Life sweet from my bicycle seat in Hilversumche - till departure

CADDIE'S ROLE:The Netherlands offers transports of two-wheeled delight until things get a little heated at Gate D27 at Schiphol airport

TRANSFERRING FROM Switzerland to the Netherlands for the 93rd Dutch Open was like moving from a land that runs like clockwork to another that runs as smoothly as a sharp knife through young Gouda cheese.

You are relaxed in the knowledge that there are no tricks to the transport system; all modes of travel do what they were designed to do: get you to your destination on time.

We practically fell on to the train to the small town of Baarn with only one connection straight from the immense Schiphol airport.

The ticket machine explained things in English and you needed no local knowledge to figure out your way to your destination.

The bike is the main mode of transport in this tiny flat land. With 29,000 kilometres of dedicated bicycle paths, 18 million bikes and only 16.5 million people it is fair to assume that the bike is prized in the Netherlands.

I therefore decided to rent a bicycle and by the end of my week in the Netherlands was mildly disappointed at having to use a car again.

Just look at the size of the bike park beside a suburban train station in relation to the car parks there and you get a sense of two-wheeled priority.

The bicycle path through the woods from my hotel to the golf course was smoother than any suburban Dublin road I have driven on in recent times. You do need to be attentive as you cruise along a tranquil wooded bike path because many Dutch cycle at pace and you are likely get bumped if you wander off course.

There is no need to stretch on arrival; after a brisk spin to the course you are ready for a days caddying. If the players deigned to be seen arriving on two wheels they would need a lot less time to warm up in preparation for their round.

With right of ways through the leafy Hilversum golf course, the only sound likely to disturb your tranquility is the gentle tring of a bike bell.

I know the weather can colour your image of a week on the golf tour but even though we missed the cut in the Netherlands it was still a wonderful week. I suppose the novelty of the bike helped the enjoyment but more so the beauty of the surroundings of the Hilversumche Golf Club.

In a tiny country of only 41,500 square kilometres it is hard to see how they have space for any golf courses. Hilversumche Golf Club dates back to 1895 and has set a precedent. Building new courses is not so easy and they tend to be in less idyllic and cramped surroundings. Golf is the fastest growing sport in the Netherlands after women’s soccer. With over 300,000 known golfers in the country its popularity is gaining momentum.

Given cycling is popular due to its practicality and health benefits it is no wonder the Dutch have taken to another sport that encourages manageable exercise for older people. Caddies or electric carts are virtually unknown in Dutch golf clubs.

One caddie still remains immortalised in the third Hilversumche clubhouse since its founding 127 years ago. There is a painting of the ample-shouldered Hemmie, who caddied in the club from a young age till his death. His painting hangs over the fireplace in the main part of the clubhouse with unusual pride of place for a man who obviously influenced so many members over decades in the club.

Heather was always a prominent feature of the course re-designer Harry Colt back in 1926. It has not flourished over latter years and recently the club has resorted to introducing flocks of sheep to graze on the grass surrounding the heather, which has resulted in its resurgence.

A special feature of the Dutch Open is the on-course dedicated radio coverage specifically for spectators. They can pick up radio head-sets for free, listen to the on-course commentary and enjoy practical information like the whereabouts of a lost bicycle key.

Despite the glowing impression of a country that is founded on efficiency and practicality I am not too sure about how well the Dutch react to things going wrong. As surprisingly smooth as my arrival in the Netherlands was, my departure was equally surprising; there was a big mill at gate D27 at Schiphol airport, with not really much indication as to what was happening apart and we were delayed for three and a half hours.

An Aer Lingus flight was operated on the ground by Royal Dutch Airline staff, and their handling of the delay seemed chaotic. Among threats of definitely not getting on the earlier flight if passengers complained, to the senior agent openly admitting he didn’t care what happened, was the antithesis of my introduction to the country at the start of the week. I suppose a global culture of contempt inhabits airlines and the national carrier doesn’t get a chance to reflect its culture. The attitude at gate D27 was very much one of “on your bike”.

Schiphol is a pretty good airport to get stranded in if it is going to happen to you. There is the choice of a casino, wellness areas, varied restaurants and an extensive library at the disposal of abandoned passengers.

There is undoubtedly a special sense of order, practicality and rich culture in the Netherlands and despite the rather unnecessarily ugly incident on departure I would love to come back for a biking/golfing holiday to the Netherlands, with a definite trip to the leafy Hilversumche club, but hopefully not disembarking at gate D27.