De Texelse

“With 35 points and the best score by a woman on the practice day, the winner of two tickets to the Solheim Cup is... Andi White!"

This moment of glory proved that Mrs W probably plays better golf away from my beady eye.

We were both on the British team at the European Nations Cup for press golfing societies, but we were not partnered together during the three-day event. 

The break seemed to have worked wonders on the opening day, as I also played well.

The team talk afterwards focused on using this strong start as a springboard to success.

Sadly, success wasn't to be. Austria won the two-day competition, and the British team finished last of the ten competing nations.

Despite the result, we agreed that De Texelse was an exciting course with a vibrant clubhouse. 

It's part of a holiday complex on an island in the northern Netherlands, just a 20-minute ferry ride from the mainland. We stayed in one of the ample chalets, a 15-minute walk from the course.

De Texelse links, which features a nine-hole short course and excellent practice facilities, was completed by Alan Rijks in recent years. 

The original main course, designed by Rijks in 1996, had only nine holes and was reportedly limited by budget and topography, making it somewhat uninspiring. 

Rijks returned in 2014 to add nine new holes, now considered among the country's most dramatic, featuring stunning dunes and eye-catching water features. 

The whole project was completed in 2022, when the original front nine was brought up to the same high standard as the back.

Like Mrs W, my best performance came on the first of the three days.

The opening hole presents a water hazard down the left and the driving range to the right, but also offers a generous fairway; even a moderate tee shot leaves a short pitch into the green.

On our second day, our Dutch playing partner sank a spectacular 50-foot birdie putt, which sparked an avalanche of low scores. 

The par-four second hole is the first requiring a blind drive over the dunes on the left, though a wide bail-out area is available to the right.

The tricky fifth provided my champagne moment, thanks to a birdie three on the first day. 

This par-four demands a drive down the left side, perilously close to the fourth green. Heavy rough lurks for overly long shots. 

The approach crosses dunes, concealing a green nestled inside a stream, with bunkers to the right. My successful putt was taken from just a foot off the putting surface.

The seventh hole is a challenging par-five with water lining the right and a Himalayan bunker guarding the front. While strategy and safety offer the best route to par, bold play may be rewarded.

I wish I'd played more aggressively on the ninth, the most arresting hole on the front nine.

A lake, bristling with birds, runs down the left of the fairway, which doglegs right towards the green. 

Further water defends the ascending green, which is also flanked by three bunkers on the left. I played my second shot conservatively each day and regretted it during my final round when I was left with only 175 yards to the pin.

The back nine is on a different level in terms of both attractiveness and challenge. It was a shame we played it first on the two competition days; it felt like tackling the main event before the appetiser.

The 10th is a lovely par-three, featuring a huge green with gorgeous run-offs. Shots leaking far right risk finding the water hazard.

Comedy and drama were at the fore on the 12th during our final day, leading us to consult the rule book. 

This long par-three requires a clever tee shot to avoid two bunkers short of the green and one behind. 

I hit my shot too long and thinned the sand recovery; however, the ball struck my partner’s trolley and bounced directly onto the green. One opponent claimed a penalty should apply, but my partner successfully argued that it did not.

The closing holes at De Texelse perfectly combine quality, drama, and nature. 

The number of bird species in this part of the Netherlands is too great to count. Many were flying over for their winter migration as we tackled the 14th—a stunning par-four alongside a lake.

Driving over the grassy dunes to the right offers the best angle into its wildly undulating green.

The par-five 15th is easily the most challenging hole, particularly when playing into the wind. 

To avoid the thick, grass-covered dunes on the right, the tee shot must be long and accurate. On the final day, I hit a scorcher, followed by a three-wood up the ascending fairway, but still couldn't reach with a five-wood, which ultimately found a hump of thick grass guarding the target. 

Even players who reach the green can still find frustration on its swirling putting surface.

The 17th and 18th offer genuine scoring opportunities, provided the tee shots find the centre of the fairway. 

The former is a dogleg par-four requiring a long, ascending, blind approach over grassy rough to a perched green. 

The latter, conversely, requires a challenging tee shot over the centre of a giant Himalayan bunker down the right.

A shot driven slightly too far right risks being lost, while water down the left can also come into play before the three-tiered green. 

It's a nerve-jangling finale that, I can vouch, can either yield a comfortable par or cause great frustration.

Thankfully, the bar for celebratory or commiseration drinks is only a few steps away.