The European Senior Tour will return to The Netherlands for the first time in nine years when The Royal Haagsche Golf and Country Club hosts the inaugural Van Lanschot Senior Open from 9-11 July 2010.
A three-year deal has been agreed between the Senior Tour and promoter This is Golf, which already organises the KLM Open on The European Tour and the ABN AMRO Ladies Open on the Ladies European Tour.
The inaugural tournament will have a prize fund of €250,000. In a Pro-Am format, the professionals will play with an amateur partner for the opening two rounds, with the final round on Sunday, 11 July being contested by professionals only.
Van Lanschot is the oldest independent bank in the Netherlands, with a history dating back to 1737. The bank specifically serves high net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs, offering high-quality services founded on integrated advice, personal service and customised solutions.
Floris Deckers, Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors of Van Lanschot, said: “This tournament is the ultimate form of client entertainment in golf. With the Van Lanschot Senior Open we can offer our clients a unique golfing experience by allowing them to participate in an official tournament on the European Senior Tour alongside golfing legends.”
The Royal Haagsche Golf and Country Club – more commonly known simply as The Hague – was founded in 1893 and is located six kilometres north of the city of The Hague, the Netherlands’ seat of government. The club moved to its current location in Wassenaar shortly after World War II.
It is the oldest golf club in the Netherlands. The club hosted the first Dutch Open in 1912 and then on 18 subsequent occasions in the period up to 1981, when Harold Henning of South Africa captured the title.
The Senior Tour previously visited the Netherlands for the Legends in Golf, England’s Michael Slater winning at Prise d’Eau in 1999. Crayestein Golf hosted the event in 2000 and 2001 with John Grace of the United States and Australian David Good capturing the title.
Martijn van der Meulen, co-director for This is Golf, said: “With the Van Lanshot Senior Open we bring another great tournament to The Netherlands. It is a great opportunity to bring back the legends of golf to our country on one of the most beautiful courses of The Netherlands. The tournament is also a result of the enormous growth in popularity that golf is undergoing in The Netherlands.”
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: “We look forward to returning to The Netherlands with a Senior event where the crowds are always very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
“We are extremely grateful for the support from Van Lanschot and congratulate This is Golf in bringing another professional golf tournament to fruition. Many of our members will have played at the marvellous Haagsche Golf and Country Club in previous Dutch Opens. Holding the tournament here again will bring back fond memories for players and spectators alike.”
European Tour www.europeantour.com
The Royal Haagsche Golf and Country Club www.khgcc.nl