Ladies Open makes way for Golf Week
Interesting to hear that the Dutch Golf Federation (NGF) together with sports marketing bureau TIG are planning to give golf a bit of a shake-up in Holland. The organisers and promoters of the KLM Open and the Dutch Ladies Open have decided to scrap the Ladies European Tour event, which dates back to 1986 and has been sponsored by Deloitte for the last five years, and replace it with the Ladies Nations Invitational – a team event.
Naturally for defending champion Christel Boeljon, that’s a real shame. Holland’s leading lady golfer, who spends much of her time playing on the LPGA tour in America, won the championship last year in front of her home crowd at The International, Amsterdam where it was held for the third successive year. In doing so, the then 27-year old from Alkmaar became only the second Dutch player ever to win the event succeeding Liz Weima who won in Nijmegen back in 1994.
Silence is not so golden
The first edition of the Ladies Nations Invitational matchplay event tees-off at The International near Schiphol Airport from the 20th to 22nd May and forms part of the ING Private Banking Golf Week which also includes a club team event for amateurs.
And that’s not all. Apparently silence is no longer golden on the golf course these days. During the 3-day Golf Week, TIG and the NGF are planning to do away with most of the ‘silence boards’ traditionally used by marshals at professional golf tournaments. It seems the organisers are keen to create a more informal, fresh and not-so-stuffy image around the game of golf. An atmosphere that will encourage youngsters to go to The International in May and cheer loudly for their teams and countries.
It is hoped that the Golf Week will provide a kick-start to a whole new generation of young golfers. They boldly talk of reaching a target of 50,000 youngsters playing golf in Holland within the next 5 years. Time will tell.
So, if you fancy taking a stroll around the exclusive fairways of The International golf course and being part of the crowd cheering for your country in Solheim Cup style, make a note in your diary of the date (20-22 May) and check out www.inggolfweek.nl for more information. There are fun golfy things for the kids to do too, by the way.
Wendy Hoad
PICTURED ABOVE: The two Dutch Ladies Open Champions. Christel Boeljon on her way to victory in the 2015 Deloitte Ladies Open being interviewed by Tournament Director, Liz Weima, the first Dutch winner of the championship in 1994. BELOW: The not-so-welcome silence boards. © Photography by Golfing Inspirations.
