Holland’s national treasure and his love for golf

Holland’s national football treasure, Willem van Hanegem celebrates his 75th birthday today, (20th February 2019).  The Dutch media have been busy all week with special tributes on television and radio as well as features in national newspapers to honour one of the country’s best ever footballers.  But did you know that he is an enthusiastic golfer too?

 

At Golfing Inspirations, we’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Willem van Hanegem on a number of occasions.  The location?  The golf course, of course!  It’s where up until his prostate cancer health problems in January 2018 that you would have found him at least four times a week.  He has since been given the all-clear and is back playing golf again, busy analysing football matches on the box and writing columns for the ‘Algemeen Dagblad’ in his unique, outspoken manner.

 

The ‘Kromme’ and the cronies on the golf course

 

Golf is a pastime that Willem has been enjoying since his late fifties when he was advised by his doctor to take it up for health reasons.   In celebration of his 75th birthday today and his love of the game, we recommend you take a look at a Dutch television interview on ‘YouTube’ that he gave on the ‘Pauw & Witteman Talkshow’ in September 2010: ‘Willem van Hanegem over golf en voetbal’. 

 

It’s wonderfully entertaining with Willem portrayed as a golf addict enthusing about ‘the little white ball’ instead of airing his frustration about the state of Dutch football.  The left-handed golfer has a fascination for the game and confesses to “having red trousers and no handicap”.  Indeed, he finds handicap rules “annoying”.  Although he does admit to there being “a number” on his handicap certificate: 19. Yes, Willem van Hanegem in full slow flow as we love to hear him!

 

 

“I don’t have a handicap.

It’s annoying to have to put cards in for a handicap!”

– Willem van Hanegem

 

 

“De Kromme”, as he was fondly nick-named in his hay day because of his bandy-legs and his ability to curve the ball, had an illustrious football career as a mid-fielder.  He played alongside the legendary Johan Cruijff in the Dutch national team on numerous occasions in the Seventies in what was to become a glorious period in Dutch football history.  In 1970, ‘De Kromme’ won the World Cup with Feyenoord and four years later he won the UEFA Cup with the team from Rotterdam.

 

We look forward to meeting you on the golf course again soon, Willem.  Until then, Happy Birthday! “Gefeliciteerd!”

 

Wendy Hoad  

 

 

ENJOY LISTENING to Holland’s national football treasure too! This one remains our favourite:  Willem van Hanegem “Flashback”.  Just how fanatic a golfer is he?  You can find out more by checking out Celebrity Golf Interviews at Golfing Inspirations.  

 

 

PICTURED: Willem van Hanegem playing at the Kennemer in 2014.

© Photography by Golfing Inspirations.