Ten Years of ABN AMRO MeesPierson Beat The Pro: It Never Gets Old

This year marks the tenth edition of ABN AMRO MeesPierson Beat The Pro at the KLM Open. Over the past decade, the concept has been copied around the world, and videos of participants have gone viral on numerous occasions. Every year, ABN AMRO MeesPierson Beat The Pro delivers unforgettable moments. Churandy Martina is determined to add another one tomorrow.

Beat The Pro was created by the organizers of the KLM Open and was first introduced in 2014. Initially, the idea was met with some skepticism by the DP World Tour, as dramatically changing the format on a single hole was considered a bold move.

However, the experiment proved to be a success, including among the players, who never felt that their competitive rounds were disrupted. Heartwarming images of a young Tom Hendriks went around the world in 2016 when he stepped onto the 14th tee at The Dutch with a driver and struck his ball just beside the green. Likewise, a video of four-year-old Arabella from England captivated viewers and television commentators alike with her impressive swing.

The entire golf world embraced the concept, and this year the DP World Tour has even installed a dedicated camera on Hole 11 to ensure it doesn’t miss a moment of the event, which is proudly supported by ABN AMRO MeesPierson.

Churandy Martina

Over the years, several well-known personalities have taken on the challenge of beating the tour professionals on a single hole, including Churandy Martina. The beloved sprinter and fastest man in the Netherlands has already accepted the challenge twice before, and tomorrow he will make his third attempt.

“But this is the first time as a retired athlete,” said Martina, who now combines his passion for golf with his role as Chief Smiling Officer at Blue Bay Golf Course on Curaçao. “I’m excited again, but also nervous. It’s not like running, you know. That’s a little easier.”