Head to biarritz for a tasty French golf break
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Quality golf across the Channel is not just about Normandy and Brittany and 2018 Ryder Cup-staging Paris you know. There is a quaint corner in the south west of the country close to the Pyrenees and Spanish border in Basque country which is just as good… if not even better. Welcome to brilliant Biarritz…
The classy seaside resort beside the Atlantic has been a surfers paradise for many years and nowadays it’s highly popular with the golfing fraternity too thanks to an outstanding variety of courses ranging from magical links to mature parkland on its doorstep.
Compared to other well established European destinations the courses are reasonably priced too – in fact if you fork out 150euros (£120) on a Golf Pass (www.golfpassbiarritz.com) you can experience three of Biarritz’s best courses.
Biarritz star and ‘must play’ is Seignosse which regularly prominently features in sister magazine Golf World’s Top 100 Continental Courses.
It’s a sensational rollercoaster of a layout with the beautifully manicured fairways overlooked by a combination of towering pine and cork trees. Close by you’ll find – and love – the flat, easy-walking mature Hossegor and Robert Trent Jones’s links masterpiece Moliets.
Pick of the rest include historic Biarritz Le Phare, a tight Willie Dunn-designed parkland, Chiberta – an impressive links/parkland combination – and Arcangues, a dramatic rolling 1990s layout with some breathtaking elevated tees.
Besides the quality golf, visitors will also relish the après golf – virtually all the clubhouses are world-class as are the general facilities and, of course, the food and wine.
Biarritz is less than two hours away via Ryanair who fly from Stansted (about £160 return for a late June break). TG stayed at the three star Hotel Caritz overlooking a sandy beach at Plage du Port Vieux and it proved a good base with its popular restaurant arguably providing the best food in town…
FACTFILE
Green fees guide: Le Phare from £42; Arcangues from £38; Hossegor and Chiberta both from £47; Golf de la Nivelle from £44; Seignosse from £45.
Contact: Hôtel Restaurant Le Caritz – hotel-lecaritz-biarritz.com or e-mail contact@lecaritz.com; General info – bearn-basquecountry.com
Try it yourself: Three nights’ B&B at Hotel Edouard VII and two rounds (Biarritz Le Phare, Arcangues) from £295 per person between Jul 1-Sept 2. To book visit yourgolftravel.com
