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Golf

Premier Courses

Chateau des Vigiers

The Championship Course

Donald Steel, considered to be one of the very best "natural" golf course architects, created this unique 18-hole, par 72 course in its enthralling setting amidst plum trees, oak woods, lakes and vineyards. Donald, who has contributed to many world-famous courses such as the Jubilee and Eden courses at St. Andrews as well as Chantilly in France, designed the course with the Château as its centrepiece; the 9th and 18th finishing off in front of the Château; and many of the other undulating greens with different perspectives of the Château. When asked by Golf World to name his favourite hole from his long career, Donald chose N° 18 at Château des Vigiers, with its dogleg over a ridge for the second shot over the lake on to the green, in front of the Château. Subsequently it was described in Golf World under the heading "Vintage Finale".

Château des Vigiers' course is maintained as a holiday course with short rough, promoting quick play and accessibility for higher handicaps. However, the greens are frequently lightning fast and prove a test for any golfer. With strategic pin positions and longer rough, the course can be turned into a challenge for the best golfer. Indeed, one of the Members, Per Ulrik Johansson, who played for the winning European team in both the 1995 and 1997 Ryder Cup, took five years to get down from his initial score of 75 to 66, now the course record. He adds, "It is an interesting and enjoyable course with tough greens. There are a few really great holes and a lot of good ones.

Vincent Trojani, the resident golf professional, has been at the course, since it opened in 1992. He provides full instruction in English and French to both beginners and more advanced players. With a video camera, recorder and TV he can help you get the best out of your swing.

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Golf du Medoc (Les Vignes)

Laid out over what is generally flat terrain, the 36 holes at Le Pian Medoc can easily be played in one day. After the tree-less landscape of ‘Les Chateaux’, ‘Les Vignes’ provides a warm welcome contrast and plays a little more easily. Golfers who love playing woodland courses will be spoilt here, as a number of the holes wind their way through a pretty and shady pine forest, which unfortunately was badly damaged by the storms. However fewer trees have not made the course any easier. The others provide a little tighter vegetation, which nonetheless is very much in play. As with ‘Les Chateaux’, the greens are excellent and not too undulating. Although a little less challenging, ‘Les Vignes’ is still one of the best courses in a very busy tourist region, and the two courses together are easily the most attractive golfing proposition within the immediate vicinity of Bordeaux.

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Golf du Medoc (Les Chateaux)

While ‘Les Vignes’ course (The Vines) is a pleasant stroll through open country and a pine forest, the ‘Chateaux’ course is an even finer vintage and well worth its reputation. Designed by the American Bill Coore, the course unfolds over flat open country and is designed to play like a links course, but without the dunes. Some water hazards and ditches can be a little trying, but the rolling fairways, well-designed bunkers, thick rough and the profile of the huge greens make this one of the region’s finest courses. People who prefer woodland courses will probably knock ‘Les Chateaux’ as being visually boring, but it gets better and better the more you play it. It is the most technical course in the region and easily walkable. The more it matures, the more Le Medoc has to be ranked amongst the best courses in France. In a word, nothing has changed over the past two years, except that like a good Medoc wine, it goes on getting better with age.

Golf de Pessac

Laid out in the heart of a magnificent pine forest, the 36 holes of Bordeaux Pessac has the distinction of ranking within the top 135 courses in France in the 2000-2001 Peugeot Golf Guide and provide a level of golf to satisfy all demands, in the most picturesque of settings. Just 15 minutes' drive from the historic town of Bordeaux, between the sea and the beginning of the Landes region, this is a first-rate club, where the quality of the golf together with the friendly welcome and excellent food in the clubhouse make for an experience you're sure to enjoy.

Beautiful wide fairways bordered by pine trees and water hazards present an enjoyable challenge for golfers of all abilities. This is an ideal spot for some relaxing holiday golf with some family or friends. There is something for everyone: a classic 18-hole layout, a ‘compact course’ for beginners, a 9-hole short course perfect for practice or some after-lunch exercise.

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Golf de Gujan-Mestras

Located between Arcachon and Bordeaux, this 18-hole course was designed by Alain Pat (with an adjoining 9-hole course). Using a lot of good sense, he has avoided any excessive difficulties and the layout only penalises the players who take one risk too many. The flat terrain has been slightly graded for greater relief and the sandy sub-soil is ideal for a golf course. It winds its way pleasantly through pine-trees and heather, with playing difficulties carefully gauged to avoid scaring the lesser player. Aside from the few water hazards, the main problems are the bunkers and trees, which generally speaking afford easy access to the greens. Beginners will probably find the going a little harder when dealing with some of the better-protected holes. You can easily play here all year, as the winters are mild, the ground withstands all weathers and maintenance has been considerably improved. Our sole regret is the loss of so many trees after the storms around Christmas 1999.

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Golf de Lacanau

Gently rolling through a pine forest in a balmy and magnificent setting, this course could have been a true masterpiece. As it is, the layout designed by John Harris is simply a good course, although half a dozen holes clearly emerge as out of the ordinary. Water hazards are an attractive addition to the general landscape and call for a little thought before shaping the shot, but they are less than awesome. Naturally, you need to play the course several times to grasp the ideal strategy depending on the tees you choose, but here, only the really bad shots are penalised. Although beginners (and even the more proficient players) will find a number of the holes very tight, golfers of all abilities can spend an invigorating holiday in the sea-air close to the Atlantic Ocean. And they can play virtually all year, as the sandy soil quickly soaks up the rain. The green-keeper has worked wonder in keeping the course in prime condition and while the storms of Christmas 1999 brought down quite a few trees, the most dangerous are still standing and, alas, often in your way.

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Golf d’Arcachon

This has long been the traditional week-end course for the good folk of Bordeaux and holiday-makers at Pylat, so don’t expect an overly difficult or bold layout here. In a region of British tradition, architects Blandford and Pierre Hirigoyen laid out a subdued course, which embraces but never disrupts the hilly terrain on the front nine and the flatter holes around the back. The broken relief means that the second shot to a number of elevated greens is not always easy. And a few tight fairways, well defended by trees, require a well-placed tee-shot, even if that means leaving the driver in the bag.

But the course is short, and precision is often better rewarded than length off the tee. With the lowest section of the course now fitted with a drainage system, Arcachon is playable all year. Non-golfers in the family will find lots to do in the seaside resort of Arcachon in summer, while the friendly family atmosphere in the club-house overlooking the course is as warm as ever.

Golf de Castelnaud

Running up the hills and down the dales of the Lot countryside and surrounded by fruit orchards, Castelnaud is an attractive course full of character, which can be tiring to play if you're not hitting straight. One particular feature of the hilly layout, designed by French architect Robert Berthet, is that you rarely play the ball from a level stance, particularly on the front nine holes. However the wide fairways and relatively small number of water hazards and bunkers mean that it's well suited to all abilities, and makes for a very pleasant day's golf.

Other Courses

Golf de Perigueux

Number of Holes 18

Par 72

Length 5924 m

Telephone Number 0033 (0)5.53.53.02.35

Golf d’Albret

Number of Holes 18

Par 72

Length 5835 m

Telephone Number 0033 (0)5.53.65.53.69

Golf de Casteljaloux

Number of Holes 18

Par 72

Length 5891 m

Telephone Number 0033 (0)5.53.93.51.60

Golf de Bordeaux-Lac

Telephone Number 0033 (0)5.56.50.92.72

Les Etangs

Number of Holes 18

Par 72

Length 6194 m

La Jalle

Number of Holes 18

Par 72

Length 6124 m

Golf Information

Federation Francais de Golf

www.FFG.org

PGA European Tour

www.europeantour.com