Going for Golf

Saint-Laurent

Saint-Laurent is not your typical Breton course, situated slightly inland at the pleasant little town of Ploemel. Well-travelled (and almost certainly well-heeled) golfers have compared it with Surrey’s finest heathland courses ... minus the heather. Some of the tees, for example, are fringed by floral displays – a nice homely touch, not strictly necessary, but definitely added value.

With its true greens and wide, shallow bunkers, Saint-Laurent, a former Open venue and host to French Professional Championship events in 1988 and 1989, has a couple of reasonably steep hills to negotiate but overall  is eminently pedestrian-friendly. The generous fairways are edged with oaks and pines, so, for most of the time at least, you’re able to take out the driver – although on a couple of holes, it might be wise to opt for an iron, and take the safer option.

Golf in this part of northern France still represents excellent value for money, despite the Euro’s recent well-documented travails. It’s not every day, for example, you get the chance to play such quality courses for little more than the equivalent of £20. And Formule-Golf and Blue-Green, now working closely together, have tempting offers including special golf passes ranging from around €70 to €100 (depending on the season) for two days to just over €300 to €450 for golfers on longer breaks looking to play several courses – it pays to check the websites for up-to-date details.

The countryside is lush, the climate generally agreeable and the food and drink is, well, fantastique. English golfers more accustomed to sandwiches, bowls of chips, meat pies and pints of lager are served instead with fine wines, langoustines and sumptuous barely-cooked steaks – with maybe a glass of apple brandy to finish. Our French counterparts, meanwhile, sometimes wearing denim (quelle horreur!)  often take their dogs out with them on the course. There’s a more relaxed, less formal approach – and I’m all for it. Golfing in Brittany isn’t just about bogeys and bunkers; think outside the box – baguettes, bistros and a nice bottle of red, say – and you’re bound to enjoy it even more. It’s all about the experience. Vive La France! Bring on Brittany.