Bernardus is entering the final stages of preparation for the 2026 Solheim Cup without changing the playing strategy of its Kyle Phillips-designed course.
The Netherlands will stage the contest for the first time from 11–13 September, when Europe and the United States meet at the Cromvoirt venue. The greenkeeping team wants to present the course as it has matured since Bernardus opened in 2018.
That approach has been informed by tournament experience. Bernardus hosted the Dutch Open on the DP World Tour for three consecutive editions between 2021 and 2023, giving its staff a detailed understanding of how the course responds to elite play, spectator traffic and event infrastructure.
Eight years of course development
The turf and surrounding natural areas have developed steadily since the course opened. Its heather has become established, while playing surfaces have gained greater consistency as the greenkeeping team has learned how the site responds through different seasons.
Golf Course Superintendent Niall Richardson has concentrated on soil structure, drainage, water management and resilient turf. That work below ground supports the firm conditions expected during the Solheim Cup while protecting the course beyond the event.
“For me, everything starts with understanding the soil and working with the natural characteristics of the site, rather than trying to force the golf course to do something it does not naturally want to do,” Richardson said. “That philosophy has been important at Bernardus because we are working with fine fescues in a predominantly natural heathland environment.”
Fine fescue is central to the playing character at Bernardus. The grass supports firm, fast surfaces and requires less water and nutrition than more demanding turf varieties. Staff use moisture monitoring and targeted irrigation to manage consistency without weakening long-term turf health.
Three weeks of final preparation
Bernardus will close for three weeks before the Solheim Cup, allowing the team to complete its final preparation without daily play. Up to 100 people will be involved, with attention centred on firmness and green speed, alongside uniform playing surfaces.
The course will retain its established strategic demands. Changing winds, water hazards, well-positioned bunkers and contoured greens will influence decisions throughout the matches. Players will need to judge when to attack and when to use the ground rather than relying only on aerial approaches.
Work away from the playing corridors has focused on spectator movement and the protection of natural areas. The compact routing should also give galleries sightlines across several parts of the course, helping spectators follow the progress of match-play contests.
Bernardus beyond the championship course
The venue’s practice infrastructure includes a full driving range and dedicated short-game areas, giving both teams space to prepare during the event. Bernardus also combines the course with its Lodge, restaurant Nami and Bernardus Wine.
Together, those facilities support the venue’s golf and hospitality offering; the course remains the priority for September. Details for visitors are available through the Solheim Cup’s official page.
“For the Solheim Cup, we want Bernardus to play as Bernardus: firm, fast and strategic,” Richardson said. “It should be a fair test where good shots are rewarded and the players decide the matches.”
Related: Anne van Dam Names Europe’s 2026 PING Junior Solheim Cup Team
Simon Bale
Simon Bale is the publisher of Golf Today. A low single-figure handicap golfer, he was previously a major shareholder and course reviewer for Top100GolfCourses.com for over a decade, starting in 2010. Through this role, he developed extensive knowledge of golf course design and architecture while playing more than 300 courses worldwide.