Dutch Diary 2023 - #6 - Hilversumsche Golf Club - Soestdijkerstraatweg 172, 1213 XJ Hilversum, Netherlands
As last stops go, Hilversumsche GC, ticked all the boxes....most notably the clubs' commitment to sustainable greenkeeping, this includes gainful 'employment' of a flock of sheep to manage their rough
The final foray into the breech, for this series of ramblings, was through the delightful environs of Hilversumsche Golf Club. The course is routed through stately pines and American Oak and across unmistaken heathland terrain - beguiling, encouraging and enchanting in equal measure.
A gentle strategic test awaits you at HGC, assuming that you answer the specific questions proffered! Stray significantly from the line of charm (in amongst the trees)….well, you’ll find your wayward egg, however, you may have to cut your cloth by favouring a prudent escape over ill-judged ambition.
The aforementioned trees create drama and intrigue, but at no time encroach too far into playing lines….. the ideal counterpoint between scenery and stage! Considered tree management is in evidence through intra-hole connectivity and a feeling of communality throughout the compact HGC property.
A pillar of Early Golf in the Netherlands
Officially registered as a club in January 1910, Hilversumsche is the last of the ‘old four’ clubs (after Koninklijke Haagsche, Utrechtse GC ‘De Pan’ and Rosendaelsche). At the time of registration in the early part of the last century, golf had been played in Hilversum for some fifteen years or so. Starting on rough terrain around the gasworks and then migrating to a site on the Laren-Huizen road, until finally securing a leasehold on the Kievitsdal property in 1917, where it can be found to this day.
Henry Burrows, the club professional at the Doornsche GC (a precursor to UGC) would lay out the first 9 holes at Kievitsdal, these holes opened for play in 1920. Incidentally, Burrows would go on to win the 1923 Dutch Open Championship, held at Hilversumche. To date the club has hosted the event, a record, 30 times. Notable winners include Flory van Donck, Severiano Ballesteros, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Scott Hoch, Lee Westwood, Maarten Lafeber and Martin Kaymer.
HS Colt & Co
The club purchased additional adjoining land in 1926 and the design firm of HS Colt & Co. were commissioned to fashion an additional ten holes across the newly acquired Bosch van Drakenstein lands. The Colt holes (currently played as holes 3 to 7 and 13 to 17) are located across the Hollandse Sloot, a dirt road that intersects the two original properties.
Our old friends Copijn were once again tasked with constructing the course (as they did at Kennemer, Noordwijk Old, UGC ‘De Pan’, Eindhovensche and Groot Haesebroek (aka Koninklijke Haagsche post WW2)). The new 18 hole course at Hilversum would open for play in September 1928.
Course Developments
Through the years a number of course amendments have been undertaken, most notably by Sir Guy Campbell in the 1950’s and somewhat more recently by Kyle Phillips in the late 2000’s.
In 2013, Hilversumsche appointed course architect Michiel Van der Vaart, from the firm Spogárd & Van der Vaart, to revise the position of the practice green as part of a redevelopment of the clubhouse building, which was rebuilt in the image of its’ 1930’s predecessor.
This continuing relationship with Spogárd & VanderVaart has thus far led to improvements on holes 3, 9, 10, 11 and 12 as HGC look to further embrace their Burrows/Colt design heritage.
Sustainable Greenkeeping
A recent trend in Dutch golf has been a move away from the use of amenity chemicals and water overuse towards an environmentally neutral position. Hilversumsche Golf Club have been independently recognised by the GEO Foundation as one of the leading exponents of sustainable greenkeeping in the Netherlands.
These positive environmental effects have been facilitated by a data driven approach that measures key performance indicators such as evapotranspiration and water usage, organic matter percentages and all agronomic inputs.
Over the past number of years the course team have increased the heather cover on the property through selective tree felling and intensive grazing by a flock of sheep. This flock travels around different golf courses munching its’ way towards additional sustainability for the courses that they pitch up at.
Biodiversity has also increased at HGC through the provision of sand scrapes for certain ant species, the installation of 50 bird boxes for local nesting starlings and monitoring of badger set building.
Annual meadow grass (poa annua) has been reduced through prudent water management and its’ replacement with more drought resistant bent grass varietals. Turf health and the prevalence of disease is monitored on an ongoing basis, with only very occasional use of curative products to deal with outbreaks of fungal disease such as dollar spot.
The club have also adopted a strategy of transitioning away from internal combustion engines towards both hybrid and fully electric greens equipment. Many other elements combine to meet the GEO certification requirements and the above summary should only be seen as a precis to the ongoing efforts.
Kudos is due to HGC and the other 93 certified clubs in the Netherlands who recognise and embrace the responsibility of co-existing harmoniously with and within the natural environment.
Hilversumsche Golf Club is a must visit, encompassing all that is good about golf in the Netherlands - a great welcome (bring proof of handicap), an uber smart clubhouse with good food and a nicely appointed terrace overlooking the 18th green. HGC is an interesting heathland adventure with variety, strategy and angles abounding, spring sprongy sustainable turf… all at an affordable price point!
This is the final instalment of the Dutch Diaries series, many thanks for following along, remember that Dutch Golf is somewhat of a well kept secret (no funny handshakes…that I’m aware of anyway)… let’s try to keep it between ourselves :-).
As an unrepentant links fan, I must admit that this particular trip has stoked a passion for heathland golf, so much so that I’ve just returned from a second golfing trip of the summer (August 2023) to the Surrey Heathlands, located to the southwest of London.
Keep an eye out for some additional content pertaining to the London trip - it is currently marinating in my head in advance of escaping into the computer over the coming weeks.
Until the next time, happy golfing!
Shane D