The IDHO 2025

The International Dutch Hickory Open has been held on 5-6 September on the Heide Golf Baan on the Ullerberg estate.

The roaring twenties came alive as the 14 guests presented themselves for the reception and dinner at the Grote Huis on the eve of the most authentic hickory event in the Netherlands, if not the world

Illustrious recurring guests like Jürgen Platzbecker and Andre dubbeldam and firsttimers like Fatima Al Rahdi, Pamela Sturhoofd and mrs. and mr. Xing, all dressed to kill, came together to spend a happy evening with good food, elegant wines and spirited conversations.

Next morning, on a fresh start of what promised to become a warm day, 22 players and 3 fans gathered in the Grote Huis to prepare for the challenges of the heather course that lay quietly in wait for them in all its splendour.
All players started, determined to make their mark, but as the hours passed and the heat was turned on, the first casualties could be noted. Among them, nonwithstanding their stylish attire, Lodewijk Knol, Jan Eelco de Boer, Fatima Al Rahdi. and Robin Bargmann, whose fabulously intricate non-woollen sweater was not enough to shield him from the exhaustion wrecked upon them by the heather. Dents in their ego's, if any, where quickly smoothed out by the traditional IDHO lunch and fresh drinks.

On the course, the game was on. The male section was dominated, as expected, by Iain Forrester, Perry Somers and Brian Gee. With the ladies, Marja Kom and Lily Waller ran a close match. So close in fact that they finished exactly equal and a shoot out on the lawn of the Grote Huis was needed to determine the winner. Even there, two rounds were needed to force a decision from which Marja Kom, with a beautifal shot, finally emerged victoriously.

So in the end the winners of the IDHO 2025 are a renovated Brian Gee (new hip) and Marja Kom who were presented the IDHO trophee by a renovated host (two new knees). Forever their names will resound in the halls of the IDHO. To top it off, Wayne Xing presented the winners a bottle of scotch and a book he wrote together with Christoph Meister (head of the German Hickory Society) about the history of golf in China which challenges many current perceptions on the development of the sport.

The Stableford went, well deserved, to Helga and Peter Scholz. As to the best dressed prizes, vox populi was clear: Maria Vrijmoed-de Vries and Perry Somers took them away.

It marked the end of a very successful tournament and, based on the many positive comments, leaves us hoping for the participation of many more players next year.

We do look forward to welcoming you to the

IDHO 2026
on 4 and 5 September.
Save the Date!

The IDHO Team