Your GVB, step by step

If you are new to golf in the Netherlands, you will hear one word very quickly: GVB. Students ask me about it in almost every first lesson. The good news? It is not an exam to be afraid of. It is simply proof that you can play safely and know how the game works — and with a little guidance, almost everyone gets it.

What is a GVB?

GVB stands for golfvaardigheidsbewijs — literally, “golf skills certificate”. It shows that you know the basic rules of golf, understand the etiquette, and can play a hole safely without holding up other players.

You may also hear the words baanpermissie (“course permission”) or a starting handicap of 54. These days, the Dutch golf federation (NGF) usually expresses your beginner status as handicap 54, and many clubs use baanpermissie for their own course. The names differ a little from club to club, but the idea is always the same: you have learned the basics, and you are ready to play on a real course.

Why do courses ask for it?

Golf courses want everyone to have a good, safe round. A golf ball is small but fast, and the rules of etiquette keep play flowing for everybody. So most full 18-hole clubs in the Netherlands ask visitors to show a GVB or handicap registration before they play.

But here is the part many beginners do not know: many courses do not ask for it at all. Pay-and-play courses, par-3 courses, and driving ranges welcome complete beginners. That means you can start playing golf today, and get your GVB along the way. Have a look at the pay-and-play courses and beginner-friendly courses near Utrecht — no certificate needed, no pressure, just fun.

How do you get your GVB?

The exact steps vary a little per golf school or club, but the usual path looks like this:

• Take beginner lessons with a golf professional. You learn the swing, of course, but also the rules and etiquette that the assessment checks.
• Learn the basic rules and etiquette. Things like safety, order of play, and how to care for the course. Most schools help you prepare with simple study material.
• Do a short theory test. A friendly quiz about rules and etiquette — nothing like a school exam. Most people pass easily after their lessons.
• Show your skills on the course. A short practical round, often with your pro, to show you can play a hole safely and keep up a good pace.

That is it. No minimum score, no perfect swing required. The assessment checks that you are safe and ready, not that you are a great golfer already.

How long does it take?

This is different for everyone, and honestly, that is fine. Some people are ready after a short series of lessons; others like to take more time and build confidence first. It depends on how often you practice and how comfortable you feel. There is no deadline — golf is a game for life, and your GVB is just the first friendly milestone.

How I help you get there

As a PGA professional, guiding beginners to their GVB is one of my favorite parts of the job. In my lessons we cover everything the assessment asks for: your swing basics, the rules, the etiquette, and — most importantly — the confidence to stand on a real course and enjoy it. When you are ready, I make sure the theory and practical steps feel like a natural next lesson, not a scary test.

I teach in English, Dutch, Ukrainian and Russian, so you can learn all of this in the language that feels easiest for you.

You can do this

Every golfer in the Netherlands — every single one — once stood where you stand now, without a GVB. It is a very achievable goal, and the journey there is genuinely fun. Start on a friendly pay-and-play course, take a few lessons, and before you know it you will be booking tee times anywhere you like.

Curious what lessons cost? Have a look at my lesson prices — and when you are ready to play, the golf courses near Utrecht are waiting for you.