can also find different types of fungi.

The Scotch Broom grows naturally on poor soil. Small knobs appear on the roots. They contain bacillus that provide the plant with nitrogen. The Scotch Broom flowers bright-yellow in spring. Earlier on this plant was used to make brooms. They grow here on the 5th hole in front of the water on the right side.

Long-Eared Owls roost during winter. This means that they rest in one and the same place with other owls. They may roost communally with 7 to 50 owls. When you find a pellet underneath the trees, you can assume there is a roosting spot in the neighbourhood. Typical for these owls are the prominent ear tufts that they use to communicate with the other owls. Not easy to see, but playing early in the morning or late in the evening, you have a chance of spotting this beautiful bird.

The Primrose is a protected and very rare plant in Flanders.
The plank likes to grow alongside banks and ditches, in brush woods and shrubs. It flowers in the spring. A large population of Primroses have been planted in this area of the golf course as part of a large Nature Project.
We are proud as a golf club that we can help this endangered plant re-establish itself.

The Damselfly looks very much like the Dragonfly. The latter one is generally bigger and spreads its wing horizontally at rest. The little Damselflies when at rest hold their wings folded back over the abdomen. When mating, the male grips the female firmly behind the head; thus making them fly in tandems and forming a mating wheel. Dragonfly eggs are deposited directly onto aquatic plants. The larves are fearsome predators that live in the water for a couple of years. The pond here is an ideal habitat for them both.

Willow trees can be found throughout the golf course. Willow trees were in the past planted a lot neat the boundaries of meadows forming natural fences. The wood was used to weave baskets or as firwood. The amount of While Willows has strongly diminished. The remaining old Willows serave as ideal breeding places for hollow-breeders like the little owl. (Athena Noctua) On both sides of the 9^th Willow trees form a natural boundary of the Hole.

The Green Frog generally has a dark green body with dispersed dark spot and stripes. In contrast to the brown frog, this species stays in the water all summer long. The Green Frog is notorious for its noisy croaking concerts. On the ponds surrounding Holes 10 and 11 we are often greeted by their concerts.

The Yellow Pond Lily is a kind of water lily. The plant can easily spread and even become rampant. The green frog can often be observed sitting on the leaves of this aquatic plant. The leave have a bitter taste and consequently not eaten by fish like the carp. Take your time and enjoy the sight of these attractive plants in the pond in front of and to the left of the 11^th green.

This beautiful aquatic bird is often to be seen on the lake on the left side of the 12th. A century ago the species was almost extinct. The males have a deep red collar around the neck. The black-and-white striped chicks can be seen in the springtime catching a ride on the back of their parents.

The Great Cormorants sometimes come in groups to fish on the lake. You can often see them on the dead tree across the water from the 13^th green, where they perch on the branches in the sun to dry with wide-spread wings. Indeed, the Great Cormorant does not have a fat layer to protect itself against the water, so that the bird has to dry itself after each dive before it can fly again.

The Kingfisher is small, colorful bird with a relatively large beak, which he uses to catch and hold its prey. This bird is sometimes seen around the lakes, ponds and ditches on the 12 ^th , 13 ^th & 14 ^th Holes. Its prey exists mainly from small fish, but also frogs, dragonflies and beetles. Large prey is beaten on a branch or stone, before they can eat it. Also the Kingfisher swallows its prey with the headfirst so that scales and fins can’t get stuck in the headfirst so that scales and fins can’t get stuck in the bird’s throat.

The famous raptor eats rabbits, mice, but sometimes also squirrels and water hens, but mainly carrion. The Buzzard feels at home in the woodlands and nests in high trees. Here we often see them in the woods to the left of the 15 ^th tee or on the right of the 16 ^th Hole. Bazzards from Northern areas migrate to our country to pass the winter, which accounts for the larger number seen in that period.

The Canada Goose is recognizable by its white chest and brown body and is regularly seen on the last 7 Holes of the course. Though not indigenous, their numbers are increasing rapidly in the Flanders. These birds feed mainly on plant material, and can often be seen enjoying a snack around the 16^th green. When feeding in water, they submerge their heads and necks to reach aquatic plants, sometimes tipping forward like a dabbling duck. Flocks of these birds often feed on leftover cultivated grains in fields, especially during migration or in winter.

Compared to the Canada Goose, the Barnacle Goose is smaller, has a white forehead and a black chest. The feathers are mostly grey. They breed in Greenland and northern Eurasia. Wintering in northern Europe, the British Isles and sometimes in Flanders. Some Barnacle geese are setting here in Flanders year round. Often seen together with the Canada Goose near the 17^th Hole. As with many exotic species, can make problems for the indigenous geese populations.

The little bird with its brown colored feathers is hard to find in the already because of its camouflage colors. This bird is often in water banks, low shrubs and even hedges if there is water in the area. This bird belongs to the song birds and the little reed warbler has a beautiful song, which can often be heard when going on the path from the tee to the fairway here on the 18 ^th Hole.