A very special moment for Maarten and Guus Lafeber at the KLM Open
In 2003, Maarten Lafeber won the KLM Open — the highlight of his long golf career. This year, he returns to the same tournament not as a player, but as a caddie for his debuting son Guus. “It’s very special, because the KLM Open has played such a big role in our lives.”
Let’s go back to 2019. An 11-year-old Guus Lafeber surprises his father on hole 13 of The International by joining “Beat the Pro,” going up against him and two other tour players.
It’s an emotional moment for the 2003 winner and an exciting one for the young teen. “I remember being pretty nervous standing over the ball,” says Guus, now 17.
Excitement
That story now gets a new chapter. Guus Lafeber, a talented amateur, has received a wildcard from tournament director Daan Slooter. “We got the call while Guus was playing a tournament in Scotland — that was a really special moment,” says Maarten.
“I’ve always played the KLM Open myself, and golf has been central to our family life. My wife Kim and I have three boys. Guus is the only one really into golf — the other two play hockey. He’s obsessed with the game, and I can see how hard he works. I’ve spent a lot of time with him the past few years, but I’m definitely not his only coach. As a parent, you want to support that passion, but we never really talked about when he might play the KLM Open. That he’s doing it now… it still feels a bit surreal.”
A dream
When Guus got the news, he immediately asked his father to be his caddie. “I like having someone close by with a lot of experience — and my dad definitely has that.”
Maarten: “I would’ve been fine if he chose someone else. But he said right away: I trust you blindly.”
Did he already dream of playing the real KLM Open when he was 11? “Maybe,” says Guus. “Subconsciously. I wasn’t actively thinking about it. For me, golf is a process. I live it day by day. Of course I want to be good at it, but you shouldn’t obsess. That I’m now playing here this week… it all happened very fast.”
Enjoy the moment
Make sure to enjoy it — that’s what Maarten already told his son.
“I’m definitely going to try,” Guus says. “And I’m sure my dad will remind me of that during the round. Then we’ll just see how it goes.”
Maarten: “He knows the course here, played well in Scotland last week, and he’s hitting the ball great. I wouldn’t mind if he sets himself a target and sees if he can make the cut.
The past six months have gone quickly for him. He’s already ahead of where I was at 17. I see a lot of myself in him as a golfer — his swing is very similar to mine. He’s an excellent putter and has a strong short game. He’s way ahead of where I was at that age.
I think that’s partly DNA. As a baby, he traveled with us to tournaments. As a toddler, he’d hit balls while I was training. He must’ve absorbed something.”
Tomorrow at 14:30, they’ll tee off as father and son. Not for the first time — they’ve already played together in a tournament last year, and Maarten has carried Guus’s bag before.
But this time, it’s the place, the tournament, and the history that make it truly unique.
Maarten: “For our family — and my parents too — this is a special moment. We really need to enjoy it.”
