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Colt's KENNEMER G&CC: Benelux Tour 2024 - 1-15

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Sean_A:


Probably better known as the recent home of the Dutch Grand Prix, the Zandvoort track has hosted the race on 34 occasions. The 2024 winner was the young English/Belgian driver for McLaren, Llando Norris.  Just to the southeast of the track, another well-known attraction is nestled in the dunes set back from the beach and town, Kennemer G&CC. The course and town were badly damaged during World War II in the German effort to build and fortify the Atlantic Wall against the inevitable allied continental invasion. Well over a 100 bunkers and battlements were built throughout the course in addition to an anti-tank wall. Many remnants were buried under dunes, but a few bunkers remain to this day.  One such example is just off the 3rd tee.


The original 1910 Kennemer G&CC course was abandoned for a new 1928 HS Colt design which covered a fraction of the original dune system in the area. Colt’s first design in the Netherlands included 27 holes, but only 18 were originally built (B&C nines). The A nine wasn’t built until 1985 by Frank Pennink, a well-respected architect of Netherland lineage. Pennink made only one change to the original routing, the 6th. Over the years changes were made by D Steel & Martin Hawtree. In recent years Frank Pont has been the consulting architect.

Host to 23 Dutch Opens, Kennemer is a proud club and regained its place in major international golf in 2006 by hosting the Dutch Open after a long break. The most famous winner of the Kennemer events was none other than Seve Ballesteros. After storming onto the golfing stage with a magnificent showing at the 1976 Birkdale Open, Seve would grab his cardinal professional win at the Dutch Open three weeks later and win the European Tour Order of Merit. Sadly, this would be Seve’s only Dutch Open triumph, but he eventually won 50 European Tour events and the Order of Merit five more times. Its heartening to see Ken Brown's name on the board.


A Colt map of the Kennmer prior to the construction of the A 9.


The current map.


Kennemer scorecard. We played the B&C routing, the orginal Colt course.


Dead straight and downhill, the opener is a stern hole mitigated somewhat by a gathering green....if the approach is accurate.


The approach was blind for me; below is a closer look at the green.


Looking back to the tee.


A nasty hole short hole, the 2nd is of modest length, but the false front/firm green combo is plenty of challenge.


The hole below and in the background is the 16th on the C 9. I must say the concept of three nines is not one I have much time for. I much prefer an 18 hole course and a relief 9 holer.


More to follow.

Ciao

Tommy Williamsen:
Thanks for doing this, Sean. Kennemer is well known to GCA, but unknown to the average traveler, who concentrates their links golf to GB&I. The course was both charming and challenging. I loved it and it should be a contender for top 100 in the world.


I've told this story previously. On a trip to England for a speaking engagement, I purposely arranged an eight-hour layover at Schipol. I took a train to Zandvoort and a cab to the course. I played the Colt and Pennick nines and was so glad I took the time and effort to get there. The biggest problem was the return trip. I got on the wrong train and got to the airport too close for comfort.

Sean_A:
You are welcome Tommy.

Kennemer tour cont

The par five 3rd continues the march away from the house. The impressive view of the surrounding dunes is impressive from the tee.


Its not uncommon to see interesting terrain marooned in the rough.


It can pay dividends to remain on high ground for the approach.


The course flows down to flatter terrain adjacent to the railroad tracks for holes 4-6. A lovely short two-shotter, the 4th moves left. The fairway seems to plunge donw toward the green which is raised.


I like the hollow shy of the green.


Kennemer is replete with interetsing degrees of doglegs. Another short par 4, the fifth moves right toward the property line. The green tilts away from the bunkers.


The 6th gives us another stimulating green site. My impression of Kennemer is that it didn't look or feel like an old links.


More to follow.

Ciao

Sean_A:
Kennemer tour cont

The final hole along the tracks, the 7th is a bit different because of the blind tee shot and large bunker fronting the large green.




A solid par 3, the 8th is about 170 yards uphill.


A look at the green from the 9th tee. The plateau nature of the green is more evident from this angle.


The 9th is probably the best hole on the front 9. The hole runs up a funnel of dunes and more reminiscent of some UK&I links.


The club could probably do with clearing away the rogue bushes and trees to present a crisper aesthetic.


More to follow.

Ciao

Sean_A:
Kennemer Tour Cont



The back nine begins with a cracking downhill hole. The 10th more than reminds of Purbeck's 5th. From on high we drive blindly downhill.


If the corner of the dogleg is not reached the approach is uncomortbale over broken ground to an unreceptive green.




A tough par 4 playing downhill, the 11th is not only long, but the green is a nasty target.






Continuing play in a north-easterly direction, the 12th is a rumbling par 5.   


Another challenging green in keen conditions.


We now traverse straight back up the hill in three stages; two par 4s and a par 3. Luckily the par 4s aren't yardage taxing, the 13th is about 320 yards.




A look at the green from near 14 tee. The fairway cut lines are a bit screwy.


More to follow.

Ciao

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