France Pas-de-Calais… pas de problème
Let’s be honest, the majority of Brits in search of some serious Gallic golf will drive off the ferry and instinctively turn right, hit the gas and head a long way south.
Le Touquet
Le Touquet
Telephone:
+33 03 21 06 28 00
Email:
Website:
Courses:
La Mer: 6,863 yards, par 72
La Foret: 6,366 yards, par 71
Le Manoir: 3,081 yards, par 35
We’re creatures of habit, setting the sat-nav for somewhere far away, whether it’s Brittany, Normandy, the Western Loire, or even further afield, like Aquitaine or Provence, perhaps. But here’s some advice for all you fans of French fairways – next time you cross the Channel, with your buddies in the car and clubs in the boot, limit your horizons and pull up only an hour or so after leaving Calais. Close to the border with Belgium, and only a couple of hours from London, here in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region – or Nord as it’s often known – you’ll encounter not just cracking golf courses but a relatively unknown part of France.
Unknown to most of us, that is, although fun-loving Parisians have long flocked here in search of rest and relaxation. And the swish seaside town of Le Touquet – otherwise known as ‘Paris by the Sea’ – was once a favourite haunt of well-heeled Brits. The sci-fi author HG Wells, for example, came here in the early 1900s, and PG Wodehouse and Noel Coward’s ‘smart set’ followed in the 20s and 30s, spending long weekends soaking up the salty Channel air and drinking in the stunning views.
The resort was founded by the owner of Le Figaro back in the 1870s. Its name comes from a local Picard word for “corner”, referring to the stretch of coastline, and the town is famous for its architecture, its luxury hotels and villas, a dazzling mix of traditional and ultra-modern. And here’s the really good news – it boasts a couple of superb 18-hole golf courses.
La Mer, or The Sea course, designed by Harry Colt and opened in 1931, is eerily reminiscent of some of the best Scottish links. It has hosted the French Open on several occasions, twice in the late 1970s (Seve Ballesteros won in style in 1977). At almost 7,000 yards off the back tees, it’s a challenging par-72 (some say the toughest in northern France) with undulating fairways, huge bunkers and greens that are harder to read than a Salman Rushdie novel.
The Forest is a tad over 600 yards shorter, but, as the name suggests, poses a different set of questions: steer clear of the towering pines inland from the dunes, and you just may find yourself playing to somewhere near your handicap. This course was revamped six years ago, particularly on the back nine. Hole 13, for example, is now a very long par-four, while 15 is similar to some of the splendid par-threes on the Pines course at Hardelot – of which more in a moment.
In addition, Le Touquet offers a nine-hole course, Le Manoir, which is ideal for beginners, or a spot of practice.
