Michiel van der Vaart has created a new punchbowl green as part of the first phase of work at Keppelse Golf Club in the Netherlands.

Spogárd & VanderVaart developed a masterplan in 2023, which focused on preserving the landscape of the Old nine and bringing the New nine more in line with those holes. The club also wanted to address the crossing on holes fourteen and fifteen, as well as shortening walks.

The first phase, which was completed in July 2023 and opened in June 2024, focused on holes ten and seventeen. “The moment you find the missing puzzle piece in such an assignment, a wave of adrenaline goes through your body,” said van der Vaart. “We measured the area of the two nines and quickly concluded that the New covers much more surface area, in percentage terms, than the Old. And with that I had the key in my hands – add a new hole on the newer land. One of the few places where there was enough space for a hole was a triangular shaped area, between the old tenth and eighteenth. It was just big enough to create a 136-yard par three… and the seventeenth was born!

“The tenth’s former green was perfect for playing to, but in a completely different direction. The walk from the new seventeenth to the eighteenth tee [former ninth] was shortened considerably. A new green for hole ten had to be built in the empty triangle. I utilised this area, which comprised a large depression with high mounds all around… I immediately thought, this must become a punchbowl green!

“The new routing has been put into use by the members and I understand that they are very satisfied. Walks between holes have been shortened by almost 200 metres. A nice bonus is that there are now 19 holes at Keppelse, which will be very convenient for when we renovate the Old holes in the coming years.”

A key aspect of van der Vaart’s masterplan, which will be executed in phases over the next few years, relates to the thirteenth and fourteenth. “One of the most important adjustments is the removal of these ‘old school’ intersecting holes,” he said. “This will simply be done by shortening the fourteenth to a par three. The thirteenth will also change considerably because we have purchased new land to the right of the hole. This will also benefit the playability of the par-five fifteenth. The Old holes will also have the beautiful undulation that the New nine has. All holes will also get new, larger green complexes.”