NOORD-BRABANT, Netherlands — Bernardus has entered its final stage of course preparation ahead of hosting the 2026 Solheim Cup from 11–13 September, marking the first time the event will be held in the Netherlands.
Rather than altering the layout for the tournament, the venue is relying on its established identity, soil-first maintenance philosophy, and agronomic maturing process developed since opening in 2018.
The Kyle Phillips-designed course previously hosted three consecutive editions of the KLM Open on the DP World Tour between 2021 and 2023. That operational experience provided the agronomic and event teams with insight into how the venue handles elite competition.
Over the past eight years, the course's fine fescue surfaces have matured, surface consistency has increased, and native heathland vegetation and heather have grown into the surrounding landscape.
Course maintenance at Bernardus focuses on soil structure, drainage, water management, and turf health. The fine fescue grasses across the property allow for firm, fast playing surfaces while requiring reduced water and nutrient inputs. Moisture monitoring and targeted irrigation are used to balance surface firmness with turf longevity.
“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,” said Golf Course Superintendent Niall Richardson. “That philosophy has been particularly important at Bernardus because we are working with fine fescues in a predominantly natural heathland environment.”
Bernardus will close to public play for three weeks leading into the Solheim Cup. During this window, a team of up to 100 people will carry out final preparations focused on green speed, surface uniformity, and firmness.
Recent adjustments on-site have centered on managing spectator movement and protecting natural areas rather than modifying the playing strategy. The compact routing, strategic bunkering, contoured greens, water hazards, and changing wind conditions will remain the core competitive factors.
“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.”
Bernardus is a lifestyle destination featuring an 18-hole championship course, practice and short-game facilities, the Bernardus Lodge, Bernardus Café, Nami by Bernardus, and Bernardus Wine.
Further information regarding the venue and the upcoming event is available at www.bernardusgolf.com and https://bernardusgolf.com/solheim-cup/.
