Kennemer

Posted by Michael on 24 October 2010 | 0 Comments | Tags: , , , , ,

 

- this is a note that Jamie wrote or the Kennemar club newsletter.

Geachte vrienden,


I??m Jamie Patton, one of two Kiwi lunatics playing a round of golf every day in 2010, around the world, to raise money for a kids program back home called The First Tee.  (Yes, every day...).  On Day 286 of our odyssey ?? which kicked off on 1 January in New Zealand ?? we had the pleasure of playing at Kennemer , our first stop in The Netherlands.

This year we??ve had the privilege of experiencing golf in many contrasting settings.  Each country we??ve travelled through (New Zealand, Australia, USA, Scotland, Ireland, England, Wales, France, Belgium and The Netherlands) has opened our eyes to the fascinating world of golf: how its traditions can be at the same time so different yet so similar.  Kennemer was one of the most interesting stops of the year, without question.

A friend of ours introduced us to the club, and we??re very grateful that he did.  Thijs de Greeff came across to play hockey for our club in Wellington, New Zealand last year ?? and given he was such a great guy we??ve kept in touch since.  (Thijs got six caps for the Dutch national team, and is also known as ??Wonderkid?).  The arrangements were made through the incredibly hospitable Pieter Aalders, whom is the father of a friend of Thijs??.  Pieter met us at the club before our tee off and welcomed us warmly to Kennemer .  

Both Michael and I were immediately struck by the originality of the clubhouse ?? we??ve seen nearly 300 this year but none like yours!  Both the thatched roof and the historic ambience of the club lounge impressed us greatly.  As did the delicious coffee and sandwiches we were treated to by Pieter!  After a nice chat around the table the time eventually came to make our way to the first tee.  It would be just myself, Michael and Thijs playing ?? unfortunately Pieter had other commitments.

We have been fortunate to play several Harry Colt courses this year (most recently, Sunningdale (New), last week), so knew we were in for a treat when Pieter explained Kennemar is one of his Dutch masterpieces (the best one, of course!).  Apologies were offered about the condition of the course ?? evidently the greens had just been punched and dressed ?? but we weren??t bothered one bit, and enjoy the course very much anyway.  Playing all this golf we are able to see past a course??s condition to the quality of its design, which in Kennemer??s case is very high.

Other than Thijs, we were fortunate to spot another Dutch celebrity, in the form of a famous racing driver (whose name I can neither pronounce nor spell).  We also heard the racing track in the distance, but rarely heard the sound of a birdie putt dropping ?? Kennemer 1: Kiwis 0.  And the wind was hardly blowing too.  While walking onto the 18th green Ronald the caddiemaster approached us with a book in his hand.  It was a collection of the top courses in Holland ?? one of which of course is Kennemar; a gift from Pieter.  We were so embarassed at this kind gesture, as Mr. Aalder had already been so hospitable before play.  Suffice to say it rounded off what had been a wonderful experience, among the most memorable of an action packed year.  

From Michael and me ?? a sincere thank you to Pieter Aalder and you, the members of Kennemer , for making our first stop in The Netherlands such an enriching one.  If anyone is coming down to New Zealand in the near future, please feel free to contact us if you??d like a game of Kiwi golf!  (Our contact details are on our website, www.puregolf2010, through which you are also able to make a donation to our charity ?? The First Tee ?? if you so wish).

Heel veel dank, groeten

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