Sixteen international EGTMA journalists from the Netherlands, Germany, Luxemburg, Sweden, Czech Republic, UK, Ireland and the USA travelled extensively through Flanders to see for themselves the benefits the destination has to offer to golfers from all over the world.
The week started with dinner at Belgium’s newest golf project, the National, where a Belgian meal kicked of the week. Belgian beer, shrimp croquettes, Flemish stew and home made fries with mayonaise immediately set the tone for the week. Delegates returned to the Martin’s EU hotel right next door to the EU Parliament buildings..
The participating golf clubs all made sure the international media delegates had the best impression of the facilities. Greens mowed, bunkers raked, coffee served, a few souvenirs to make sure journalists had all the information required to promote the clubs. Journalists started at the 27 hole ‘polder’ course Damme Golf & Country Club and them moved on to Cleydael Golf Club near Antwerp which surrounds a 14th century moated castle. They played the Millennium Golf which meanders around the ‘Paalse Plas’ and is situated in a mixed recreation area where cyclists, walkers, sailors, paddle boarders and more all engage in soft recreational activities in harmony with each other. Next up was the Spiegelven Golf Club laid out in an area of heathland and carved out of a pine forest followed by Winge Golf & Country Club, the challenging undulating lay-out in the fertile Hageland, where EGTMA members played their final round.
EGTMA members were also treated to some exceptional hotel stays and additional activities. The city’s tourist boards all provided guides to explain the history of the cities visited. In Gent, while staying in the Marriott Ghent, journalists were treated to a boat trip on the ‘Leie’, the river where back in the day the majority of the world’s wheat and grain trade was conducted and the short trip showcased all the historic buildings with the ‘Gravensteen’, the medieval fortress, the highlight of the trip. The Marriott Hotel, situated in three original ‘guild’ properties is right on the river and just a short stroll from all the historic buildings in Gent and with their recently opened Midtown Grill, a fashionable steakhouse, a fantastic location for any tourist. In Mechelen, the converted Franciscan church turned Martin’s Patershof Hotel provided shelter for the weary golf travellers and in Leuven, the historic nunnery converted into the Martin’s Klooster Hotel allowed the tired golfers some well needed respite from all the activities. The city of Leuven provided a guided tour around the market squares and university buildings, a university founded in 1425.
Golfers need transportation and the GolfinFlanders Media Challenge took in over 500 miles from West to East so Hertz provided the wheels to allow us to move around in comfort.
Henk van den Helder, GM Hertz Benelux explains: “We are always supportive of tourism initiatives being one of the major rental car brands in the world. Our affiliation with golf goes back many years as we understand the value a golf tourist brings to our brand. Therefore we did not hesitate to support the GolfinFlanders initiative when approached by the EGTMA and we are pleased to see the positive feedback.”
Jo Maes, President of the European Golf & Travel Media Association: “Being able to present my home country to an international media delegation and showcasing all that is good about Flanders has been a pleasure and privilege. Flanders is a great destination for tourism in general and with the quality of the hotels, the food, the beers, shopping and obviously the centuries of history enveloping the cities, it makes a lot of sense to add golf to that mix and offer an unforgettable experience and a full package to golfers world wide.”
Bill Giering, US based golf journalist was interviewed by Kanaal Z, the Flemish business and lifestyle tv channel and was complimentary about everything he had experienced. “You can not underestimate the welcome one feels once you arrive here. From the golf clubs to the hotels, the city guides … Everybody has been so accommodating and the golf ain’t half bad neither. We played on some player friendly but still challenging and different styles of golf courses and that combined with the history, the culinary delights, the quality of the beer, this is a destination to be reckoned with.”
EGTMA members were all treated to a final dinner at the Martin’s Klooster with delegates from the partners, the clubs and the Flemish Golf Federation in attendance. The dinner topped of what had been a memorable week of golf, food and hospitality all mixed with a voyage through the history of the region. The next activity for the GolfinFlanders brand is attendance at this year’s IGTM to be held in Cannes in December where the destination will be presented to the gathering golf travel industry.
ENDS