The GVB (''Golfvaardigheidsbewijs'' in
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
, ''Brevet d´aptitude'' in
French) or golf ability license is a standardised test and licensing process which players of the game of
golf
Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible.
Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standardized playing area, and coping wi ...
must go through in order to be allowed to play on many
golf course
A golf course is the grounds on which the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup". Th ...
s in
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
or
the Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
.
History
The GVB was introduced because there are few golf courses in relation to the number of
golfers
The following lists of golfers are arranged by gender:
*List of male golfers
*List of female golfers
Golfers who have won a major championship or Olympic medal
* List of men's major championships winning golfers
** Chronological list of men's ma ...
. Because there was no requirement previous to the GVB, anyone could play on a public course. This led to situations which were hazardous or undesirable to other players. In the 1980s the GVB was introduced (in Belgium in 1988
) to remedy this problem. The GVB is basically a pre-
handicap. It guarantees a certain level of ability and knowledge of
the rules
''The Rules: Time-tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right'' is a self-help book by Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider, originally published in 1995.
The book suggests rules that a woman should follow in order to attract and marry the ma ...
and etiquette. The GVB is required for entrance into a golfing association or to play on an official
golfing
Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible.
Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standardized playing area, and coping w ...
association
course although most clubs have their own admittance policy.
Some clubs and courses (like in a lot of other countries) demand a handicap certificate or certifiable level of play (i.e. handicap 24) for guests.
Level of play
In the Netherlands there are three types of level of play:
* Baanpermissie (course permission): the local pro has determined that the player is good enough to go out on the local course (but only the local course).
* Golfvaardigheidsbewijs (GVB): the player has taken a test and is deemed good enough to obtain the GVB. The player can play on any course where GVB is the minimal requirement.
*
Handicap: the player has taken the handicap exam and has played the required number of holes with a score deemed eligible for a
handicap. The player can now play any course for which the handicap is the minimum requirement.
Many club players skip the GVB part and go straight to the handicap exam.
The GVB test
The test comprises a written portion and a practical portion. The written portion is twenty questions; five about
etiquette
Etiquette () is the set of norms of personal behaviour in polite society, usually occurring in the form of an ethical code of the expected and accepted social behaviours that accord with the conventions and norms observed and practised by a ...
, the other fifteen about the
rules
Rule or ruling may refer to:
Education
* Royal University of Law and Economics (RULE), a university in Cambodia
Human activity
* The exercise of political or personal control by someone with authority or power
* Business rule, a rule perta ...
. The practical portion consists of playing four holes. The player's best three holes are counted; the player must score below 21 to pass the test.
Players are free to choose a course to take their test. Some clubs or courses offer a package deal where one attains a GVB after a weekend of workshops, learning and training.
It is not necessary for a player to be member of a club or course in the Netherlands to have a GVB or a handicap. The player can register with the Stichting Golfsport for a fee and the GVB or handicap will be maintained (even if it is not a Dutch GVB or handicap).
External links
Information about the GVB
NGF (Dutch Golf Federation) website
Luxemburg Golf Federation website
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Golf License
Golf in the Netherlands
Golf in Belgium
Golf terminology