There are so many different resorts that you are able to choose from all across the country of France that you may get stuck deciding on which one to go to. There are many different factors that you need to take into consideration when deciding where you are going to go. I hope that this article will be able to outline some of these factors and help you decide where you want to play golf in France.

Firstly now that you have decided that you are going to play golf in France on a holiday you need to work out if anyone else is going with you. If there are others going with you then you also need to figure out if they are going for the golf as well or if they just want a holiday in France. If you are going with people that want to play golf in France as well then you don’t even need to think about where you are going to go because France is unbelievable for golf all over the country.

If you are going to go and play golf in France and take your family along with you then you need to decide whether they are going to be playing golf with you or if they just want to go and relax or go elsewhere. If you are taking kids with you then you will probably want to find out if the resort has any activities for them so that you can enjoy a peaceful game of golf. A lot of resorts in France have some great kid’s facilities and activities so you will not have to worry at all about them and you can get on with your golf in France holiday. Another bonus is a swimming pool when the weather is really nice that the kids or you can play or relax in, this is always a added bonus on a nice holiday as it can help with relaxation as well.

If you are going with a partner as well then you will probably want to know if there are any nice restaurants and evening events that you will be able to go to. Now I’m not just saying this but the French can make one brilliant meal and they are always brilliant at making the right atmosphere in their restaurants. You will maybe want to make sure that there are plenty around which there usually is so that you have a wide choice to choose from. This is a brilliant part to golf in France as you can relax, eat and play a brilliant sport.

I hope this has helped you with your decisions to go and play golf in France, believe me you will not regret it.

For my money, a golf break in France is an excellent winter option. Even the north of France, with its sandy subsoil and reputation for presenting golf courses in impeccable condition, is a serious temptation. However, the southern half of France – just a 90 minute flight away – will put a spring in your step and keep you away from the crowds of Portugal and Spain. Here are some of the courses in the south of France which you must consider visiting this winter:

Barbaroux

Pete Dye Junior and Senior combined to make this absolute gem. Rated among the World Top 100, Barbaroux presents a stern test and each of the 18 holes presents an entirely different set of challenges. You’ll need to be at home with every club in your bag to score well here, and it might be prudent to forget about the scorecard and just have fun out there – even if you’re doing badly, the scenery is outstanding. A superb course for your winter golf break in France.

Royal Mougins

Rated in the European Top 50 and with a stunning, and brand-new, hotel and spa on site, this is becoming the talk of the golfing town. Designed by Robert von Hagge and past host to the European Tour, the course is outlandish and brilliant with every type of hazard on offer. It’s not particularly long but you need to be a clever player to score well. For after the round, there’s great food and the hotel’s bedrooms are massive and beautifully-appointed.

Nimes Campagne

You’ll need your golfer’s intuition to be on top form for this course – knowing when to aim big and when to scale things down is all important here. It’s a great course though, host to several European Tour events and definitely one of the highlights of a French golf holiday. It’s a parkland affair lovingly created with beautiful trees, cunning greens and just a splash of water.

Chiberta

This is, to me, one of the best links courses in the whole of Europe. A Tom Simpson design, the course offers fabulous Atlantic Ocean views as well as subtle and enjoyable golf that weaves through woodland forcing you to adapt, or watch your scorecard struggle! The clubhouse is lovely and has always offered a delightfully warm welcome. A must-play when visiting the south on a golf holiday in France.

Medoc Les Chateaux

As a regular host of the European Tour and with an impressive 36 holes, you can be sure you’re getting a full day’s entertainment at Medoc Les Chateaux. Watch out though – it’s deceptively tough (gorse and heather and ditches catch many wayward balls) and you need to plan for every hole. The greens and fairways are large but the borders and water hazards are hugely unforgiving. Even at its most frustrating, it’s hard to be angry with a course that looks as beautiful as this. With a lovely four-star hotel on site and wine-tasting every where you look, Medoc “ticks the boxes” for many a fair golfer.

Seignosse

You’ll need to keep your wits about you to do well at Seignosse – the beautiful Robert von Hagge designed course. Concentrate and you’ll find the course quite a fair one and pick up a fair few pars. Olazabal played here before the Masters so similar is the challenge and it’s deservedly rated in the World Top 100. Very easy on the eye and great to play. A must play on a French golf holiday.

With all these quality courses, a golf holiday in France’s south is worth considering all year round but is an even more enticing proposition when it’s only a quick flight from blighty. Of course, from October to March, France offers low-season prices so there’s no excuse not to go. Add to this, the delightful culture and splendid gourmet treats and you’ll have to agree that a south of France golf break is an outstanding choice.

Why Take a Self Drive Golf Holiday in Northern France

Northern France offers some of the best golfing holidays and experiences in the world. From luxurious hotels to immaculate courses, the region is overflowing with opportunities for avid golfers, especially if you want to travel to more than one of the great courses on offer. We look at some of the reasons to take a self drive golf holiday to Northern France, and the many advantages this type of holiday brings…

Speed

One of the main reasons to go on a self drive golf holiday to Northern France is the various speeds with which you can get there. If you decide to, you can take a long cruise across the channel, taking in the coasts of Britain and France and enjoying the trip to the full. However, if like most of us you can’t wait to be out on the fairway, you can take the Eurotunnel. At 35 minutes from Folkstone to Calais, you can be at your destination less than an hour after you depart (depending on relative distances). This also means that with some careful planning you can take a half day, be on the course by the afternoon, spend the evening at the clubhouse or local hotel and then be back at work the next day.

Flexibility

Another great reason for taking your car on a golf holiday in France is the flexibility it offers you. Taking your own car means less time worrying about the minutiae of how you get to the course and more time on the course itself.

Taking your car also gives you more flexibility when it comes to accommodation; not waiting for a taxi, chauffer or transfer means you can stay in the hotel of your choice, be it linked with the clubhouse, in the next town, or even a boutique hotel further into the Normandy countryside. It also makes your French golf holiday more tailored to your needs – if you want to get to the course earlier or leave a little later; you are in control with your own car.

Choice of courses

Taking your own car has another added benefit on a golf holiday in France, that of choice of courses to play on. While you obviously choose which course you want to play on, if you want to play on more than one over the period of your golf holiday, a car is invaluable. Booking the tee time of your choice at several of Northern France’s gorgeous and prestigious golf courses presents a problem unless you can actually get there, and being autonomous with your own transport makes this much easier.

Taking a self-drive golf holiday in Northern France gives you the flexibility, choice and luxury you deserve on your holidays. It also provides you with the control over where you go, at what time, and for how long as opposed to being at the mercy of deadlines and leaving times from shuttles and hotel taxis.

In the Provence region, the Pont Royal Golf, near Salon de Provence (13), is niched in the charming hinterland called Guarrigue. It is surrounded by a nature full of fragrant herbs and local rocks, where walkers used to come to gather mushrooms and hunters to wait for their game… until 1989 when the golf was created. Nowadays, tourists and locals form the population of the area, which by the way offers all amenities from the post office to the tourist information office. This cohabitation gives its charm to Pont Royal, as tourists bring activity and fancy, and residents contribute to the durability of the region. Classified one of the best courses in Europe, the 18-course golf was designed by the Spanish champion Severiano Ballesteros. He perfectly integrated it into the surrounding nature. Every step in the course is a new challenge, as they are all different from one another. The course perfectly alternates technical difficulties and panoramic view points.

The Academic Golf Roquebrune, in Roquebrune sur Argens, on the Cote d’Azur (83), is ideally set in a Mediterranean and Provencal landscape… between the sea and the hinterland. It is a real heaven, as the course is all natural, enabling everyone to combine sport and relaxation. The estate comprises a restaurant, called the Restaurant du Club-House, where you will be able to taste a fine Mediterranean cuisine, as well as organise a seminar. The residence set here has the shape of a real village, which perfectly fits in the landscape. It comprises a swimming pool and New Build villas from 2 to 4 bedrooms.

Still on the Cote d’Azur, the Golf de l’Esterel, near Frejus is niched among pine trees, at the foot of the Esterel hill. The course was designed by Trent Jones Sr and offers great quality services all year long. The landscape as well as the course itself will please every player with different difficulty levels and fabulous views over the Cote d’Azur.

In the Paris Ile de France region, the Cely Golf & Country Club is also an 18-hole golf course, located near Fontainebleau (77) in Cely-en-Biere. It is set in the luxurious estate of the Chateau de Cely, at the foot of a lovely hill. A few years ago, the Woman World’s Championship chose Cely to set the competition. The course was designed by Marc Adam and Patrick Fromanger, who chose an American style with undulating and hilly curves… there again pleasing every player with different difficulty levels and fantastic view points.

The Odet Golf Course, in Brittany (29), is niched among oak and pine trees. With wide spaces, the course offers lots of possibilities: the greens are wider than they are deep and the bunkers are as long as the close beaches! The estate has all the possible assets, which are training courses, season tickets, pass, proshop, restaurant, swimming pool, equipment service, etc. What’s more, it is very close to the Benodet seaside resort and comprises 130 hectares of woodland and ponds. The leaseback development Les jardins d’Arvor is set on the golf course and offers New Build apartments from studio to 3 bedrooms.

Northern France and Normandy

Quite apart from the quality of the courses, a golf trip here offers one distinct advantage – location. It’s only a short hop across the Channel to the northern regions of France, and a golf holiday here will place you amidst some of the finest golf courses in the country. The region also offers up a great coastline, picturesque towns and ports and expansive forests and lively resorts to keep you entertained between rounds.

Top Courses:

? La Touquet La Mer – This challenging course has hosted the French Open in the past and is kept in outstanding condition all year round.

? Golf Parc – Widely rated as one of the best golf courses in France, Golf Parc in Nantilly is a large, varied and exciting place for a round of golf.

Paris, Champagne and Alsace

Golf near Paris has the obvious advantage of being close to one of Europe’s most exciting capital cities, and there’s plenty of world-class golf (four courses in the World Top 100 to be precise and many good ones besides) to be had in the surrounding countryside. If your French golf holiday takes you further east to Champagne and Alsace, there are numerous Michelin-starred restaurants and (of course!) lots of Champagne and wine to keep you happy.

Top Courses:

? Chantilly Vineuil – This course has hosted the French Open ten times, and is kept in perfect condition

? Chateau d’Augerville – This beautiful course is based around a 17th-Century chateau (also a four-star hotel) – a perfect place for lunch overlooking the 18th green.

? Le Kempferhof – Not many people know about Le Kempferhof, but it is a superbly designed course with a variety of challenges at each hole. Rated No.2 in France and among Europe’s finest.

The Loire, Burgundy and Central France

As well as being “littered” with famous and beautiful Chateaux, the Loire is also home to some of the best golf courses in France, including the joint no 1. course in Europe. The central region can be especially good if you are looking for a more relaxed golf holiday in France.

Top Courses:

? Royan – Set in a pine forest and reckoned by experts to be one of the finest courses in the region, Royan presents a tough challenge in a beautiful location

? Les Bordes – This is regarded as being one of the two best courses in Europe, and features a tough array of holes in spectacular surroundings – it really is a must play!

? Limere Orleans – This course is great fun to play with numerous water hazards and impeccable presentation, and has hosted several French PGA Championships

The Alps

If you are considering a golf holiday in France, the Alps may not immediately spring to mind, but amid the spectacular mountains and valleys are a number of superb golf courses.

Top Courses:

? Golf Club de Lyon – This gorgeous course is a real treat to play on, combining some tricky holes with beautiful scenery.

? La Bresse – La Bresse is a highly enjoyable course, designed to be challenging but rewarding for intelligent players.

? Evian Masters Golf Course – The course hosts the world’s premier ladies tournament each year. A good layout and maintained impeccably.

Southern France

Anyone who wants to go on a golf holiday to France will surely be tempted by the south. With over three hundred days of sunshine each year, world famous cuisine and superb beaches, there is plenty to draw you here. But it’s not all fine wine and sunbathing, as the region also features numerous superb golf courses designed by the lacks of Trent Jones, Gary Player, Pete Dye, Robert von Hagge and Peter Alliss. Biarritz in the south west has long been regarded as a golfer’s haven with five courses in Europe’s Top 100 and there are plenty of other courses in the area to keep even the most avid golfer occupied.

Top Courses:

? Barbaroux – This is one of the toughest golf courses in France, with each hole presenting its own unique challenge. Well worth a visit for golfers who really want to push themselves.

? Seignosse – In the world Top 100, Seignosse is as pretty, intricate and devious a course as you are likely to play.

? Taulane – This course isn’t as tough as some of the others in the region but the great design by Gary Player makes for a very satisfying round of golf.

The best thing about golf holidays in France is that it is situated in a country which has so many heavenly locations based around the whole country. You are always going to be able to find a brilliant course in a fantastic location each time. Another great thing about golf holidays in France is that if you go to certain resorts they offer so many different things so that even if your family or whoever you are taking along with you (if you not going on your own) does not like golf then there are going to be many different other activities for them to get on with so that you can enjoy your game of golf with no nagging.

Another fantastic part of golf holidays in France is that you do not even need to know how to play this fantastic game because you can have lessons out there and see if you are going to be the next Tiger Woods. Many different resorts have different kinds of facilities and training programmes to help you learn golf including putting greens, driving range and even courses for people at all kinds of abilities.

Golf holidays in France will usually have driving ranges where you can go and hit balls as far and as well as you can. You will go into one of the many bays which are situated next to each other and then you can choose your clubs and hit as many balls as you want. This is good practise for you to work on your swing and your shots. It also saves you walking after your balls if that is the part of gold that you do not like (if there is any part you do not like).

If you would just like to get up to scratch on your putting skills then golf holidays in France will more than likely have a putting green where you can put the ball at the hole from anywhere on the green that you like. This is great to improve your game.

Also many different resorts have small holes where you are able to play a short course and practise chip shots along with putting as well. So if you want to improve any part of your golfing game or just learn how to play the game, golf holidays in France is probably one of the best ideas you will have. Most resorts are very friendly and also to boot they aren’t even that expensive. You can find cheap golf holidays looking online or through catalogues which some resorts offer and you can find them in most travel agents.

Easy Access

Just 100 miles from London you’ve got three of France’s great courses: Le Touquet La Mer, Hardelot Les Pins and Belle Dunes. Drive for another hour and you’ve got another batch of world-beaters…And it goes on. Whether driving, taking the train or taking a very short flight, you can arrive and play on the same day. As we say “So close, yet so different!”

The Value

Let’s be honest, France used to be ridiculously cheap. It’s no longer that but it still offers brilliant value-for-money. You can play 36 holes with a buggy at the Jack Nicklaus gem of Paris International (just two hours from Calais) for about £60 and you can play at Deauville for just £19. Compared to courses of the same quality, France offers far superior value. Where else can you play one of the world’s great courses all day (Fontainebleau) and have a three-course lunch and free use of a trolley and the practice range for less than the price of a round at an average course in England? For accommodation, France has updated its offering and working in a hotel has always been a respected profession. Generally speaking, you get four-star quality for a three-star price.

The Food

Need I say more? The French live for food…Children study food as part of the national curriculum from the age of seven and nearly everyone is a connoisseur. The produce is fresh, expertly prepared and served with style. Every region has its influence – the seaside, the rivers, the fields. You could tour non-stop and try a different dish every day for years.
It’s no coincidence that France has the greatest restaurants in the world and thousands of wonderful brasseries serving delicious dishes all day long. I often wonder how the menus are offered at such a low price (it’s probably got more to do with the UK over-charging!) Whilst we Brits concentrate on money, the French talk most about their food.

The Golf

FACTS: 22 courses in Europe’s Top 100. Links, parkland, target golf, woodland layouts.
Designed by the likes of Tom Simpson, Harry Colt, Robert von Hagge, Henry Cotton, Trent Jones, Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus. 517 courses. Very few members. Chateau clubhouses.

It’s Better for the Planet

Air fares are climbing – charges for clubs, luggage, four types of tax etc. You can get to Northern France, Normandy, Champagne, Brittany, Paris and even the south-west of France within one to three hours of getting off Eurotunnel or your ferry, and no need to add to your carbon footprint in the process!

The Weather

As a general rule, the weather is warmer and more consistent that the UK. The South virtually guarantees sunshine – particularly the Languedoc Rousillon region. I find that the Loire River is the cut off point from being a few degrees warmer than “Old Blighty” to offering truly lovely weather.

The Fine Wine

Despite all the advances of New World wines, France is still considered to offer the best wines in the world. For red wines, Medoc; for white wines, Burgundy. Then there’s Champagne, the lovely light whites of the Loire, the fruity rose of Provence. Surprise, surprise, all those regions also offer stunning golf courses. There’s nothing nicer than playing a round of golf in the morning, lunch at the clubhouse or a nearby brasserie and stopping off at a chateau for a tasting and opportunity to buy great wines at very low prices. A very productive day!

The Culture

Culture plays a hugely important role in French society. From fashion to paintings, from architecture to history, you only need look at the attention and public grief at the recent passing of Yves Saint Laurent to realise what culture means to the French. There are museums everywhere and they make a great holiday for culture-vultures.

I could go on, but I’d be repeating the main points again and again: for great courses, fine dining, high culture and terrific weather, you can’t beat a luxury golf holiday in France.