GOLF ESCAPES

Short Haul: France
Revitalised
Hardelot Pins.
Top 100 perennials in their armoury. Both
belong to the Open Golf Club group and
both have been revitalised by Frank Pont to
heights not reached for half a century.
Backing them up is a terrific links at
Wimereux, 15 minutes from the
EuroTunnel, and Belle Dune, a picturesque
course laid out on rolling, sandy terrain
among thousands of pines.
Around Paris
The capital city has a wealth of options,
from the new kid on the block Golf
National to classics such as Chantilly and
Fontainebleau.
Le Golf National is the venue for the
2018 Ryder Cup despite being around for
only a couple of decades. Built on farmland
as flat as a pancake, it was moulded and
sculpted beautifully using landfill – rubbish
to you and I. It is a triumph for designers
and shapers who have made it an interesting
test of parkland, American-style golf.
It’s a long way round and L’Albatros’
numerous water hazards will make it a
thrilling Ryder Cup stage. Its sister L’Aigle
is a solid venue too.
WHY WE LOVE
EUROTUNNEL
TRAVEL TIPS
Low-cost carriers go to lots of regional
airports all over the country, but if you
are not visiting anywhere south of Paris,
we advise taking the EuroTunnel. It’s
cheap, flexible and having your
own car with you is just so
convenient.
To the north-east near Morfontaine is
the very English-feeling Chantilly, a French
version of Little Aston, while to the south
east of the city is a woodland classic at
Fontainebleau.
To the west, just past Le Golf National is
Harry Colt’s quirky Saint Germain as well
as St Nom La Breteche, scene of the most
recent Seve Trophy matches in 2013.
So, as many as six Top 100 venues dotted
around the capital to choose from – plus an
excellent play-and-stay venue named Crecy,
near to Disneyland. Crecy is an ideal base
for a trip soaking up all the Top 100 golf
around Paris as well as offering a family
break where the sights, Mickey Mouse and
cafe culture can be soaked up. Perhaps even
a trip to watch a Six Nations game or Paris
St Germain...
The South West
This area is a real surprise to the
uninitiated, with four Top 100 courses
very close to each other and a fifth, Golf
du Medoc a few miles up the coast on the
outskirts of Bordeaux. A sixth option,
Chateau des Vigiers, sits further inland
in vineyard country.
The quartet that are packed exceptionally
close to each other are Seignosse, Chiberta,
Hossegor and Moliets.
Seignosse was designed by Robert Von
Hagge back in 1989.
It is a beautiful course among mature
trees and natural water features – but it is
also an exacting challenge, even if it is
mixed up well with several short 4s among
the longer-hitting tests.
Chiberta is for the most part parkland in
nature but enjoys a nice section next to the
ocean. Located between Bayonne and
36 GOLF ESCAPES 2015