Here it is: A profile on my favorite course in continental Europe.
Others might vote for Kennemer (and for very good reasons), some for Morfontaine (the coolest of the cool might even say Morfontaine's nine hole Valliere course
), turf lovers would put forth Valderrama, Colt lover's might contend Falkenstein or De Pan, a few perhaps for Royal Zoute or El Saler, yet Haagsche is mine. The reasons why are in the profile with no need to repeat them here. One neat sentiment that has been expressed in various ways by visitors to the Netherlands is that if they had only one more round to play they would pick Royal Hague. For a day in, day out course, they would pick the stylish De Pan, about a one hour drive inland. That speaks largely as to the pleasant walk at De Pan versus the roller coaster adventure that one sets out on from the first tee and that continues all the way through to the last fairway at Haagsche. In trying to capture both its thrilling nature as well as its challenge, Gene Sarazen went so far as to call Haagsche "the Pine Valley of Europe"
when he covered Shell's Wonderful World of Golf match from here in 1963.
Relative to the best links found in the UK and Ireland, Haagsche's topography offers up both the excitement/unpredictable nature of Lahinch as well as the diversity of challenge of St. Enodoc. Just as the greens at Deal and Ballybunion place both links highly, so too here. As perfected at Ballybunion, short grass much more so than long grass is a primary challenge around Haagsche's greens, a huge design plus in my book. More so than sheer length, this set of mostly elevated greens make it both handsome and sometimes 'County Down' hard. Just look at the Shell game with Byron Nelson on the GolfClubAtlas Facebook page. Despite a seemingly effortless birdie at the fourth, the legend wore down by the eighteenth where he lost a ball and carded an 80.
Like any truly great links, Haagsche was something for everyone. Quirky moments like at the 3rd and 7th highlight the rambunctious topography while nothing but stout hitting will suffice from the 13th thru the 15th. Recovering to greens like the 6th and 14th can lead to profanity after vexation leaves town when your second chip returns to your feet
.
Word is out on the transformation that Haagsche has - and is - going through, largely under the direction of Netherland based golf architect Frank Pont. Much has changed since young Tom Doak's modest review in 1983 and it's nice to see it on the GOLF Magazine ballot for consideration as a world top 100 course. Personally speaking, I have yet to see fifty courses that I would rather play than here.
See what you think but Sarazen might be a lot closer to being right than most people realize!
Cheers,