Benelux Tour 2024: Hey, HILVERSUM GC

[Sean_A]

If not for hosting 26 Dutch Opens Hilversum could well be a course few would know. A near neighbour to Utrecht de Pan, Hilversum is very much in its ranking shadows. The current course began life in 1917 to a Henry Burrows 9-hole design. An Englishman, Burrows spent much of his career in Benelux working at various clubs in one capacity or another. His career began at the age of 19 as the pro for Doornsche (later called Utrecht de Pan). He remained at the club until 1919. He would soon go on a run of three Dutch Open victories in 1920 (Kennemer), 1921 (Domburg) & 1923 (Hilversum). Burrows didn’t return to England until shortly before the outbreak of WWII in 1939. Interestingly, Burrows’ experience sowing courses, led to joining Sutton & Sons, a leading golf seed company. Burrows was head of the Grass Advisory Station in Reading.

In 1928 HS Colt added ten holes to the routing. Of course, changes have been made over time. Guy Campbell worked on the course in the 1950s and more recently Kyle Phillips made some serious and visually obvious alterations. The hole numbering was also changed sometime in the 1960s, I believe. So, we have a mishmash of a course which plays very long; not surprising for a course which has hosted a national Open in recent memory.

We can see immediately that Hilversum is seeking a tidier aesthetic than de Pan or Eindhoven. HJowever, the heather is healthy and plentiful. Similar to de Pan, the course opens and closes with par 5s. The second is where things become more interesting. There is a break in the fairway which will encourage many to lay back.




Then course was extremely green from so much rainfall throughout 2024.


We cross the small lane for the third. This section of the course has two holes with the 7th being the other. A fairly tight hole which plays over interesting terrain. I like the approach, but the green looks a bit amiss. 


We cross another road for batch of holes that come in two bunches; 4-6 and 13-17. I wasn't taken by the long two-shot 4th. The 200ish yard 5th didn't strike me as special either. Below is a look from well in front of the tee. The green leans right a bit so care must be taken with a long club to conttrol the run-out.


More to follow.

Ciao

[Sean_A]

Hilversum tour cont

A tough hole, but not one I admire much so we shall move past the 6th to the 7th. A short par 5, the seventh is over the same road we crossed back at the 4th. The fairway isn't overly genererous and there seems to be an old green well short of the current green...maybe I am wrong about that, but the shaping is odd in the approach section of the fairway.


The green is hidden by shadows, but it doies have quite a bit of movement which makes the approach interesting.


The short 8th didn't seem in keeping with the course. The design in general doesn't strike me as cohesive, it feels like many chefs stirred the pot. That isn't necessarily a negative if the holes are excellent.


The side finishes with what I think is a fine hole. It looks to have have been rebuilt recently by Kyle Phillips. Below is the approach after a short drive.


While far more open than most of the holes, I think the 9th is more attractive for it. I am skeptical about the trees blocking the sightline of the right bunker.




More to follow.

Ciao

[Sean_A]

Hilversum tour cont

There is talk of altering the fairly new short 10th at some point. The hole isn't outstanding, but I like it. The green is much bigger than it seems from the tee.


Another long two-shotter, the 11th. 


The approach is played over a heathery bank, but there is blind rough behind it which I didn't care for.  Other than this issue, the hole is good in a rather sober manner.


The 12th commences a string of five holes which is Hilversum's highlight. An excellent throwback hole, the 12th is a short par 4 whose tee shot is threatening.


The blind approach is no less intimidating. I didn't feel any level of comfort over either shot which is fine by me a few times per round.


Even a full view of the green offered little contentment.


The green runs away from play so the blind landing area needs to be well measured. Looking toward the tee.


More to follow.

Ciao

[Sean_A]

Hilversum tour cont

The 13th is dead straight, but filled with trickery.


A few dips in the fairway appear as if from nowhere.


This photo is a good example of the many earthworks buried in trees throughout the course.


Looking back to the tee. The left to right (right to left in photo) tilting green pairs perfectly with the mound shy of the left front green. I say this probably too often, but simple architecture is often the best architecture.


It would seem the Pancake hole, 14th, is famous in the Netherlands. The name is apt!


A closer look at this short par 3. Despite the name, the green does have movement, especially around this thorny hole location.


The 15th narrows the closer we get to the green. The use of a mound to pinch in the rough creates bottleneck on the right. 




This is handsome course bursting to break free of the trees.


More to follow.

Ciao

[John Mayhugh]

It's been more than 11 years since I saw Hilversum, so no real detailed memories of the course.

If I recall correctly, Phillips was responsible for building several new greens (replacing Colt originals) to add length so the club could be a tournament host again. It wasn't too difficult to pick out the new greens/surrounds as they did not blend in very well IMO. Nowhere was this more evident than the 18th.

Would be a much better course with tree removal and more effort at cohesion.

[Sean_A]

It's been more than 11 years since I saw Hilversum, so no real detailed memories of the course.

If I recall correctly, Phillips was responsible for building several new greens (replacing Colt originals) to add length so the club could be a tournament host again. It wasn't too difficult to pick out the new greens/surrounds as they did not blend in very well IMO. Nowhere was this more evident than the 18th.

Would be a much better course with tree removal and more effort at cohesion.

Tucky

I agree, Hilversum is a bit disjointed and over-treed. These seem to be common criticisms of the design.

Hilversum tour cont

The 16th isn't an especially good hole, but I do like the green complex.




Except for adding about 30 yards, I feel much the same about 17 as I do about 16.


A rollicking par 5, the 18th has a built in advantage for golfers who can drive the the top of the ridge.  The rollout will leave an iron approach to a well protected green. I would probably like the hole more if there was more space right to avoid the worst of the uphill drive. Most will have a blind approach to a fairway which isn't generous.




Despite some inconsistent architecture, the back nine is much the superior side. Considering the objective of the club to host a national Open, I think Hilversum does a decent job of presenting a challenging course and one that members can get around. Mind you, Hilversum is difficult! I was prepared not to care for Hilversum, but I do like the course despite thinking it could be better. The run from 12-16 really places Hilversum in a high class category. Hilversum doesn't have the best reputation among those from GB&I and North America, but perhaps that should change. 1*  2024

Listed winners of the Dutch Open at Hilversum is done well! Kudos. 


Previous stops on the Benelux Tour.

Eindhoven
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,73230.0.html

Domburg
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,73225.0.html

Utrecht
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,73296.0.html

Future stops on the Tour.

Kennemer
Royal Ostend

Ciao