A sport from the Netherlands, golf has become more democratic with great champions, mostly English and American. This outdoor discipline requires precision and strategy . Configuration of the terrain, club to be used, power of the wind and the difference in altitude...
To improve in golf, you have to train for hours! Whether you are a beginner or an experienced amateur, there is always time to become an "ace of the green" .
What do you need to play, where to practice during a stay in France and how to choose your hotel? Here are some things to think about to help you go green for a weekend .
First, you need to have a green fee to tread the grass on the course. This package gives you access to the different holes. But beyond this detail, several criteria must be taken into account to hit the ball.
To assess the difficulty of a golf course, we look at the slope . Being able to go from 55 to 155, it offers a good indication of the level requested. A 113 course is considered easy, but already a bit hard for beginners qualified as bogey .
During the game, you can rely on the Par, which represents the ideal score for each hole (in how many shots to hit the ball?).
Often the par is 72 . From there to make an Eagle or a Birdie (two or three shots below Par), you will have to practice! Each golfer has an index that measures the handicap of the player, it gives you an idea of the level.
Of course, the difficulty is linked to the number of holes on the course . The majority of courses have 18 holes, simply because this allows them to accommodate the greatest number of golfers, from beginners to professionals.
But there are also 9-hole courses . The difference:often with the 9 holes, you do the course in the outward direction, then the same in the return direction. You're kind of at an advantage because you're testing each step twice!
This license, also called green card, is your ticket to come on the course. Not required – it depends on the decision of each golf course – it is always better to have one if you want to be sure to play.
Its main advantage:you can compete , and you make sure to practice regularly in a circle of golfers.
To play golf, you also have to think about the equipment! You can rent one or own your own , it is still recommended to have your own if you want to evaluate your progress on the same basis:
You need the paraphernalia of a golfer to progress well. Each with its own specificity, the clubs are very important in the success of the hole:iron 9, pitching wedge, wood 3, driver... Depending on the distance to be covered, it's up to you to use the right one!
Many times you choose your hotel based on golf reputation or location. A desire for a getaway? It's time to "kill two shots with one shot" by heading to a hotel that includes golf.
Almost everywhere in France you will find accommodation of this type, it remains to know which environment you prefer:in the heart of nature surrounded by forest and bodies of water, by the sea, on the outskirts of towns ?
So determine the type of route you want and the surrounding environment , and you will already have a nice selection of hotels for your short golf getaway.
During a golf stay, we certainly want to enjoy a magnificent setting, but we must also take into account the comfort on site, and this is often reflected in the number of stars of the area. Famous hotel group, castle, renovated period estate …
The 4 and 5 stars are perfect for ensuring a weekend or a short luxury golf trip in complete peace of mind, with careful professionals . We also advise you to read the various opinions of the hotel, because here too the number of stars is a good indicator of customer satisfaction.
In many hotel complexes with golf, you will find wellness facilities, ranging from the swimming pool to the institute with massages and beauty treatments .
This service completes the sports offer of golf as part of an overnight stay. This is an opportunity to enjoy a gentle break at the hotel spa , if this criterion seems essential to you:
During your great getaway for two, maybe you also want to discover the local gastronomy? If so, look at the menu served at the hotel restaurant. Sometimes, you will find a high-end menu for dinner, and more bistro cuisine for lunch .
With a catering service directly in the hotel, you do not need to go out. Your romantic dinner is waiting for you close to the bedroom, an essential ingredient!
Now that you have specified your desires, you will surely have stopped on a region. Here are some golf courses throughout France for your stay.
To spend a golf weekend in the Paris region, you go green outside the capital. And yes, Paris has many advantages, but not that of offering intramural golf. So you have an appointment at Chantilly or Fontainebleau for your nature escape!
In the west of Île-de-France, amateurs can also go to Guyancourt in the Yvelines, the national Albatross golf course is a reference . It also hosts the 2018 Ryder Cup which pits players from Europe against the US!
More accessible than the Morfontaine golf course in the Somme, you can go to the Barrière de Westminster in Nord-Pas-de-Calais .
The Hardelot golf course on the Opal Coast and that of Le Touquet are also well known. They are among the most beautiful sites in Europe to play golf!
Normandy is home to several renowned golf courses , and golf &spa hotels perfect for a stay between sport and relaxation.
That of Granville, in the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, is a traditional Scottish golf course with 27 holes on the course. No hotel included in this stay, you will have to take it apart if you really want this one! On the other hand, on the side of Deauville and Trouville which hosted the French Open in the past, you will find the Barrière and Mercure complexes.
In Brittany, Saint-Malo and Dinard are two famous golf spots with 3* and 5* hotels, or the Domaine de Cicé-Blossac in Ille-et-Vilaine, so you have the choice! On the Atlantic coast, Barrière is located in La Baule, but you will also find other 3* hotels.
In Gironde near Bordeaux, the Château des Vigiers near Bergerac, the Médoc golf course or the Relais de Margaux, are 4-star areas perfect for getting together quiet. This is the opportunity for a top golfing holiday in Gironde!
In the Landes, you can go to Moliets or Hossegor on the Atlantic coast . The Pyrenees, with its mountainous landscapes, is less golf-oriented but you will still find some characterful hotels such as the Hostellerie de Fontanges towards Rodez.
Biarritz is also a golf mecca ! Not only for surfers, the Basque city welcomes ball lovers in very beautiful hotels near the ocean.
In Alsace, Kempferhof near Strasbourg stands out for playing golf and getting away from it all. In Burgundy-Franche-Comté,the castle of Chailly or Bournel are exceptional residences with a journey.
In the Alps you can also golf! At the Domaine de Divonne 5* or in Evian overlooking Lake Geneva , you stay in beautiful hotels and enjoy a green fee to play golf.
The Loire Valley is well known for its Renaissance castles, and therefore for its green landscapes conducive to golf breaks. Amboise and Cheverny can welcome you to their golf hotel area for a golf weekend between history and sport .
Bordes in the Loire Valley , or the Domaine de la Bretesche and the Château des 7 Tours will delight you for their authentic setting with multiple services. In the Center region, Les Portes de Sologne near Orléans is a good address!
The PACA region offers many golf hotels with exceptional views . In Provence, you can enjoy the 5-star golf &spa resort Terre Blanche, the Dolce Frégate with sea views, or the Vidauban-Prince de Provence in the Var, very hilly with umbrella pines and lavender.
Towards the French Riviera, Cannes-Mougins Resort or the Valescure golf hotel offer a magical view for example. And even in Corsica, you can hit the ball at the Spérone golf course, very popular for its seaside landscapes!
Beyond the sporting aspect, golf courses are also real quiet spaces, havens of peace where nature is in the spotlight.
There are many golf courses in France, and often in a hotel resort which includes many services such as the spa or quality catering. Beginner or confirmed, it is ideal to practice during a stay for two.
According to your desires for relaxation, discovery of the region or gustatory pleasure , you will choose the hotel that suits you to practice. Perhaps it is the course itself that attracts you? In any case, your golf weekend is a hit!
