France, Provence, Golf Esterel - Golf in Provence

Mats Olsson won a golf trip in a contest arranged by Lime Travel Agency and Golfresan. In November, he travelled to Golf Estérel in French Provence, and here he describes himself in text and pictures about his experiences.

"Shit!" Jacques is really unhappy with his drive on the first tee, this Friday morning in November at Golf Estérel in southern Provence. The ball only reaches just in front of the red tee and good friend Tony comments on the drive with a broad smile. The duel has begun once again.

The two French gentleman of retirement age have been playing golf regularly here at the course since it opened in 1989. Weekly match play is important, but the two charmers also joke briskly with each other during the game. We therefore get very good company on our own premiere around the course which was designed by Trent Jones Sr. and is laid out in the Esterel mountain range, located on the outskirts of the city of Saint Raphael on the French Riviera.

The course is naturally embedded in a large residential area, where houses and apartments have been built up with clubhouse and restaurant as a central point for the residents. The area is called Golf Parc d'Esterel. Many Frenchmen have moved here to sheltered and secluded housing with close proximity to the golf course. Most of the residents are now retired and therefore have the opportunity to enjoy the course weekdays and weekends. This has also led to pressure on the course being quite high. It is often fully booked from early morning to late afternoon.

At the clubhouse there is also Hotel Latitude offering excellent accommodation for the golf traveller. A three star hotel with high standards, we as guests can enjoy a beautiful pool area and Jacuzzi bath in the spa. The hotel’s restaurant, Le Saint Andrews, also serves very good food, even if the menu during the off-season is not very extensive.

When we reach the fourth hole Tony tells me that the new stylish homes, located along the right side of the hole, have been built on land that was formerly a vineyard, which then provided a far more picturesque element of the experience of the course. Even if the houses generally surround the greater part of the course, the houses are very well hidden by the pine forests that frame just about every hole. This framing also means that it is important to keep to the fairway. You’re often punished immediately if you find yourself among the trees.

Hole 11 is a good example of the character of the course - a par 5 of 483 metres from the yellow tee. This requires two very good shots along the narrow fairway, to get a good chance for shot towards a long, narrow green, with water in the rear and along the left side. It slopes gently down towards the water, so you need to get the ball to stay on the green. For medium handicappers like myself, the hole is a tough challenge, but not impossible. The entire course is perceived in this way - challenging, but possible - which makes you happy to play it several times.

Before the last hole our friends Tony and Jacques have had time to talk about the splendid golf course restaurant's lunch of the day offer. So when Tony sinks the crucial putt in match play on the last hole, we’ve already decided to also visit the 19th hole.

We order a salad Niçoise, which feels quite right when you are only eighty kilometres from Nice, followed by "Rognon de Veau au Porto, calf kidney. Not only did lunch taste good, it tasted France.

Of course there are countless opportunities for other activities besides golf in this area. We choose, however, to just go around with our rental car along the coast and experience the fantastic scenery along the coast and its street life. Water sports and mountain hikes will have to wait until the next visit because there will be more visits...

Text: Mats Olsson

FACTS GOLF ESTEREL
Opened: 1989.
Architect: Robert Trent Sr.
Number of holes: 18 +9 (nine hole course for beginners with par 29). Length yellow tee: 5,921 metres. Red tee: 4,527 metres.
Par: 71
Character: Park course
Rating: Scenic, slightly undulating course with both open hole of park character and forest hole lined by pine trees.
Nearby courses: Frégate, Saint Endréol and Barbaroux.

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