Kennemer Golf and Country Club

Kennemer Golf and Country Club was founded in 1910 and initially played on a modest layout near Zandvoort. Harry Colt was commissioned to design a full 18-hole course in 1927 on the coastal dune terrain that gives the club its distinctive character. Colt — who also designed Muirfield, Rye, and Sunningdale's New Course — recognised the duneland as ideal for heathland golf and created a routing that uses the natural ridges and hollows with characteristic economy. The Dutch Open has been held at Kennemer multiple times since the 1920s, establishing it as the Netherlands' benchmark professional venue.

The par-4 2nd plays from an elevated tee through a narrow gap in the dune ridges to a fairway that disappears behind a large dune — a blind tee shot requiring commitment and trust that rewards the accurate driver. The par-3 14th is the course's finest short hole: playing across a heather-lined valley to a plateau green that slopes away from the player, with the North Sea sand belt framing the background. Throughout the round, Colt's green complexes reward the patient approach rather than the aggressive line.

April through October is the season at Kennemer, with May and September particularly pleasant on the Dutch dune coast. The course is 25 kilometres west of Amsterdam and directly accessible by train to Zandvoort followed by a short taxi. Weekend summer days can be busy with Amsterdam day-trippers; weekday rounds offer a quieter experience. The adjacent Circuit Zandvoort (Formula 1) creates noisy Sundays during race weekends.

Kennemer is a private club with limited visitor access — contact the club directly for available visitor days. Green fees are not publicly listed; the club operates a formal visitor enquiry process. A handicap certificate is typically required. Visitors combining golf with Amsterdam can easily make a day trip from the city. Smart attire is required throughout the club.