A look at the current situation regarding Covid-regulations throughout Europe.
The numbers of Covid infections in Europe have been rising drastically for weeks now, which has led to new rules and guidelines. It is not easy to keep track of in which country golf can still be played. Here is a little overview over the respective regulations that currently apply in several European countries.
In Germany there are currently contact restrictions which only allow golf flights with an maximum amount of 2 people. However, this means that the golf courses will remain open. Decisions are ultimately taken by the regional authorities, which means that stricter regulations can still come in German states with high infection numbers.
In Spain, there is a nationwide nighttime curfew and almost all of Spain’s regions have imposed regional border closures to prevent long-distance travel. Within Spain, however, it is still permitted to travel. Concerning golf, the central government has empowered the individual regions to take further decisions. So it depends on where exactly you are in Spain and what the local authorities decide.
In England there will be a country-wide lockdown coming into effect on Thursday, the 5th of November, which will last until December the 2nd. The Government has confirmed that golf courses and driving ranges will be among the businesses and venues ordered to close when the country begins a month-long shutdown. Ireland and Wales are in a two-week lockdown since the 23rd of October. Golf is also affected by this, as the courses are currently all closed. In Scotland the golf courses are not affected and golf can still be played.
Despite stricter regulations in some regions of Sweden, golf courses may remain open and golf can be played when keeping distance.
While all indoor activities must be stopped in Austria with the new lockdown in November, the golf courses will remain open.
In France, the situation has been declared by the French Golf Association, who published a notice giving details of new restrictions. These have a direct impact on the golf sector and will result in a temporary closure of French golf clubs throughout the country from Thursday, the 29 of October to the first of December.
In the Netherlands, golf can still be played in accordance with the distance rules. Under certain conditions even tournaments are allowed
The respective guidelines are constantly changing and are appointed according to the current situation of infections. What is currently valid may already be out of date by tomorrow. If you are unsure whether you can currently play in your region, you should check with your golf club in advance.
The Randpark Golf Club in Johannesburg. (Photo: Getty)
The co-sanctioned tournament with the Sunshine Tour, which will feature a prize fund of R19.5 million, will be played at Randpark Golf Club with support from the City of Johannesburg, and will be the first international men’s golf tournament on South African fairways in nine months. It will also be the first of a run of tournaments co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the Sunshine Tour, with further announcements to come.
The Joburg Open was first contested in 2007 and boasts an impressive array of past winners such as Major champion Charl Schwartzel and multiple European Tour champions including: George Coetzee, Darren Fichardt, Branden Grace, Haydn Porteous, Richard Sterne and Andy Sullivan.
It last featured on the European Tour International Schedule in December 2017, when it formed part of the early 2018 season, and was won by India’s Shubhankar Sharma.
European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley said: “I am delighted to see the Joburg Open back on our schedule this year. We have a wonderful relationship with the Sunshine Tour stretching back over many years and this co-sanctioned tournament is another example of that.
“I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Johann Rupert, Thomas Abt, Selwyn Nathan and everyone at the Sunshine Tour for their commitment in making this happen, in addition to the Executive Mayor and the City of Johannesburg for their help and support.”
Councillor Moloantoa Geoffrey Makhubo, the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, said: “We are delighted to announce the return of this world-class golf tournament to our world-class African city. Since the inception of this tournament in 2007, our vision has been that the Joburg Open must benefit all the residents of Johannesburg.
“Now more than ever, as our economy requires a boost following the COVID-19 lockdown and with our President publicly calling for a new business stimulus, the return of the Joburg Open is perfectly-timed to contribute significantly towards this cause as it brings a major international event to our city once again.”
Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour, said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome back the Joburg Open to our schedule in what is also a momentous moment for South African professional golf as we also welcome back international competition to our fairways after a lengthy break.
“I’d like to the thank the Mayor and the City of Johannesburg for so graciously supporting us for the duration of the South African Open’s hosting in Johannesburg, and we are delighted that we can announce the return of a much-loved tournament amongst the residents of Johannesburg.”
Tyrrell Hatton and Aaron Rai with their trophies. (Photo: Getty)
The European Tour’s consecutive autumn Rolex Series events recorded a significant increase in viewing figures and engagement, continuing the recent surge in consumption of live golf in 2020.
Sky Sports, the European Tour’s UK broadcast partner, reported the highest recorded viewing figures for European Tour events since data collection began, with the tournament average figures for the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and last week’s BMW PGA Championship up 81 per cent compared to 2019.
Englishman Aaron Rai defeated Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwood in a play-off at The Renaissance Club to win his first Rolex Series title at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and a week later Tyrrell Hatton claimed his third Rolex Series victory, finishing four shots clear of Frenchman Victor Perez at Wentworth Club.
Both tournaments were played without spectators as the European Tour continues to operate a tournament bubble as part of the Tour’s health strategy based on UK government guidelines.
Instead, fans have been turning to their TVs and digital devices to stay in touch with the European Tour’s events, with the back-to-back Rolex Series events providing a premium viewer experience through enhanced broadcast and digital coverage.
Innovations included the introduction of TopTracer4K, an overall increase in the use of TopTracer to a total of nine tees, alongside the popular TopTracer fairway, enhanced augmented graphics, integrated aerial coverage from drones and the plane cam, shot by shot live statistics and enhanced audio from players and caddies. Viewers also continued to be brought closer to the action through the Sky Cart, in-round interviews and tournament winners celebrating their victories with their family via greenside video calls.
Live Golf is booming
Furthermore, highlights of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and BMW PGA Championship also proved popular on terrestrial television in the UK, with peak figures of more than 750,000 on the BBC.
In addition to bumper viewing figures, the fortnight of Rolex Series events also recorded the 2020 season’s highest social media impressions, collectively exceeding the totals from their respective 2019 editions by five per cent.
The success of the two Rolex Series events further demonstrated the sustained boom in demand for live golf since the resumption of the 2020 European Tour season, with viewing figures for the six-tournament UK Swing in July and August 64 per cent higher than the Sky Sports 2019 average for European Tour events.
Rufus Hack, the European Tour’s Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of European Tour Productions, said: “It has undoubtedly been a significant operational accomplishment to stage these events in the current circumstances and we have made a substantial investment in our health strategy to create the safest possible environment to continue providing live golf. We are therefore delighted with the response from fans on our broadcast and digital platforms, both across the two Rolex Series events which have created a real festival fortnight of golf, but also since our resumption in July.
“We all badly missed live golf when it was suspended in April and May and these figures certainly underline the demand that exists to watch and enjoy live coverage of our sport. Although we dearly miss fans being able to attend our events in person, through the latest innovations and with the support of our key broadcasters and partners, we are able to offer the most insightful viewer experience possible.”
Jason Wessely, Sky Sports Director of Golf said: “We’re delighted to see the continued interest in Sky Sports Golf coverage and it’s fantastic to see how many people enjoyed the two recent Rolex Series events.
“Our team continues to work hard in testing times to bring the best golf coverage to Sky Sports subscribers and we look forward to bringing our customers plenty more world class golf in the coming weeks.”
Following the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA won by Lee Westwood in January, the Rolex Series concludes with the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates from December 10-13.
Alongside broadcast and digital innovations, the European Tour’s 2020 season will also continue to be underpinned by its #GolfforGood initiative, which has been raising money for charities and rewarding the true heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last week, David Howell’s hole-in-one at the BMW PGA Championship secured a donation of £71,675 for the tournament’s official charity, the Alzheimer’s Society, from tournament title sponsor BMW. That took the overall amount raised by #GolfforGood so far to £902,091.
Michelle Wie West is named for the second assistant captain at the Solheim Cup 2021. (Photo: Getty)
Wie West will join the previously announced Angela Stanford to work alongside Hurst when Team USA faces off with Team Europe at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, on Sept. 4-6.
“Naming Michelle as an assistant captain was an incredibly easy decision for me,” said Hurst. “She reached out to see if she could be involved with the team, and I quickly knew that I wanted her as one of my assistants. She’s out there playing with the younger players, and since I’ve been off the Tour for a while, that’s a crucial asset for me to have, first with Angela and now with Michelle. I can’t wait to work with this team as we look forward to our week at Inverness Club next year.”
Solheim Cup: Wie West naming for assistant captain
“When I heard that Pat had been named the captain for Team USA, I immediately knew that I had to be part of her team,” said Wie West. “Pat was my POD leader when we played in Germany and Iowa and I learned so much from her leadership and friendship. Those weeks were great opportunities to learn from one of the best players and coaches I know, and to work alongside her is going to be an amazing experience.”
Wie has been a member of the LPGA Tour since 2009. She has five LPGA Tour victories, including a major title at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open. She has competed in five Solheim Cups, representing the USA in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. She went an undefeated 3-0-1 in her Solheim Cup debut in 2009, when she became just the second LPGA Tour rookie in history to play on Team USA. Wie West also represented the USA at the 2018 UL International Crown.
Five-time Solheim Cup participant
“My five times playing for Team USA at the Solheim Cup and wearing the Red, White and Blue – those are incredible highlight moments in my career,” said Wie West. “This next step as an assistant captain is going to be yet another highlight moment, and I’m so grateful to Pat for giving me this opportunity. Our week in Toledo next year is going to be an absolute blast.”
Prior to joining the LPGA Tour, Wie West enjoyed a standout amateur career that saw her capture the 2003 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship at age 13. The same year, she became the youngest amateur to make the cut at an LPGA Tour event when she reached the weekend at the ANA Inspiration, a record that still stands.
Wie West is a 2012 graduate of Stanford University with a degree in Communications, earning her degree while playing full-time on the LPGA Tour. She recently joined Hurst as one of the #LPGAMoms on Tour, giving birth to daughter Makenna on June 19, 2020.
The Rolex Ranking will
will resume with changes. (Photo: Getty)
The Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings (WWGR) Board of Directors today announced a plan to resume the rankings with a temporary modification which focuses on the individual athlete and the weeks when she competes.
The Rankings were paused the week of March 16, 2020, as professional women’s golf remained inactive due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No WWGR affiliated Tours competed until the week of May 11, at which time the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) resumed tournament play. Since the week of May 11, the KLPGA has completed seven WWGR tournaments, with the Ladies Professional Golf Association of Japan (JLPGA) completing one.
New modification for rankings
With the modification, on a week an athlete competes, her individual points, average points and divisors will continue to change and age based on her performance and her overall position on the Rankings will be reflected based on that performance.
On a week when an athlete does not compete, her individual points, average points and divisors will not change or age. However, her overall position on the Rankings could shift based on the performance of other athletes who are competing.
“Fair solution for the athletes”
“The WWGR Board was keen to find a solution that was as fair as possible for the majority of athletes whether competing or not during this unprecedented time. As a level of uncertainty around Member Tours’ tournament schedules continues, focusing on the individual athlete and the weeks she competes made the most sense.” said Executive Director of the WWGR Board, Heather Daly-Donofrio. “While the Board understands there is no perfect solution in these challenging times, we believe we landed on an approach that is reasonable for athletes and also protects the integrity of the ranking system.”
This individual athlete approach will begin retroactively with the week of May 11 (with a published ranking date of May 18). Rankings for an athlete will continue to be computed on a 104-week rolling period, but that 104-week rolling period will differ based on how much an athlete plays while the modification is in place. Weeks when an athlete does not compete will not count towards her individual 104-week rolling period.
Weeks between March 16 through May 11, when there was no tournament play, will not be factored into the 104-week rolling period for any athlete on the Rankings. The WWGR will be run in chronological order backdating to the start of the KLPGA schedule. Rankings for each week thereafter will be published but only recalculated on weeks where at least one Ranking tournament was completed.
During this approach, weeks of non-play for any individual athlete that happened during the pause will continue to be omitted until the player has a full 104-week period of Rankings tournament play.
The Rankings will revert to its historical approach of running Rankings each week regardless of tournament or athlete play in due time. The WWGR will continue to monitor when this will happen based on the restart of its Member Tours and the participation of the top 200 athletes on the Rankings.
The 2020 Ryder Cup is postponed until next year. (Picture: Getty)
The PGA of America, Ryder Cup Europe and the PGA Tour jointly announced today that both The Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup have been rescheduled and will now be played one year later than originally planned.
The 43rd Ryder Cup, scheduled for the week of September 22-27 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, has been rescheduled for the week of September 21-26, 2021.
Ryder Cup rescheduled
Likewise, the 2021 Presidents Cup, initially scheduled for September 30-October 3, 2021 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, will now be played September 19-25, 2022.
Additionally, as a result of the Presidents Cup date change, the Wells Fargo Championship will be played at its traditional venue at Quail Hollow in 2021 and at TPC Potomac in 2022, during Presidents Cup year.
The decision to reschedule The Ryder Cup was made based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in conjunction with the state of Wisconsin and Sheboygan County, with the health and well-being of all involved as the top priority.
“Unlike other major sporting events that are played in existing stadiums, we had to make a decision now about building facilities to host The 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh.
“It became clear that as of today, our medical experts and the public authorities in Wisconsin could not give us certainty that conducting an event responsibly with thousands of spectators in September would be possible. Given that uncertainty, we knew rescheduling was the right call.
“We are grateful to Commissioner Jay Monahan and our partners at the PGA TOUR for their flexibility and generosity in the complex task of shifting the global golf calendar.
“As disappointing as this is, our mandate to do all we can to safeguard public health is what matters most. The spectators who support both the U.S. and European sides are what make The Ryder Cup such a unique and compelling event and playing without them was not a realistic option.
“We stand united with our partners from Ryder Cup Europe, the NBC Sports Group, Sky and our other broadcast partners around the world. We look forward to delivering The Ryder Cup’s renowned pageantry, emotion and competitive drama to a global audience in 2021.”
Presidents Cup is also postponed
Guy Kinnings, Europe’s Ryder Cup Director, said: “The Ryder Cup is rightly celebrated as one of the world’s greatest sporting occasions, made special and totally unique in our sport by the fervent atmosphere created by the passionate spectators of both sides.
“While that point is significant, it is not as important as the health of the spectators which, in these difficult times, is always the main consideration. We considered all options including playing with a limited attendance but all our stakeholders agreed this would dilute the magic of this great occasion.
“We therefore stand beside our partners at the PGA of America in the decision to postpone The Ryder Cup for a year and join with them in extending our thanks to the PGA Tour for their willingness to help by moving the date of the Presidents Cup.
“We also thank NBC, Sky and our many broadcast partners around the globe, in addition to the worldwide partners of this great event, whose support and commitment are second to none.”
With the decision to play The 2020 Ryder Cup in September 2021, all subsequent Ryder Cups after Whistling Straits will also shift to odd years: 2023/Marco Simone Golf and Country Club (Rome, Italy); 2025/Bethpage Black (Farmingdale, New York); 2027/Adare Manor (County Limerick, Ireland); 2029/Hazeltine National Golf Club (Chaska, Minnesota); 2031/Europe (to be determined); 2033/The Olympic Club (San Francisco); 2035/Europe (to be determined); 2037/Congressional Country Club (Bethesda, Maryland).
Off the momentum of the 2019 Presidents Cup played in Melbourne, Australia, the 14th playing of the Presidents Cup, will now be hosted for the first time in the Southeast United States at Quail Hollow Club in 2022.
“These two premier international team events are lifted by the spirit of the fans,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan. “With the uncertainty of the current climate, we fully support The Ryder Cup’s decision to delay a year in order to ensure fans could be a part of the incredible atmosphere in Wisconsin, and the delay of this year’s Presidents Cup was the right decision in order to allow for that option.
“We are thankful that our global partners, our friends at Quail Hollow Club and all associated with the Presidents Cup and the Junior Presidents Cup have approached this change with a unified, positive spirit. We are confident the move will give us even more runway as we bring the Presidents Cup to Charlotte in 2022.”
The "9 Worlds of Golf" in Amstelveen are settled around a circular driving range. (Photo: Golfcentrum Amsteldijk)
Change in golf is a hot topic. Social transformations influence the demands of the golf market and of the golf clubs themselves. The approaches to mastering the challenges ahead are as unique as every club itself. Golf Post talks to the people managing golf clubs and shows how they envision the sport in the future. To learn more about the wide variety of golf courses in Europe, read our article series on Golf Post, the digital home for golfers.
Golfcentrum
Amsteldijk
Located in Amstelveen on the outskirts of Amsterdam, Golf Amsteldijk is a 30-minute ride from the very center of Amsterdam and it takes 20 minutes from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The club is embedded in a rather idyllic scenery on the border between urban and rural environments.
The fully-fledged 9-hole golf course with a-status was built next to the river Amstel. It was designed by Alan Rijks and opened in 2012. A main characteristic of this course is it’s abundance of water hazards given the course’s location in a typical Dutch polder landscape. Few trees hold back the wind that can be quite strong at times and forms a challenging environment for the long game. “Yes, our 9 hole course very unique and fun to play, but our main business is practice, coaching, and training”, explains Nick Verschoor operational manager at Golf Amsteldijk.
Focus on being a training center
In fact, Golf Amsteldijk puts its focus more on being a golf training center open to everyone than on running a golf course. The vision was an accessible golf center, where golfers can develop in every facet of this sport without going on a professional course straightaway. This was Tineke Loogman’s vision. Loogman herself is missing her left hand. She trained a lot and made up for lack of strength and lack of balance. Soon she played at a high level in the European Disabled Golf Tour and even won it in 2006. She is the owner of the Golfcentrum Amsteldijk, which is quite possibly the largest golf practice facility in Europe.
The bunker game can be trained in a special facility or on an a-level 9 hole course near the capital of the Netherlands. (Photo: Golfcentrum Amsteldijk)
Golf Amsteldijk offers „9 Golf Worlds“ dedicated to the different disciplines of the sport. “Every aspect of golf can be trained”, says Verschoor. A 300-meter long driving range has many targets at different distances. The world of chipping has over forty tee-off points with nine targets at a distance of 15 to 81 meters. Next to a pitching and a separate putting area of 5000 square meters, there is a special bunker training facility and many other options like 9 hole par 3 course for training purposes next to the a-level 9 hole course mentioned before. Except for the latter, you don’t need a handicap (the Dutch license to play is called “golfvaardigheidsbewijs“) and for the training facilities you don’t need to bring balls: “This is a unique service, but all golf balls you need to train are included”, says Verschoor, “we want to be a very accessible club and organize trial courses to give an affordable opportunity to try if golf is your sport.”
So, Golf Amsteldijk is specialized in golfer acquisition and tying them onto the sport and it holds pre-set 9 hole tournaments that count towards your handicap. “If golfers want to experience an 18 hole tournament, they have to go somewhere else. But if they want to play 9 hole or train their game again, they are always welcome back”, says Verschoor.
The golf course is located in a typically Dutch polder landscape. (Photo: Golfcentrum Amsteldijk)
However, the attitude towards accessibility or low-threshold access is impressively reflected in the golfing education of children. 70 children take part in each training program that place in summer (March to October) and winter (November to February). “We developed these programs in the past years. Our teaching pros are particularly qualified to work with minors and we connected to many schools in the neighborhood to present our services to them”, explains Verschoor and adds: “To be honest, the project didn’t work that well in the beginning. We started with less than 15 participants. It took a lot of time and effort until the people got familiar with the idea and valued it in the end.”
Today the golf school at Golf Amsteldijk is well-known in the area and contributes its part in rejuvenating the sport. As always it needs some stamina introducing new ideas to society but in the end, it pays off. There’s still a long way to go, Verschoor is convinced, if the Netherlands wants to catch up with Great Britain or the US. “I’ve been to the UK recently. People of all ages play there. The average age in the Netherlands is much higher.”
People are preferring 9 hole golf
But there are some general tendencies in the Netherlands that imply a change in golf. “People are preferring 9 hole golf. They can’t fit a long 18 hole round into their schedule anymore. Be it because of other leisure activities, be it because of work, in the end, people do not want to invest so much time in golf anymore.” This is why an extension on the golf course at Amsteldijk is no option at the moment.
Instead of expanding Amsteldijk intensifies the member-club-relationship. Next to small persuasive deals Amsteldijk offers a golf trip abroad once a year. “2019 some of our golf professionals organized a trip and a tournament in Cadiz in Spain and many members joined in. 2020 we’ll go to Morocco”, says Verschoor.
Verschoor and Amsteldijk don’t work in a trial-and-error method. In order to meet all requirements, they collect and analyze data concerning how many people are using the facilities, when, and where. In addition, Amsteldijk analyses the interdependency of people using the Golfcentrum and visiting the restaurant. “We hope that our data analysis systems will offer more and broader packages in the future”, says Verschoor. Because it is of utmost importance to monitor reliable data on customer trends. Verschoor is aware of the fact that his club is located almost perfectly on the outskirts of the Dutch capital. Many projects may work very well because the catchment area is densely populated and very good connected to public infrastructure, yet still embedded in rather idyllic scenery.
Golfcentrum Amsteldijk is embedded in a rather idyllic scenery on the border between urban and rural environments. (Photo: Golfcentrum Amsteldijk)
Based on
meaningful data the Golfcentrum decided to use the winter for implementing urban
offers by making some expensive but important changes to its facility. Golf
Amsteldijk now comes with a new restaurant and Top Tracer Range.
The previous restaurant had a good reputation and therefore slightly more non-golfing customers in the past already, but still, Golf Amsteldijk decided to renovate the Brasserie 10. “The restaurant won’t only re-open with new furniture, it is supposed to be an open place for everyone, golfing and non-golfing guests”, says Verschoor. The center of the new restaurant concept is a warm and welcoming atmosphere and a good price-performance ratio.
Freshly renovated is the restaurant Brasserie 10. (Photo: Golfcentrum Amsteldijk)
A recently started highlight is Top Tracer Range. Even though it’s out of season, all 10 bays are fully booked most of the time. “Top Tracer suits us very well. Firstly it is an excellent training device and secondly, it is a lot of fun. I think tracking technology is key to golf in the future and we want to be part of that”, says Verschoor. But, he adds, “Amsteldijk still focuses on golf training. Although Top Tracer attracts young people who have never played golf before, the main function remains sporting progress.” Both improvements of this winter correspond to the club’s philosophy of easy or low-threshold access to our sport.
Golf Amsteldijk celebrates the beginning of the new season with the public every April. “We call it the ‘Kick-off Dagen’ (Kick-off Days). It means free entrance for everyone, free trial lessons, workshops and demos with our pros, club fitting offers and a lot of fun”, says Verschoor. Because of the measures due to Corona, the feast had to be cancelled in 2020. “We’ll celebrate 2021 all the better for that,” says Verschoor. Now, after the lockdown golfing is possible at Amsteldijk since mid-May, the restaurant re-opened on the 1st of June 2020.
Thanks to all these efforts Amsteldijk is a growing and developing club. “Because of our monthly membership options, our numbers are decreasing in winter and increasing in summer. But the all-season comparison over the years shows that we are growing constantly”, Verschoor explains. The club has roughly 1600 members, about 200 of whom have a full membership. Full membership means that you have access to all the facilities and the 9 hole golf course all the time and may use the Top Tracer Range twice a month for free. Golf Amsteldijk offers further membership models in different price categories. “A full membership doesn’t make sense for every golfer, so why shouldn’t we offer other possibilities”, Verschoor asks rhetorically. Golf Amsteldijk is a good example of how to integrate an open and welcoming culture into a successful golf concept.
The LPGA announced that The Evian Championship will be canceled this year. (Photo: Getty)
Due to ongoing travel/border restrictions and government quarantine requirements as part of the COVID-19 pandemic, the LPGA Tour and The Evian Championship announced today that the tournament, scheduled for August 6-9, will not take place in 2020. The major championship will return to the LPGA Tour schedule in 2021 at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France.
LPGA: Mike Whan looks forward into the next year
“I have been incredibly impressed by the entire team at The Evian Championship. They worked so hard to host this global event despite the obvious challenges,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. “They know that high-pursed, career-changing events like The Evian are more important than ever, especially in an LPGA year that has been drastically reduced due to COVID-19. I know this was a tough decision for everyone involved, but it’s one that we had to take given the restrictions we faced.
“It is disappointing to miss a major championship but Evian’s strong history of showcasing the best female golfers will continue once again when we return in 2021. We look forward to being back on the mountain in Evian next year and for a long time to come.”
What is the current situation in the World Golf Ranking and the FedExCup? After a break of almost three months, the PGA Tour is back to a tournament. At the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, the professionals will meet to finally play again. With the re-start, players can also collect points for the world rankings and the FedExCup.
McIlroy at the top, chasers behind
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) was frozen for the time being after the tournament cancellations in March, but is now active again with the start of the Charles Schwab Challenge. This caused displeasure, especially in the camp of the European Tour, as it will not resume the tournament events until a few weeks later. Players see themselves at a disadvantage in order to collect important points for larger events and tournaments.
Rory McIlroy is still at the top of the world rankings. The Northern Irishman has a point average of 9,4474, which is calculated from the number of tournaments played and the points collected. At the end of last season, “Rors” made his goal clear with an announcement to Brooks Koepka, then number one. “I want to be number one in the world, I don’t care who holds it. This is on my radar and it’s definitely a goal of mine for next year.” Now the 31-year-old is going to do everything he can to defend that top spot.
Behind him are Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson in places 2-5. Th best Austrian, Bernd Wiesberger, has been in the top 30 since October 2019. Martin Kaymer, who like Wiesberger is not participating in the Charles Schwab Challenge, is 115th as the best German professional.
Youngster leads FedExCup
The FedExCup, the season ranking of the PGA Tour, will also be reactivated with the tournament on 11th June. Sungjae Im is currently leading the tournament with 1,458 points. The South Korean is just 22 years young and took his first victory on the American professional tour at the Honda Classic in March. Only one week later at the Arnold Palmer Invitational he snatched 3rd place.
Behind him there is Justin Thomas. The 27-year-old is at the front year after year due to his consistently good performance. In 2017 he already won the overall standings. He has also won two tournaments in the current season. In third place is the number one in the world: Rory McIlroy.
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - JUNE 08: Floral vandals take to the streets of Amsterdam to mark the opening of botanically inspired Kimpton De Witt hotel on June 8, 2017 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Kimpton De Witt hotel)
The Netherlands, home of European Tour professional Joost Luiten, has no shortage of prized golfing destinations for both veteran and beginner players alike. There are 250 golf courses located in The Netherlands and there is bound to be a suitable option for everyone. The following list provides an insight into some of the country’s best value golf destinations based on player experiences in a variety of different categories.
Golf In The Netherlands: What courses offer the best value?
Planning a trip to Netherlands and want to play a round of golf without breaking the bank? There is no shortage of options in this beautiful Western European country when it comes to getting a good value for your money. Arriving in The Netherlands you will find the locals to be extremely welcoming and friendly and you can expect the golf courses to be no different. Below are the highest rated golf clubs in The Netherlands that provide a great value based on Golf Post user reviews who have played the courses.
The Courses:
#1. de Peelse Golf
de Peelse Golf Club Overview:
de Peelse Golf Club, a parkland style course founded in 1991 and located in Limburg, Netherlands is a par 72 course offering a terrific value for the money and includes numerous amenities such as free use of the driving range prior to play, putting and chipping practice areas, and a full restaurant and bar. Men will find the course to play 5879m with a course rating of 71.7 and a slope rating of 129. Women will find their tees playing at 4986m with a course rating of 72.4 and a slope rating of 132.
Pricing:
As of 2019 the cost of play for 18 holes is €60 during peak season and €30 during the winter season. 9 holes will cost €40 and €20 respectively. Power golf carts are also available for an additional cost.
What Players Are Saying:
“Very varied landscape and many lakes”
“Great club terrace”
“An absolutely recommendable golf course, very close to Venlo.”
“Golf Club Roxenisse Includes an 18-hole par 72, an 18-hole par-3 golf course and a lesson and practice area with a generous driving range, putting greens, chip and pitch field and sand and grass bunkers. The golf course is open seven days a week and accessible to anyone with a GVB or EGA handicap.” (Per https://www.catharinenburg.nl/golfclub-roxenisse-melissant/)
Driving range and other practice facilities are available for use by the general public and passes may be purchased at the automated vending machines.
Pricing:
Greens fees for Golf Club Roxenisse are currently €47.50 for 18 holes during weekdays and €55 for 18 holes during weekends and public holidays. Both power golf carts and push carts are available for rent for €6 and €15 respectively per person
Tee Times and Reservations: No Reservations or Tee Times Permitted.
#3. De Texelse Golfclub
De Texelse Golfclub Overview:
“Golf Course De Texelse is an 18-hole par 72 golf course. A special golf course with dunes, very well-maintained fairways, water hazards and large, impeccable greens. The real challenge is at the 2nd nine, with a Scottish feel: great variety, plenty of undulations, deep (pot) bunkers, plenty of marram grass – of course – and super fast greens.” (Per texelse.com).
Men will find their tees playing 5787M while women will find their tees playing at 4976M.
For those looking for a quicker experience , De Texelse has a magnificent par-3 course that is sure to be fun for players of all levels.
Pricing:
Greens fees for De Texelse Golfclub are currently priced at €75 for 18 holes during the weekdays and €79.50 during the weekend. 9 holes will cost €42.50 during the weekdays and €47.50 during the weekend. The par 3 course is available to play during the week for €17.50 and €19.50 during the weekend. Push carts and powered golf carts are available to rent for an additional cost.
“Located in the middle of the beautiful, peaceful and romantic Maasduinen National Park is the Landgoed Bleijenbeek. An estate and golf course where Limburgish hospitality is freely available for the entirety of the Netherlands, thanks to its central location in the northern region of Limburg.Landgoed Bleijenbeek opened in 2005, and offers you a unique golf experience where you can feel like you’re in a rich landscape with old tree lines, a babbling creek, and a wonderful historical castle ruins” (per bleijenbeek.nl)
Pricing:
Greens fees for Landgoed Bleijenbeek are currently €45 for 18 holes during the week and €52.50 during the weekend. Playing 9 holes will cost €29.50 during the week and €33 during the weekend. The par-3 course at Landgoed Bleijenbeek will cost €24.50 during the week and €28 during the weekend. All day access to the practice facilities costs €6. Push carts and powered golf carts are available to rent for an additional fee.
What Players Are Saying:
“great landscape, wide fairways!”
“Very long distances between the lanes but still pleasant!”
Tee Times and Reservations: Please contact club for more information regarding tee times and reservations.
#5. Het Rijk van Nijmegen
Het Rijk van Nijmegen Overview:
Old avenues of trees, challenging waste areas and surprising blind holes determine the character of the 27 holes on the Groesbeek side of the course. The large differences in height offer a fantastic view up to Germany.
Pricing:
The current greens fees at Het Rijk van Nijmegen are €61 for 18 holes during the week and €73 for 18 holes during the weekend. Discounted rates are available for youth golfers and golfers holding a “golf circle card” will receive 20% off of their green fee.
