[Mac Plumart]

If we are serious about golf and golf architecture, why aren't we talking more about golf in The Netherlands?

New and old golf courses?

Check out Frank Pont's new course.  Cool.  And profitable?!?!?!  Wow!!!

[Mark_Rowlinson]

I totally agree - I've played quite a few Dutch courses and the quality is high. Since Frank Pont has been working on some of the classics I suspect the standard has risen yet again.

The Hague, Kennemer, De Pan, Hilversum, Noordwijk and Eindhoven are good to very good to excellent. Of the other old courses I don't know Toxandria, Rosendaeslche or Twentsche, but hopefully Frank will chip in.

On a visit to the Netherlands you should also visit Belgium with Royal Zoute, Royal Antwerp, Royal Belgique (Tervuren), Royal Sart-Tilman and Royal GC des Fagnes in the top flight. There are moments of class at Royal Ostende, but there is also some dreary stuff. I enjoyed my visit to Royal GC du Hainault. Royal Waterloo was a disappointment. Of the modern courses (of which there are a lot) I found Bercuit (RTJ Snr eccentric and ver disappointing). However, I much enjoyed Ch de la Tournette, with two contrasting courses, one said to be American and one said to be British.

[Frank Pont]

Guys let me know when you come over and I'll help you organize some rounds in the Neherlands

Its no problem to get you on my latest course Turfvaert, which was profiled in the last GCA Magazine, just let me know.
(for an overview see http://www.issuu.com/frankpont/docs/turfvaert_holes_description_1)

Also I'm a member at Eindhoven and De Pan, two Colt heathland courses that are on par with UK top 50, so I will be able to introduce limited numbers there as well. In Belgium I'm a member at Royal Spa, a Simpson course you really should play, but its best to play it in summer due to its slower start of the season because of its higher altitude.

Links wise play R Hague, Noordwijk and Kennemer. Heathland play De Pan, Eindhoven, Hilversum, Toxandria and Rosendaelsche.

In Brabant we are getting a bit of a new sandbelt with the excellent Swinkelsche and Stippelberg as new arrivals. Stippelberg of Spogaard & vd Vaart is the bigger brother of Turfvaert, built just afterwards with the same shapers, but with a bigger piece of land, budget and a lot more more earthmoving. Very well received, good players love it, quite difficult, but routing has issues. Swinkelsche is the course I am currently finishing promises to be even better (but then ofcourse I am biased ), with great imput from shaper Conor Walsh, a huge piece of land 240 acres, tree lined, pure sand, 500 k m3 shaping, 6 holes in the forest. Should be playable early 2013, but if you are in the area I would love to give you a tour and maybe we will be able to hit a ball already end of 2012. (for pics see:
https://plus.google.com/102077114719218674383#photos/102077114719218674383/albums/5707998025271457057 )

New courses play The Dutch if you focus on the course and don't mind poor surroundings (EGD design), and Amsterdam International (Bruno Steensels design). Both not my cup of tea, but if you like modern this might be for you.

Belgium Royal Sart Tilman has probably the fastest and hardest greens in Belgium, in my view one notch below Spa. Knokke is also very good, but needs to work on its links conditioning, in my view too soft and green. Also all the houses do not help (a bit of Lytham feeling). Oostende was great probably until the Belgians put a highway right through it, they have done a commendable job to make the most out of the remaining bits and pieces...

[Joey Chase]

Frank,
I loved my trip to The Netherlands,  they have some really top flight courses.  I recently move to Geneva, so I might take you up on the offer!  There seems to be a shortage of quality golf around here, so I may need a getaway.  Noordwijkse was a round I will not soon forget! 

[Tommy Williamsen]

I have only played Kennemer.  I am not certain if it qualifies as a "true links" course, but it played like one. I was an excellent course and would play it again if I get back there.
I had a long layover and (per Mark Rowlinson's suggestion) took a train and cab to get there.  I got on the wrong train on the way back and almost missed my flight.

[Ben Jarvis]

While I haven't played it, I caddied six rounds at Eindhoven back in 2006 and 2007. From what I gathered, it would be a wonderful place to play and has some great variety.

Holes that stick in my mind are the short par 4 2nd, short and slightly uphill par 3 8th, the downhill par 3 11th and the dogleg left par 4 12th. There are plenty of other highlights and interesting ground movement throughout.

[Mac Plumart]

It appears the game is growing and thriving there.

Frank's new course is less than 6000 yards on 121 acres, its popular, and profitable!

And Stippleberg beat Old Mac for course of the year (or something like that).

Shouldn't we be helping champion these events as  they seem to directly line up with the fundamentals we espouse?

[Joey Chase]

If welcome, I would come!

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

I would organise a BUDA in Holland if I thought folk would come. Would there be enough interest?

I'd definitely be interested.

Amsterdam is as easy to fly into as London.

[Eric Smith]

I would organise a BUDA in Holland if I thought folk would come. Would there be enough interest?

A wise man once said, "if you plan it, they will come."

I know I would!

[Mac Plumart]

I can't do it this year, but I am going across the pond in 2013 and would make plans to include it.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Brian,

I would certainly be interested, but not to play competitively - I'm a long handicapper. I can't manage 36 holes in a day any more. But, I have friends in Holland with whom I could stay.

Mark.

[Michael Whitaker]

I can't do it this year, but I am going across the pond in 2013 and would make plans to include it.

Mac, it would be 2013 now as this year's BUDA is already organised - I wasn't sure if someone had their sights on this year, though...I'm going to make a few calls this week to see how the top 3 links courses could accommodate us.

Brian,

It would probably have to be 2014 as Huntercombe has already been discussed for 2013... or, maybe 2015 as there has also been talk of taking the Buda to Ireland.

Mike

[Eric Smith]

Also, Ward has a grand vision of hosting a BUDA up Cruden Bay way. A great problem to have with so many fantastic places to go!

[Patrick Kiser]

Frank,

Thanks for sharing and posting.  That looks really good.

It's funny, but I grew up in northern France (Orchies near Lille) and not once made the trip up to Holland except for the Euro in 2000.

I'm very interested in the work going on for Le Touquet (La Mer) and Hardelots (Les Pins) in France as well.

Great to see this continental work going on like this for you.

The Netherlands ... one day.

[Philip Gawith]

Netherlands is definitely the dark horse of European golf. Royal Hague, Kennemer, Noordewijk and De Pan - hard to improve on that for four rounds of close proximity golf. I think it would be a great Buda location.

[Ulrich Mayring]

I herewith sign in to BUDA in the Netherlands if it is 2013 or later.

Which doesn't mean that you can get rid of me by holding it elsewhere, but I can guarantee to show up anywhere in the Low Countries and Northern France

In fact, I may even do the Netherlands in August 2013 outside of BUDA. Would be fantastic to meet some of you then.

Ulrich

[Mark Alexander]

The Dutch love their golf and it seems their passion is being rewarded by some quality new courses, Frank's being one of them.

I shot The Dutch (the EGD course, rather than the people) last year. It is a private/corporate club that is expensive to join and perhaps not in the best location, yet the clubhouse is busy and the membership is going through the roof. The same seems to be happening at Amsterdam International, the new course located just next to Schipol airport.

I wrote a piece about The Dutch in GME. Check out an excerpt at http://markalexanderphotography.blogspot.com/

[Tom_Doak]

There are some very good courses in The Netherlands, but the real story there is how they have managed to promote the game and dramatically increase participation over the past ten years.  Perhaps Frank Pont [or someone else] can come on and explain this in detail ... I've heard an overview, but don't want to get my facts wrong.

[Andrew Hastie]

Although there has been a huge increase in registered golfers (people with a golf license)"yes you do need a liecence to play golf in Holland"  there has been a much less dramatic increase in active golfers and many clubs in the Netherlands are struggling badly! The Dutch Golf Federation is starting a program to get  more people really playing the game, hopefully it's going to help. But there has certainly been a sort of renaissance in golf course architecture going on! Being lead of course by Frank Pont, Michiel van der Vaart & Phillip Spogard. Frank restoration work is very impressive and some of his courses build on very low budgets are a lot of fun to play, and I can't wait to see the Swinkelsche!
There has also been lot in the media about the Stippelberg and I coincidencly played there yesterday and it is for a young course that still needs to grow in properly was a lot of fun! Only the 9th hole with a island green is completely out of character .
Holland is a country of contrasts when it comes to golf, the top 10 or so courses are very good and then it goes down hill very quickly.

[Ronald Montesano]

They did invent the game, after all.

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