GOLF ESCAPES

Short Haul: Tunisia
Play with the sun on your back
in Tunisia all year round.
Expect courses of
distinctive character.
Yasmine Valley has long
been a popular venue.
Water hazards
at Golf Citrus.
A more sedate experience is a trip to
souk, which roughly translates as ‘market’.
Actually, it might not be that sedate, if you
really get into the spirit of politely haggling
for a bargain!
Or, just 8km from Teboursouk, to the
west of Tunis, are the ruins of Dougga –
which is a remarkable Roman site of what
was once a thriving town. The site has been
even better preserved than at Carthage,
which is clearly also worth visiting.
Tunisia’s key courses
The Citrus club in Hammamet has 45 fine
holes to entertain you, all routed by
American Ron Fream. He has laid the holes
out around seven lakes in an area stretching
to 173 hectares, which is slightly undulating
and dominated by olive groves and other
indigenous trees.
The tougher test is the aptly-named La
Foret, with pine trees framing much of it.
In addition to the trees, there are also blind
holes, water hazards and tiered greens to
challenge visitors, with the 6th arguably the
pick – a par 3 of 170 yards which is played
over a ravine to a green with out of bounds
to the back.
The 17th is also a good hole, a short,
dog-leg par 5 protected by lines of trees
with a hidden, well-bunkered green.
Les Oliviers was equally well named,
being routed among an olive grove. The
breeze is often felt here and with the holes
changing direction frequently it requires
clear thinking and good ball-striking to
score well. The 9th is a highlight; a blind,
dog-leg hole that has out of bounds
running down the left and three fairway
bunkers on the corner. Even if you find the
fairway, you will need a good mid-iron
approach to find the narrow green.
Next, to Yasmine Valley, which was for
many years considered the pick among
those in the north of Tunisia, and although
Citrus’ La Foret might now be pushing it
hard for that title, it should still be looked
on as a key part of any golf itinerary to
Hammamet.
Opened in 1991, Yasmine Valley is
another Fream design punctuated by large,
jigsaw-shaped bunkers, tiered greens and
plenty of water.
It begins in dramatic fashion with a
downhill drive (always a nice, confidenceboosting
start...) followed by a second that
is played past the lake which skirts the right
side of the hole.
It is a championship test of more than
6,500 yards but the three par 5s are good
chances for birdie because the fairways are
so firm and fast... although the strength and
direction of the frequent wind is a
significant factor.
Yasmine offers a good variety of holes –
not least in its collection of par 3s.
It is tough too, with the greens on the
6th (very shallow), 4th and 16th (acutely
sloping) or the 5th and 17th (hidden runoffs)
no time to be off key. n
QUICK GUIDE
THE CLIMATE Splendid all year round
with 24C in the winter and only a few
showers.
GETTING THERE You can fly direct to
Tunis-Carthage from Heathrow and
Manchester with Tunisair for under
£200. Located in the capital, it’s a short
drive north of Hammamet. Or just as
close, but to the south, is Enfida – fly
there from various UK airports.
TIME DIFFERENCE GMT+1
MORE INFORMATION Visit
cometotunisia.co.uk. Citrus – golfcitrus.
com; Yasmine – golfyasmine.com
GOLF ESCAPES 2015 73