The Solheim Cup has never been to the Netherlands before. This September, that changes, and PING Ambassador Hannah Holden has been given the first proper look at the course that will host it.
Bernardus Golf opened in 2018 in Cromvoirt, North Brabant, roughly 65 miles south of Amsterdam. Architect Kyle Phillips took his inspiration from the nearby Brabantse Wal national park, shaping a heathland course out of what was previously flat farmland.
“We wanted to be an open club, so everyone is welcome,” general manager Sabine told Holden. “That’s where the idea of a day membership came from, so people can feel like a member for a day and use all the facilities.”
Built with sustainability in mind
Specially selected fescue grasses need less nitrogen and less water, and only a fraction of the 82-hectare site is closely maintained. “Once you’re off a fairway, green surround or tee complex, you’re straight into nature,” said Niall Richardson, the club’s superintendent. “That’s the beauty of Bernardus.”
That firm, fast turf is what will test the world’s best players in September. “There’s a lot of subtle shaping on the fairways, so a shot that looks like a brilliant drive down the middle might get kicked off to the left,” he added. “Knowing, and practising, the course in advance is going to be key.”
The holes that could decide it
The 3rd becomes the opening hole for matchplay, a risk-reward par 4 with a deep fairway bunker in range and a U-shaped grandstand built around it. The real drama, though, is likely to come late: roughly 80% of Solheim Cup matches go down to the last three holes. At Bernardus, that means a par 3 over water, an over-500-yard par 5 guarded by bunkers, and a closing par 4 that punishes anything left.
Watch the full video
“I’ve been to a lot of golf places around the world, but this has actually really blown me away,” Holden said. Watch the full video below.
Keep up to date with all the news on the Solheim Cup: Women & Golf coverage supported by KBS – The Most Advanced Shafts In Golf
