France for Adventure - Ladies Golf Breaks

If there’s a man in your life, leave him behind. This is a women-only break after all. Just imagine days of blissful pampering, shopping, wining and fine dining. No stress, just pleasure. Then imagine playing several rounds of golf on top courses without your every tee shot, chip or putt being scrutinised, analysed, digested and dissected by male playing partners. Sounds idyllic? Then visit some of France’s stylish golf venues and let them do their best to make it so.

The exclusive Évian Royal Resort sits on the French-Swiss border in 47 acres of stunning grounds between Lake Geneva and the Alps. Here, it’s all about golf and spa and although it may be expensive, the extra splurge is certainly worth it. If luxury and convenience appeal, you’ve got it (Kylie Minogue and Queen Sofía of Spain are among the resort’s renowned guests).

Although you can drive from the Channel, it’s a long day at the wheel so consider the fly-drive option through Geneva or, for those who can’t or don’t want to drive, transfers can be arranged from Geneva airport to the resort, where a car is not necessary. With two prestigious hotels (the Royal Palace and the Ermitage), three spas, eleven restaurants, five swimming pools, a theatre, gym, squash court, the best children’s club in the business and a casino on site, you won’t need to travel far for off-course activities.

The town is easily accessible by a funicular railway from the hotel and there are evening dinner cruises on the lake available. For on-course activity it’s only a few minutes by hotel shuttle to the renowned Évian golf course.

If you hit the greens of the Évian Masters Golf Club, you’ll be following in the footsteps of the world’s best female golfers down the fairways and you’ll get a buzz from playing it. Home to the annual ladies Évian Masters tournament since 1994, the course is set in beautiful wooded parkland.

There’s a splendid golf training centre on-site, while the course is super. There is surprisingly little water and it isn’t as difficult as one would imagine given that the Masters is held here. It has a choice of tees, depending on handicap, an attractive layout and plenty of WCs dotted around the course. The views across the lake are particularly spectacular, especially from the tees on the second—a memorable downhill par three with a green surrounded by bunkers; tricky if it’s windy and wicked if you’re not accurate. It needs concentration, which doesn’t come easy with a spectacular backdrop vying for attention—the view that has to be the finest in Évian.

BUZZING BIARRITZ

For enjoyable stress-free golf, Biarritz certainly gets the thumbs up. To stay in the heart of this buzzing town in the Aquitaine region, book in at either the Radisson, which has an excellent bar and restaurant, a good spa and rooftop pool or, more expensive and overlooking the beach and Atlantic Ocean, grace the rooms of the elegant Hôtel du Palais. Hotels don’t come much better than this. Built by Napoléon III for Princess Eugénie, the hotel offers everything: a Michelin-starred restaurant, a new Guerlain spa and health club; a heated seawater outdoor pool, a putting green and direct access to Biarritz beach which earned, in the late-1800s, the reputation of being the ‘Queen of beaches and the beach of Kings’.

Reigning supreme in the golf holiday stakes these days, the Biarritz area offers a varied choice of golf courses: from ones that promise a sedate trouble-free round, to evil beasts that threaten to make you cry your eyes out. Ryanair flies direct from Stansted and Dublin into Biarritz itself and the hotels are only ten minutes away by taxi. A big bonus is that golfers can also be easily and inexpensively transported by taxi to six courses within 30 minutes of the town, four of them being within 15 minutes.

Just five minutes from the town you’ll discover one of the oldest golf courses in Europe, Biarritz Le Phare, built in 1888; it has a welcoming ambiance and lovely terrace. The flat and open course looks easy, but be prepared for slick and well-bunkered greens; it’s fairly short (par 69) but nevertheless offers a good challenge and, being on the Atlantic coast, enjoys a mild climate during winter and doesn’t get too hot during summer.

Buggies are recommended at Arcangues Golf Club. This Ronald Fream-designed course, set within 198 acres of oaks and meadows, is hilly and wooded in parts, but has amazing views over the Basque countryside to the Pyrénées.

With a rating of ‘very difficult to fair’ it’s no doddle, but it’s a great experience. Anyway, console yourself afterwards in the Spanish villa-style clubhouse with a selection of tasty tapas on the south-facing terrace overlooking the 18th green, 1st and 10th tees.

SHORT BUT SWEET

Magnificent views of coast and countryside are on course if you play at La Nivelle, which is celebrating its centenary this year. The golf course is fairly short (par 70) but tough with small greens; however it is considered one of Europe’s best. A beautiful clubhouse is one of the assets of the roller-coaster Makila Golf Club where the course is quite hilly and a bit tight in places, but it makes for another fun day out. However, the real ‘stars’ of the region lie further north and you’ll need a car. Play at Hossegor (a European top 100 course), Chiberta, Moliets (in Europe’s top 50) and, with amazing views, difficult Seignosse. This one is a Robert von Hagge course so one comfort is that we ladies can expect a huge advantage from our forward tees.

A relaxed and casual atmosphere in Biarritz is guaranteed, thanks to the surfers who frequent the town, and everybody is out to have a good time. The combination of a wonderful beach, excellent restaurants and lively bars within easy walking distance of the hotels, and a choice of quality courses just a short taxi ride away make Biarritz area a great destination for golfing women.

If you fancy shopping as well as playing golf, fly to Provence, hire a car and make a beeline for the Saint-Endréol Golf Club—an amazing golf course tucked away in glorious Provençal countryside near La Motte-en-Provence. From there you can visit bustling Marseille in one direction or chic Nice in the other (both about an hour’s drive); admire luxury yachts, people-watch and celebrity-spot in trendy Saint-Tropez (45 minutes away), or visit the superb Sunday morning market in nearby Le Muy.

Back at the club, there is an outdoor pool plus an indoor pool in the spa and self-catering or B&B options. The apartments include a small kitchenette and a good-sized lounge with a terrace overlooking the course, so be self-contained and enjoy a cup of tea or glass of wine whenever. Or mix and match and choose to dine in the excellent restaurant Le Palayson with its sun-drenched terrace, snack in Le Bar, or eat casually in Le Café. The choice is yours.

Saint-Endréol is not a course for the big hitters so leave your driver at home, you won’t need it. That said, bear in mind it is quite hilly and a bit tight; ball placement is important so you’ll need to think the course through, but don’t let the par-3s psyche you out. Just pack a few extra balls as quite a lot of water threatens.

The views over the countryside and River Endre are magnificent, the setting spectacular: as is the signature hole, the 13th: a bunker-protected par-3 with a fantastic drop on to the green over water. Up for an exciting and satisfying challenge? Then tee off on this hole from the men’s tee.

In Deauville, Normandy, there are two excellent courses within easy reach of what is arguably the best hotel in the region, Hôtel Normandy, where you can pamper yourself in elegant bedrooms, a gym and indoor pool. You can also expect super attention to detail from the moment you draw up in your car. Take afternoon tea in the welcoming bar of the hotel which straddles the beach and town of Deauville, where names such as Armani and Louis Vuitton vie for your custom; there’s also a terrific market at weekends. However, you’ll find the nearby towns of Trouville and Honfleur are easier on your pocket for both dining and shopping.

WORK OF ART

There are two golf courses within ten minutes drive of the hotel which can be described as superb. The 27-hole Deauville course is quite a tough test where accuracy counts; it’s a bit hilly and meanders through woodland, but there are no long carries and there are fantastic views from the heights.

L’Amiraute is quite different: it combines a lot of water and treacherous bunkers. Built around a wild fowl reserve, the course is beautifully maintained and never seems busy; the clubhouse is gorgeous with a large terrace and particularly good food and each hole features a sculpture. Excuse the pun, but this golf course is a work of art.

If you’re looking to play away the stresses and strains of modern life, then visit the Domaine de Divonne, a Casino-Golf and Spa Resort located in the exclusive spa town of Divonne-les-Bains nestling between the Jura Mountains, majestic Mont-Blanc and the French Alps. Fly into Geneva; grab the hotel transfer bus for Divonne (15 kilometres from the airport) and head for the hills.

Le Grand Hôtel is relaxed, has good-sized rooms, a choice of four restaurants (book in advance), and an outdoor pool for summer use. There is an Anne Semonin spa on site, the Casino de Divonne (one of France’s leading gambling establishments) is two steps away, and the golf course is within 200 metres.

Unusually, the course is made up with six par-threes, six par-fours and six par-fives —starting and ending with a par-three. Brain rather than brawn is needed to score well on this scenic and enjoyable course; fairways are shielded from each other and lined with mature trees, the bunkers are well placed too, and there can be some wicked pin positions. It’s a bit hilly on the back nine but the par-72 course is not long and every hole is different. The signature hole par-five 7th, where a large pond full of water-lilies hugs one side of the green, is a gem.

The 19th offers delicious lunches and Mont-Blanc views from the terrace. Should you need to quench your thirst before the 19th, just take a sip of crystal-clear water from the mountain springs running through the course. Perfect!