Marsdiep | Texelse

The Marsdiep is the sea hole between Texel and the mainland shore of North Holland.

On All Saints’ Eve in 1170 the North Sea broke the line of dunes between Huisduinen and Texel. Texel has been an island ever since. Here, fellow countrymen on the other side are called ‘othersiders’ (mainlainders). Our compatriots from the other side call us othersiders. That’s just how it is.

Othersiders (the first variety) in particular often regard the water obstacle at hole 9 as the Marsdiep: the last dangerous sea hole before the safe shore is reached.

Drive

From the tee a difficult drive for the gents because of the hill on the right side. If you decide to hit the ball from the right, raise it a little higher. But it’s better to hit the drive from the left; especially with headwinds, you can then play the ball nicely low. The left side of the entire hole is a lateral water hurdle, so hit your drive away from the water, as there’s plenty of space on the right side of the fairway.

Approach

In two or three strokes to the green, that’s the question. A good drive gives you the possibility of reaching the green in two strokes. From the tee a driver is then your only option, after which the approach with an iron to the green. For the average-handicap player, an approach with a metalwood is too difficult. A metalwood goes too low and will most likely roll on too much. In that case, play the ball in front of the water and chip to the green with of course a high iron!

Green

When placing the ball, put it on the open piece of fairway on the right side, and this automatically puts the bunkers on the left side of the green out of play. The game on and around the green is flat, and the only thing you can take into account is that the green seen from the fairway is uphill with an extra valley on the right front.

Tip:

The right is safe, but the Tiger-line is between water and hills. The deep greenside bunkers make the approach difficult and the whole surface of the green is not usable.

Marsdiep

Een hooker uit Vlaardingerbroek
betreurde beteuterd haar hook
toen ze in ’t Marsdiep
haar lot niet ontliep:
één strafslag en d’r balletje zoek

Jan Heemskerk