Is named Bernardus Golf, but for the Armada, of course, he has already become ‘Bernardo’. It is a golf course that debuts this week in the European Tour. It is, therefore, the great protagonist of Dutch Open, one of the most traditional stops on the circuit that has been played in the land of tulips since 1972 without interruption. Only last year’s edition was lost because of the coronavirus, of course.
There is always anticipation when a field appears new on the European Tour, and even more so in a tournament that has been played for so long. ‘Bernardo’ will be the ninth different track to host the Dutch Open. The first impression has been very good. The players are delighted. It is a design of Kyle Phillips open to play in 2018. I mean, it’s very modern. It is not a link, but it does try to imitate it in some concepts. For example, the greens are made of fescue, rather slow, and the fairways are protected by dunes and the classic link bushes. “It reminds me a bit of Kingsbarns, also designed by Phillips, although I like this field better by design. Kingsbarns it has views that are incomparable, but from the point of view of the game I prefer this one ”, he affirms Gonzalo Fernandez Castaño.
Other peculiarities of the field that resemble the links style is that some fairways are shared and that the bunkers are real traps. In addition, the greens are protected by quite pronounced escape zones, so failing on the bad side means leaving a complex recovery. “It is a great field and I am convinced that it will attract attention on television,” says Gonzalo.
One detail that makes it different from other courses on the European Tour is that the 1st tee is on the putting green. Not very close, close or close, but on the same putting green. It is very large and allows space to be shared. “Luckily we came out with a driver on hole 1, because if it becomes an iron hole it would give a bit of a thing,” he jokes Alfredo Garcia Heredia, another of the Spaniards present this week in Holland and author of this photo of the 1 tee.
The fairways are hard in the links style, they are rather generous and the greens are receptive. If we combine these factors with a fairly favorable weather forecast, everything indicates that low results will be seen. Only the wind could prevent a good birdie festival. The greens are in impeccable condition, which will help all those who are comfortable with the putter to perform.
The Phillips design is liking a lot because it is so varied. It is a complete course, which successfully combines long pairs 4 with other shorts, a pair of pairs 3 of 4 iron and 5 iron and another two of 8 and 9 iron. attract attention, even though the first impression was rather cautious since it is in the middle of nowhere in central Holland, north of Eindhoven and closer to Antwerp than Amsterdam.
Bernardus Golf is from this week a new territory to conquer for the Spanish in Holland. The success of ours in these parts has been more than remarkable. Of the eight courses that have hosted the Dutch Open until Bernardo’s arrival, ours have won in half. Seve, what a barbarian, he won in three different venues (Kennemer G&CC, Noordwijkse GC and Hilversumsche GC), Sergio garcia did it in the last edition of 2019 in The International, Miguel Angel Jimenez won at Hilversum, Jose Maria Olazábal and Kennemer y Gonzalo Fernandez Castaño also in Hilversum. Spectacular record of the Navy in these lands of the Oranje.
By the way, to finish off with ‘Bernardo’, the players are amazed with the practice area and, especially, with the short game area. “It is surely the best I have seen in my life,” says Gonzalo. And be very careful with this statement, since Gonzalo has played throughout his life in more than one or two fields and among the best in the world … Big words.
