Mushy, but in a good way: golf fans enjoy Dutch snacks at the Solheim Cup

DEN BOSCH, Netherlands (AP) — Sherry Ford savored her Dutch meatball roll, wiping mayonnaise from her chin, coat and sleeve. "It's very tasty," the 76-year-old from near San Francisco said of the snack called a broodje bal, as she sought shelter from a light rain on the Bernardus Golf course during the Solheim Cup's first day. Thousands of golf fans in attendance could sample local and national delicacies while touring the course or the nearby city of Den Bosch.

The region, known for its food and festivities, is the namesake of the Bossche Bol pastry – a large, chocolate-frosted choux pastry bun – and poffertjes, tiny puffed pancakes served with butter and icing sugar. Brabant sausage rolls, made with minced beef wrapped in bread dough, are another regional specialty, with an estimated 25 million consumed annually.

Traditional Dutch treats like French fries with mayonnaise and local brews filled the Solheim hospitality areas, with fans washing down the food with plastic cups.