June 2009

Bussloo, Netherlands

Bussloo is a village of 170 inhabitants in Holland. The Bussloo area has many leafy lanes, woods and rich farm land. Bussloo has a very popular recreational area with a large lake. Bussloo recreational area annually hosts Ground Zero Festival and Xnoizz Flevo Festival.

Located adjacent to the recreational area, Bussloo Pitch and Putt course opened on 27 August 2005. The beautiful design makes strategic use of the many tall trees and water. The course is situated in the triangle of the cities of Apeldoorn, Zutphen and Deventer.

The club are in the process of extending the course to 27 holes. Building work has been in progress all year. Such is the popularity of the course that it was felt that the extra nine holes are necessary to cope with the number of clients on a busy day.

There is strong cooperation between Bussloo course and the local municipality, as there is strong recognition of Pitch and Putt as an excellent amenity. Bussloo will host the 2009 Dutch Open in August.

Local hotels have a special collaboration with Pitch & Putt in Bussloo. Pitch & Putt will welcome guests with coffee or tea and apple pie. After a short instruction session guests may play a round. A round of Pitch & Putt costs 14.00. The following is included: coffee or tea with apple pie, instruction, 18-holes, golf clubs, score cards, golf balls and tees. Some of the other initiatives in use at Bussloo are the Online booking system and the availability of gift vouchers.

Local musician Linda Storey is making headlines world-wide in her fight to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. The wheelchair bound musician is back from a tour of Amsterdam, a trip she hoped would raise money and awareness about her disease. Storey and the band played a fund-raising tournament in March this year at the Bussloo Pitch and Putt, which raised 8,000 for MS research. Storey believes her performances will be an inspiration for others with MS.

Course record holder is Yorick Esser who shot 48 on 10 July 2006. That mark has since been equalled on 27 August 2008 by Paul Martin and on 21 March 2009 during the MS tournament by Dutch great Patrick Luning.

Club personalities are Strokeplay champions Bas van Roosmalen (men's), Marlies Bierdrager (ladies) and Harry van Beem (seniors), Matchplay kingpin Raf Peperkamp, Stableford champ Harm Catsburg and Birdie leader Peter Paul de Jong.

Longest hole on the course is the seventh where one has to keep right off the tee. The green on the 49 metre tenth is guarded by three bunkers. The 11th boasts a 57 metres pitch over the trees.

Course address is:
Recreatiegebied Bussloo
Withagenweg 17 (ingang 1)
7384 SB Wilp (gem. Voorst)