Noord-Nederlandse Golf & Country Club

The Noord-Nederlandse Golf & Country Club (abbreviated NNG&CC, Dutch for Golf & Country Club of the Northern Netherlands) is located on the historical De Poll estate in Groningen, Netherlands. The site is known for its beauty[1] and is covered by the Dutch national 'Natural Beauty Act' (Natuurschoonwet).[2]

Noord-Nederlandse Golf & Country Club
Club information
LocationGlimmen, Groningen,
 Netherlands
Total holes18
Websitenngcc.nl
Designed bySir Guy Campbell
Designed byFrank Pennink
Designed byDonald Steel
Par72
Length5709 meters
Course rating127

History

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1950s–1960s

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The Noord-Nederlandse Golf & Country Club was founded in 1950.[3] It was the first Dutch golf club to be established after World War II. From, members and guest played in a field next to Eelde Airport,[4][5] zoned and soon needed for the airport's development. Founding chairman was Syb Nijhoff.[6][7] Kees Poll led the physical construction of the temporary golf course in Eelde.[8]

In 1952 Willem Rost Onnes sold his country estate De Poll near Glimmen to the golf club. These 60 hectares are bordered on the east by two nature reserves: 'Westerlanden' and 'Besloten Venen', and on the west by the Drentsche Aa and the Meppel–Groningen railway.

The course, initially 9 holes, on the De Poll estate was designed by Sir Guy Colin Campbell and opened in 1954. This took up 42 ha.[9] The golf course was opened in 1954 by the Queen's Commissioner Edzo Hommo Ebels.[10] The house of Rost Onnes was transformed into the new clubhouse of the golf club. In 1957, Nijhoff was replaced as chairman.

Since 1960, NNG&CC organizes the annual Tromp Cup.[11] The Tromp Cup later also became the Dutch Junior Championship Stroke Play.[12][13]

1970s–1980s

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The 1977 Dutch train hijacking at De Punt, seen from the direction of the NNG&CC

During the 1977 Dutch train hijacking at De Punt, a command post was set up in the clubhouse, where 40 soldiers and marines camped.[14]

In 1984 the estate was expanded by 13 hectares, on which the golf course was expanded to 18 holes, designed by architect Frank Pennink.[15] During construction, a piece of forest with remainders of a pingo was purchased in 1986. During the expansion of the new holes, 3 hectares of coniferous forest were converted into deciduous forest and another 5 hectares of deciduous forest were planted. The new golf course was opened in 1987 by the Queen's Commissioner Henk Vonhoff.[16] The opening was supposed to be by the Queen's husband, Prince Bernhard, who canceled last moment.[16]

1990s–present

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In 1991 the clubhouse was expanded. In 1992 another 3.3 ha was purchased from a neighbor, after which the golf course was optimized until 1998 according to a design by architect Donald Steel. The holes are located in woods and on some meadows and part of the course is located in a park landscape with many rhododendrons.[11]

Due to the popularity of the course, in 2006 there was a minimum handicap requirement of 30 in the weekends.[17]

In the 2009 Tromp Cup, Reinier Saxton's track record of 67 was lowered to 66 by the winner, Willem Vork.[11][12]

References

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  1. ^ Brongers, Georg (1952). "Van 'Blankenborch' en 'Weerdenbras' tot Noord-Ned. Golf & Countryclub" (PDF). Maandblad Golf. Vol. 16, no. 7. pp. 218–220. Retrieved 2021-11-17 – via Golfgeschiedenis.
  2. ^ Ebbinge, Jan (1976). "Vredigheid in Groningen" (PDF). Maandblad Golf. No. 6. Retrieved 2021-11-17 – via Golfgeschiedenis.
  3. ^ "Vonhoff 'heropent' golfbaan". Nieuwsblad van het Noorden. 1987-09-22. p. 9. Retrieved 2021-11-10 – via Delpher.
  4. ^ Huygens, Stan (1976-05-25). "Golfclub startte op vliegveld". De Telegraaf. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-11-10 – via Delpher.
  5. ^ "De Noord-Nederl. Golf & Country Club in het geding" (PDF). Maandblad Golf. 1951. p. 112 – via Golfgeschiedenis.
  6. ^ "Noord-Nederlandse Golf en Country Club opgericht" (PDF). Maandblad Golf. No. 1. 1951. p. 11 – via Golfgeschiedenis.
  7. ^ Brongers, Georg (1951). "Noord-Nederlandse Golf & Country Club geopend" (PDF). Maandblad Golf. pp. 143–144 – via Golfgeschiedenis.
  8. ^ Brongers, Georg (1951). "Nieuws van de Noord-Nederlandse Golf en Country Club" (PDF). Maandblad Golf. No. 2 – via Golfgeschiedenis.
  9. ^ "Noord-Nederlandse Golfclub kreeg fraaie nieuwe baan; Op De Poll bij De Punt". Overijsselsch Dagblad. 1954-05-28. Retrieved 2021-11-13 – via Delpher.
  10. ^ "Nieuwe golfterrein van de N.N.G. en C.C. geopend; Commissaris der Koningin hees de clubvlag". Nieuwsblad van het Noorden. 1954-05-28. p. 9. Retrieved 2021-11-10 – via Delpher.
  11. ^ a b c "Weelde van rododendrons bij Groningen". Golf Weekly. Vol. 7, no. 30. 2012-10-04. pp. 10–11 – via Yumpu.
  12. ^ a b "NGF nieuws – Karlijn Zaanen en Max Albertus leiden na tweede ronde NK Strokeplay". Golfnet.
  13. ^ Timmerman, Niels (2018-05-22). "Alles in topvorm bij Trompbeker". Dagblad van het Noorden – via De Krant van Toen. Op de baan van de Noord Nederlandse Golf & Country Club strijden Nederlands grootste golftalenten tijdens Pinksteren om twee prijzen: de Trompbeker en de nationale titel voor junioren.
  14. ^ "Een jaar na de bevrijding bij De Punt; Een reconstructie met nieuwe feiten". Het Parool. 1978-06-10. pp. 23–24. Retrieved 2021-11-13 – via Delpher.
  15. ^ "Negen nieuwe holes golfbaan" [Nine new holes golf course]. Nieuwsblad van het Noorden. 1986-11-01. p. 13. Retrieved 2021-11-10 – via Delpher.
  16. ^ a b "Feestweek rond baanuitbreiding golfclub Haren" [Week of celebrations around course expansion golfclub Haren]. Nieuwsblad van het Noorden. 1987-09-14. p. 9. Retrieved 2021-11-13 – via Delpher.
  17. ^ McCord, Gary (2006). "Noord Nederlandse Golf & Country Club" [Golf & Country Club of the Northern Netherlands]. Golf voor Dummies (in Dutch) (3 ed.). Addison Wesley. p. 307. ISBN 9789043012171 – via Google Books.

Further reading

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53°07′14″N 6°37′54″E / 53.12064°N 6.63162°E / 53.12064; 6.63162