New official reports highlight great golf participation growth across Europe. According to the EGA (European Golf Association) reports, there are currently 10.6 Million golfers playing the sport among The R&A’s European Affiliates and in the EGA members’ markets, a healthy increase from the 7.9 million last monitored for 2016.
Since the pandemic, the sport fans had to get used to follow their favorite sports through the screen. Teams and organizers suffered the hard consequences economically speaking because of the decreasing number of affiliates. However, golf has come out stronger, and the reason is simple – The players are outside, it is easy to keep the social distance at all times, and it reconnects you with the world after a global lockdown.
Golf Participation Growth in Sweden
Markets with a greater proportion of registered golfers include Spain and Sweden (10% independent / 90% registered). “We believe that counting independent golfers together with those who are registered as club members gives a more accurate view of the total number of golfers playing on a full-length course each year and reflects how the sport is being consumed from country to country.” – Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A.
Since 2019, Swedish golf participation increased by 54.6k golfers. Reports situate Sweden 3rd in the leaderboard of countries with the highest number of new registered golfers. Nowadays, there are 600,000 golfers in Sweden and 650 courses. Due to the rapid increment of new participants, the course demand has also grown. This is a gap to cover that could potentially pump up the National federations and Organizations to continue to expand the interest in golf among the Swedish population.
Women’s and Junior Participation – The biggest increment
Regarding women’s golf, there’s also a clear increase in Europe. Only in Sweden, the female participation increased by 27%, which translates into 129,949 new golfers. The sport of golf almost benefit from the global Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, there’s no denying that this is an unique opportunity to mediatise women’s golf and make more visible the quality among women golfers.
The Swedish are well-known for inculcating sports education in children from an early age. There’s also a reflection of that on the new reports by the R&A. Sweden leads the top of the list of European countries that has increased the number of junior participation. The junior enrolment has risen by 11%, or in other words, 61,839 new kids practice now the sport of golf. Junior participation is specially important because it represents the quarry of the future national teams.
GIRONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 17: Jens Dantorp of Sweden plays his tee shot on the 1st hole during Day Four of the Emporda Challenge at Emporda Golf Club on October 17, 2021 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
Jens Dantorp is aiming to build on his recent good run of form as the 2021 Road to Mallorca arrives at its penultimate stop at the Challenge Costa Brava.
The Swede has finished inside the top 15 in six of his last seven European Challenge Tour starts, including a seventh place finish at last week’s Empordà Challenge, the first of back-to-back events at Empordà Golf.
Climbing the Road to Mallorca rankings
The 32-year-old is currently 28th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, with only this week’s Challenge Costa Brava and the season-ending Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A left on the 2021 schedule, and Dantorp has a first victory since the Ras Al Khaimah, 2017 Golf Challenge in his sights – as well as a spot in that all-important top 20.
The Swede comments on his recent stellar performance
“The last part of the season has been pretty good for me,” he said. “It feels pretty good, I’ve been up there a few times but haven’t really got the job done. Hopefully I can get it done in at least one of the last two.
“My main goal this season was to finish inside the top 20, this is a good course and I know the course at the Grand Final is a good one as well so hopefully two good weeks are coming up, you know the game plan now so you just have to go out there and do it again.”
The 2013 Rolex Trophy winner has recorded nine top 20 finishes on the 2021 Road to Mallorca and believes this year it is all down to the fine margins having finished in 11th place on four separate occasions.
“I’ve wanted to be up there in the top five,” he said. “Overall, in terms of how I have played I feel pretty happy with that. There are small margins as to whether you’re in the top five or even 11th place, in which I have been four times this year, so hopefully I can have those margins on my side for the last two.
“I’m happy but not too happy. I’ll be happy if I am finishing in the top 20. If I get a win here obviously it’s going to help a lot, I can’t affect what the other people are doing, I just need to focus on getting my job done and hopefully that will be enough to win one of the two.”
Road to Mallorca Number Nine Marcel Schneider joins Dantorp in the field this week as he looks to cement his European Tour card for the 2022 season after recording two wins this year, while Frenchman Julien Brun, the winner of last week’s Empordà Challenge, will also tee it up at the Challenge Costa Brava.
The 2021 Challenge Costa Brava gets under way at 8:20am local time on Tuesday October 19, with Dantorp teeing it up at 8:50am alongside Spaniard Lucas Vacarisas and Nicolai Kristensen of Denmark.
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.
