France, Bourdeaux, Château des Vigiers - Golf à la carte

Come along to a 400-year-old French wine castle which now offers 87 rooms, 27 holes, three restaurants and countless hours of enjoyment.

The Swedish-owned castle is located in the middle of the French idyll. With their self-produced wines, famous cuisine and beautiful environment the whole experience is the best. But how’s the golf?

In the early nineties Lars Urban and Elisabeth Pettersson shaped some thoughts about a luxury resort. The couple had already decided on the Périgord and soon decided to restore the 400 year old castle to its former glory. Not for nothing is it called "Little Versailles" and was built during a both prosperous and anxious time for the region.

Architect Donald Steel was contacted and the construction of the golf course was started at the same time as the restoration of the castle. Per-Ulrik Johansson was contracted as "Touring Pro" and today there are 27 holes, a castle hotel with 87 rooms and three restaurants.

The old vineyard previous main occupation also got a new lease on life. Today about 100,000 bottles are produced per year on 17 hectares.

The region's wines, food and raw materials have a well-deserved reputation and around Château des Vigiers it is crowded between the vineyards and representatives for the local cuisine. At Château des Vigiers Didier Casaguana is in charge of the pots and pans. He is responsible for making sure that the gourmet restaurants Les Fresques, the brasserie Le Chai and the little "golf bar 'Le Club maintain the highest class in terms of food and drink.

We even enjoy ourselves in our room. We live in the castle, in the original part. There are stunning suites with rooftop terraces, but even simpler double rooms that are no less charming.

Well, you wonder now, it all sounds good, but what about the golf? Yes, there we come to the crux of the matter. My preconceptions namely came to nought.

The first swings are executed on the old course’s first nine, and there its reputation is true. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the design or condition, just that the holes on the part called Les Vignes is rather uninteresting. It is not until you get to play the ninth hole towards the beautiful castle that it begins to feel interesting.

It’s something totally different at Le Lac, the back nine of the old course. Already from the first hole, the holes are more interesting and more fun to play. In addition, the holes are beautiful with all the plum trees that line the fairways. Hole four is a fun dogleg where you can cut much of the distance by taking a short cut with a driver. The ninth hole is the classic eighteenth. A semi-blind hit over a ridge and down a black piste towards a minimal landing area before the ball settles securely for a short shot. The short shot fights against a giant green just below Château des Vigiers. The architect Donald Steel has selected it as his personal favorite hole- among all the holes he has designed over the years.

So quickly over to the new holes - La Vallée. Already on hole two it gives as good as it gets. Par five, 453 metres, out pegs along the left side and water on the right side. The tee is elevated in the woods on the left side and it tempts you to hit a bit harder. You can figure out how this ends. The absolute hardest is the fifth hole, par four, 384 metres uphill. Definitely no piece of cake when there is a headwind.

The two courses "Lac" and "Vallée" together form a really enjoyable eighteen-hole course. Varied, challenging and beautiful, what more can you ask for? 
 
By: Mikael Andersson.

Golf course
Number of holes: 27, par 72
Course type: Park / woods course
Architect: Donald Steel
Difficulty: Easy / moderate / difficult
Handicap limit (men/ women): 36

Château des Vigiers
More information: Château des Vigiers
Telephone: + 33 to 33,553,615,020 
Address: 24 240 Monestier, Dorgogne

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