Golf in Flanders, a joint initiative between the Flemish Federation, GolfVlaanderen, and VisitFlanders (Flemish Tourist Board), has continued its partnership in 2018 with the European Golf & Travel Media Association to promote the destination to the international golf & travel media.
The Belgian Knockout, organised by Thomas Pieters’ family, sees the revival of the last in 2000 held Belgian Open won by Lee Westwood.
Thomas Pieters, European Tour Player and organiser of the Belgian Knockout: “I’ve always been proud of where I came from and Antwerp is my home. To have the opportunity to show to my friends on tour the golf courses in my region but also what else we have to offer is pretty special. To have an international media presence at our inaugural event will be great for the future of our event but also for the development of golf in Belgium.”
The international journalists will spend a couple of days touring Flanders and play several of Flanders’ best golf courses. The tour starts with a round at the Oudenaarde Golf & Country Club. Situated in the Flemish Ardennes, well known to cyclists for the Tour de Flanders, the 36 hole facility is wedged between the river Schelde, ultimately passing through Antwerp, and the 19th century Petegem Castle. From there the tour stops at the Royal Antwerp Golf Club, Belgium’s oldest golf club (1888) and second oldest on the European continent. Needless to say a club with a rich history in golf and at its present site since 1912 with the hand of Tom Simpson. The third stop is the Royal Limburg Golf Club. In Belgium, a club can add the Royal seal once it marks its 50th anniversary. Royal Limburg was found in 1966 and Fred Hawtree designed a tree lined and sand based course which offers ideal conditions for tournament golf. The course was named the Nr. 1 course in Belgium on various occasions.
Before descending on Rinkven International Golf Club where the Belgian Knockout is being held, delegates will also take in 9 holes on a small and friendly but ambitious golf club in Beveren, near Antwerp. The Port of Antwerp, first mentioned in the 13th century, is now Europe’s second largest port. As all available land was taken, the port had no more room to expand on the ‘right bank’ so a plan was formed to expand on the other ‘left bank’. In order to achieve that, a lock had to be built in Kallo. The Golfclub Beveren occupies a piece of land between the lock and the river Schelde. As it is completely sand-based, the conditions are perfect to create an ‘inland links style’ course and the young Belgian architect Dimitri Van Hauwaert has taken that brief on board.
Jo Maes, President European Golf & Travel Media Association adds: “The Belgian Knockout is a great development for golf in Belgium and the fact that GolfinFlanders can use that event to showcase a number of journalists what our region has to offer is an added bonus. After our couple of rounds of golf, we will attend and promote the Belgian Knockout and help to make it the success it deserves to be. We will also spend, what will undoubtedly be some quality time in Antwerp.”
Belgium has one of the most extensive road networks in Europe and to sample how easy it is to get round from course to course, Hertz Car Rental has kindly offered the use of two shuttle busses to transport journalists. Hertz has a long standing history with golf and has been involved with Arnie’s Army Charity work for 3 decades during the Bay Hill Tournament.
Henk Van Den Helder, General Manager Hertz Benelux: “Hertz and golf go hand in hand as we already supply many golfers worldwide with wheels to get to their favourite golf course. It’s a market segment that has been untapped in the Benelux. Aligning ourselves with the Golf in Flanders initiative and being associated with the Belgian Knockout can only be beneficial to all partners involved. We are extremely happy to be able to show the international media the quality of our service.”
Apart from playing golf, delegates will have the opportunity to take in some of the sights and sounds of life in Belgium. As we will be staying in and around Antwerp, being in one of Europe’s greatest cities with its history and social buzz will surely entice journalists to promote the region.
ENDS
Information for Journalists
EGTMA stands for European Golf & Travel Media association. Started in 2006, the EGTMA has organised over 50 media events in various countries. These events have resulted in media exposure with an EAV (Equivalent Advertising Value) in the millions of Euros for destinations and courses visited during these media trips. EGTMA is a member’s organisation.
The EGTMA resides under the umbrella of par4our Ltd, a global golf consultancy company providing a variety of services and support with regards to media, marketing and technology.
GolfVlaanderen or the Flemish Golf Federation governs the sport of golf in Flanders as a result of the devolved institutions in Belgium. Their mission is to elevate the sport of golf working on three pillars... increase the number of players, increase the number of clubs and improving the quality of golf players and clubs in general via education.
golfinflanders.com is the initiative, brand and website used to provide golfers with information about the golf offering in the region.
Flanders has 25 golf clubs of 18 holes or more and 27 clubs with 9 holes or less. The Belgian Open was last played in Royal Zoute in 2000 which Nick Faldo and others claimed to be one of the best courses on the then European tour rota.
Media Contact for more information and images:
Jo Maes, President of the EGTMA
Tel +353.1.442.9016
skype: jo_maes
email: jo.maes@me.com