Bernardus set for Solheim drama

CROMVOIRT, Netherlands — Bernardus Golf has drawn comparisons to several different types of courses this week as it prepares to host the 2026 Solheim Cup.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda and her caddie, Jason McDede, see similarities to courses in Australia, particularly in the way the layout punishes wayward drives.

“It is a pretty tough golf course,” Korda said during her pre-tournament press conference. “It’s very narrow off the tee, so you have to hit it really good off the tee. Jason and I said it reminds us of a golf course in Australia, where there’s a lot of penalizing bunkers. But it also has a linksy feel to it.”

European rookie Lottie Woad, a two-time LPGA Tour winner, also sees a links influence, although she describes Bernardus more as a heathland course.

“I would say it’s heathland. Kind of links. There’s a lot of courses like that around where I live,” Woad said. “I compare it to Hankley Common. I would say it’s more of a second-shot golf course with a lot of runoffs everywhere, and the wind playing a big factor.”

US captain Angela Stanford expects the course to provide another challenge — firm and fast conditions, even after rain swept through the property earlier in the week.

“I think I get the feeling it’s going to play firm and fast,” Stanford said. “Even if we get some rain, I still think it’s going to play firm and fast. I think that’s how it’s meant to be played.”

That is precisely what Bernardus’ agronomy team has been working toward for its Solheim Cup debut: a firm, bouncy heathland-style test that rewards accuracy and imagination.

Designed by Kyle Phillips, whose portfolio includes The Grove in England and Kingbarns Golf Links in Scotland, Bernardus blends characteristics of both venues while developing an identity of its own.

Set among farmland and Cape Dutch-style homes south of Amsterdam, the property is strikingly peaceful. Trees line the fairways, birds provide a constant soundtrack and horses grazing nearby add to the rural atmosphere.

That tranquility, however, is expected to disappear once competition begins, with fans providing the noise and energy that traditionally define the Solheim Cup.

The relatively flat property is also spectator-friendly, with numerous vantage points offering views of multiple holes.

Visually, Bernardus is dominated by green and brown, with water hazards and large, strategically placed bunkers providing contrasting hazards. Short sandy dunes frame many of the fairways and greens, covered with fescue and gorse — vegetation chosen partly for its low water requirements.

Sustainability is a major part of the course’s identity. Bernardus follows a “brown is the new green” philosophy, using fewer resources to maintain the property. Rather than relying heavily on chemicals, the agronomy team monitors the health of the soil by tracking its bacteria and fungi.

The course may look straightforward from tee to green, but subtle fairway undulations and heavily contoured putting surfaces can create problems, particularly when conditions become firm and the wind picks up.

Bernardus is also shorter than several previous Solheim Cup venues, leading players to expect plenty of birdies and aggressive match play.