Golf In the Netherlands

[ewaldbeukes]

Hi all,

 

Before covid hit, we were looking to emigrate to Canada and was aided in understanding the golfing landscape by some brilliant and willing WRXers. Sadly, Canada as an avenue has been really slow and we are now looking at The Netherlands as our other option for emigration. Hoping for some assistance in understanding the golfing landscape around topics such as:

 

1. Cost of golf

 

- Visitors fees and availability

- Membership (joining fees? monthly costs? "All in" debit order options.

 

Looking around it seems fairly feasible considering earnings to play. Currently a member of a club in SA and play every Saturday.

 

2. Golf weather

 

- Seems that The Netherlands is blessed with weather that changes in a heartbeat. What has been the experience of being able to play? Is this a case of buy good wet and cold weather gear and get on with it? Or prohibitive?

 

3. Golf for Juniors

 

- Would love to keep my son interested in the game (currently 5) any junior golf structures available? Any golf as part of the club / afterschool system? (Seems sport it part of club / afterschool and not part of the school day as it is here - sport is MASSIVE in SA) Have seen some evidence of National golf development but seems limited? Might be mistaken...

 

4. Transport

 

- Seems like golfers get to the course using public transport? Is this a thing? How does it work?

 

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to help with some info - holding thumbs we get across the line with our move abroad sooner rather than later! Would be nice if the world stops having recessions / wars / viral outbreaks for a year or two!

[elwhippy]

Good news. Holland has a host of very high quality venues from Harry Colt designed heathland tracks, via modern championship venues to pure links. Golf is affordable and almost everyone speaks English. Not sure of the prices for private clubs but green fees tend to be very reasonable. You will also be in striking distance of quality Belgian and French courses and a ferry ride away from classis English courses in East Anglia. 

 

Bad news. Their beer is atrocious. 

[jholz]

Never experienced it myself, but played with a Dutch guy once.

 

He said that you essentially need a license to play golf in Holland and you have to prove your golf competency to get it. I'm not sure if that's still a thing or how hard it might be to get.

 

But, I always sort of appreciated the idea.

[Abh159]

2 minutes ago, jholz said:

Never experienced it myself, but played with a Dutch guy once.

 

He said that you essentially need a license to play golf in Holland and you have to prove your golf competency to get it. I'm not sure if that's still a thing or how hard it might be to get.

 

But, I always sort of appreciated the idea.

 

Similarly, I have no experience with golf in the Netherlands, but I've also heard/read about this. I don't think it's particularly difficult to get. Just have to have a basic understanding of the rules/etiquette and be able to break 150.

 

Honestly, if this is true it's not a bad idea. I imagine a lot of other countries could benefit from such a system 😉.

[Warrior42111]

40 minutes ago, Abh159 said:

 

Similarly, I have no experience with golf in the Netherlands, but I've also heard/read about this. I don't think it's particularly difficult to get. Just have to have a basic understanding of the rules/etiquette and be able to break 150.

 

Honestly, if this is true it's not a bad idea. I imagine a lot of other countries could benefit from such a system 😉.

Can you imagine the size of the thread on here if this was done in North America?!?! Especially with etiquette 

 

I'd die of a popcorn overdose 😆

[Abh159]

38 minutes ago, Warrior42111 said:

Can you imagine the size of the thread on here if this was done in North America?!?! Especially with etiquette 

 

I'd die of a popcorn overdose 😆

 

Course Superintendents would be very, very happy.

[ewaldbeukes]

12 hours ago, Abh159 said:

 

Similarly, I have no experience with golf in the Netherlands, but I've also heard/read about this. I don't think it's particularly difficult to get. Just have to have a basic understanding of the rules/etiquette and be able to break 150.

 

Honestly, if this is true it's not a bad idea. I imagine a lot of other countries could benefit from such a system 😉.

While I have not seen this on any research in The Netherlands, I did find this: 

 

The “ Platzreife” is actually a legal requirement to play golf in Germany, instituted over 40 years ago. No other country in Europe requires such a license, but German golfing associations say it is necessary to prevent unskilled players from holding up the games of others.

[Tengu]

At least in Germany the "Platzreife" used to have a theoretical part with a multiple choice test with questions regarding the rules of play (how to proceed if the ball is hit into a hazard and so on) and a practical part where you had to play a few holes with a professional / teacher. Not sure how it works in the Netherlands, but probably very similar. If you have an official handicap you are probably good to go.

[Jimi Thing]

Some info from a Dutch guy here. Hope it helps. Yes, in the Netherlands you are required to get a permit (gvb or golfvaardigheidsbewijs). But if you are a golfer already, you can almost buy one. Just look around for the 1 day course option and have that out of the way. 
 

golf clubs are abound. Typically you can have unlimited play for €120-180 monthly fee. Prices for juniors are significant lower. There is a healthy mix of private clubs, semi private and public courses. Surely you can find what suits you. Initiation fee is a thing only for the most exclusive clubs but at prices at no comparison to the US. When I checked, 7-8 years ago, de Koninklijke Haagsche, currently ranked #1 course in the Netherlands, initiation fee was 5k. Note, clubs are golf clubs, not country clubs like in USA with additional offering (tennis, swim, fitness)

 

note, during COVID golf had a real surge in the Netherlands since it was pretty much the only sport people were allowed to do. Courses have been very, very busy. I think it is cooling down a bit but still fairly busy compared to pre Covid. Conditions surely have been affected by this but not sure how since it’s been 5 years since I lived there. 

 

green fees, anywhere from €40 up to €160 for the most exclusive. 
 

junior golf, really depends on the club. Some are very active at some your child would be one of the very few juniors. 
 

golf weather, I would say april up to November golf season is good. December and januari you can play but experience depends on soul conditions mainly, could be chilly. Other months really depends on the amount of rain the courses have been getting. But weather surely is better as in the UK and course conditions over the winter are getting better as well. 
 

holland is a small country. You should be able to find a course within 15mins and with some luck on biking distance. Public transport to us standards is outstanding. However I would not rely on it to support a golf hobby. But you might get lucky

Edited July 31, 2022 by Jimi Thing