The European Paragolf Championships were held in the Netherlands from July 19 to July 22, 2023, at the golf course known as “The Dutch.” Designed by golfing legend Colin Montgomerie, this course, often referred to as “a piece of Scotland in the Netherlands,” was built with the intent of creating a challenging competition golf course in Europe.

Upon arriving at the clubhouse, we were struck by the stunning setting, with every detail meticulously maintained. It truly felt like a world of its own. Despite being in the Netherlands, stepping into the clubhouse felt like walking onto Scottish soil.

The preparations to get the course competition-ready were on par with those for the DP World Tour events, which the course has hosted multiple times.

The tournament brought together the world’s best players across three categories: 64 male players, 10 female players, and 6 wheelchair players, for a total of 80 participants. Representing Finland were Tero Peltola, Simo Kosunen, Johannes Siikonen, and Tony Siven.

Challenges for the Finnish Team
The tournament posed challenges for the Finnish team. Narrow fairways and windy conditions made the course particularly demanding. The imaginative short game was critical on this course, as the greens were highly contoured and exceptionally fast. Despite the difficulties, the team maintained a positive attitude throughout the competition. The best Finnish player was Simo Kosunen.

For Johannes Siikonen, this was his 16th international championship. Unfortunately, his tournament ended in the second round due to an injury. For Tony Siven and Simo Kosunen, these were their first individual international championships. Overall, all players gained valuable experience in playing at this level of competition.

Winners
Men’s Division Winner: Tommaso Perrino, with a three-round score of +2.
Women’s Division Winner: Daphne Van Houten, with a score of +32.
Wheelchair Division Winner: Richard Kluwen, with a score of +70.