On yer bike. Our friends the Dutch do like their cycling so it’s probably not surprising that the good old velocipede – now, there’s a blast from the past – is playing a big part in spectator movement at this week’s Solheim Cup.
There’s no official car parking on site and, as a healthy alternative to the shuttle buses, officials have laid on thousands of bikes, with golf fans encouraged to make the five-mile pedal from Den Bosch central station to the host venue of Bernardus.
One presumes some of the golf scribblers are giving it a whirl too. And what a sight that would be; a cross between Philip Larkin in his quaint cycle-clips and the tandem that The Goodies used in their absurd comedy sketches. A Tour de Farce indeed.
“I'm a big, big fan of it,” said Mel Reid, one of Team Europe’s vice-captains, as she mulled over this novel way of getting folk here and there.
“It's different, isn't it? I think it's cool for spectators to be able to come in on a bike, get a bit of exercise, and then get some exercise on the way home after a couple of beers.”
The golf writers will definitely be getting the shuttle. Whether it’s bikes or buses, let’s hope it all goes swimmingly.
Nobody needs reminding of the transportation fiasco which marred the 2024 Solheim Cup in Virginia and led to empty seats on the opening morning as thousands were left stuck in the shuttle queues and missed the start.
It was one of the most calamitous days for buses since the coach in the Italian Job veered off the road and was left dangling over a cliff.
This weekend’s biennial showpiece between Europe and the USA will be the 20th staging of this increasingly closely fought tussle. The last four meetings, for instance, have been decided by a combined six points.
The recent encounters on European soil, meanwhile, have been particularly tight. Since 2015, there’s not been more than a point in it.
The jaw-dropping 2019 match at Gleneagles underlined the closeness of the competition as it came down to the final putt of the final game. Your nails may be bracing themselves for another tense nibbling this weekend.
From a relatively low-key inauguration at Lake Nona in 1990, the Solheim Cup continues to grow in stature.
“It was fairly modest,” reflected Pam Wright, the Scot who played in that first match. “I think there were more European supporters than Americans. We thought they didn’t take it that seriously, but we were deadly serious about it. It was a big deal for us.”
Europe may have suffered a heavy, 11 ½ - 4 ½ loss that year but revenge was swift. Two years later, at a dreich Dalmahoy, Europe faced a US side boasting a combined 146 LPGA Tour titles and 21 majors and upset the odds with a trailblazing 11 ½ - 6 ½ win.
“It was game on after that and the Solheim Cup became very different in the eyes of the golfing world,” added Wright. “People sat up and took notice. It’s grown to be like the Ryder Cup, and it now gets the credit it deserves.”
Interestingly, the 24 players on show this weekend have not really been setting the heather on fire recently. Form – or the lack of it – can often fly out of the window, though, in the very different environment of matchplay golf.
"You can lose or win any match regardless of rankings or how you're playing at the moment," said the Swede, Linn Grant, who has missed the cut in five of her last six events.
"It's so different playing matchplay in this setting. It's like everyone's best game just shows up.”
Team Europe, skippered by the vastly experienced Anna Nordqvist, has four rookies while stalwarts, Charley Hull and Carlota Ciganda, are both teeing-up for an eighth time as the hosts look to reclaim the cup against a US team led by the world No 1, Nelly Korda.
Ciganda hasn’t had a top-30 finish since May and missed the cut in four of the five majors this season. But what were we saying about form again?
As for Hull? Well, the 30-year-old will approach the next couple of days in her own way. Asked about the nerves in the amphitheatre around the first tee, Hull delivered a nonchalant shrug.
“It’s match play at the end of the day,” said Hull, who had three top-10s in the majors this season.
“If you have an amazing first hole or a horrific first hole, you're only going one-up or one-down or even all square.
“Obviously, you're going to be nervous, but it's not the be-all-and-end-all if you hit a good or a bad shot. So, don't worry too much about it, just smack it down the middle.”
It sounds as easy as riding a bike.
