Murtoli, a wild setting

Located 1h45 south of Ajaccio (and 25 minutes from Figari airport), Murtoli is the ideal appetizer to start your golfing journey and whet your appetite. Nestled in an area of ​​2500 hectares as magical as it is wild - the golf course is neither indicated nor paved - this hilly 9-hole could serve as a model for a painting by Gustave Courbet. Between sea and mountains, the sumptuous landscape is the setting for this short but technical par 34, which even turns into 12 holes on Sundays.

“The course is defending itself because the players never have their feet flat. But we're going to make the roughs thicker to toughen it up a bit ”, explains Frédéric Abadie, golf manager and former Challenge Tour player. Designed by Kyle Phillips - the architect who remodeled Mortefontaine and shaped Kingsbarns in Scotland - the course follows the undulations of the landscape, like the first golf courses of the 18th century, the playgrounds of the Scottish shepherds. A unique experience, which could even be experienced one day on XNUMX holes. "But not before four-five years", says Frédéric Abadie.

In the evening, you can taste the local products and Corsican cuisine of starred chef Mathieu Pacaud at the Table de la Ferme, or opt for a dinner by the fire in the spectacular restaurant de la Grotte, nestled in a cavity in mountainside. Before spending the night in one of the estate's luxurious mansions or sheepfolds *.

Is Arenas, the calm of the pine forest

The next day, head for Bonifacio, a 45-minute drive away. The ferry ** drops you off in 50 minutes on the neighboring island of Sardinia, which separated with Corsica from Provence around 15 million years ago. Once you have arrived at your safe harbor, that of Santa Teresa di Gallura in this case, head for the west coast towards the golf course of Is Arenas, near Narbolia, at 2 hours 45 minutes drive. In the heart of a pine forest planted on vast dunes after the war, with the help of the Marshall Plan, the course is the work of the famous American architect Robert Van Hagge.

Just a few hectometers from the Mediterranean, this narrow 18-hole course is as beautifully maintained as it is difficult to score, as evidenced by the course record (70 on this par 72!). Provide some spare ammunition before launching an assault on the beast. The signature hole n ° 17, a long left dodleg below defended by an armada of bunkers, will give you some cold sweats on a site which nevertheless benefits from a very mild climate all year round, since the thermometer rarely drops below 10 ° C. As the course is rarely used, even in high season, Is Arenas allows you to play golf in peace, in communion with the surrounding nature. A real plus.

It is also possible to stay in one of the foresterias or villas *** in the area adjacent to the golf course. And taste the moonlight of Sardinian cuisine prepared by chefs who take great care for you in a small cozy restaurant, limited to a few covers. A real feast, we tested for you!

Tanka, the green class

After a stopover in Cagliari (1 hour drive), the capital with steep alleys with its citadel and its Roman-Pisan style cathedral built in the 11th century, go to the south-eastern tip of the island. In Villasimius, the young (XNUMX years old) Tanka Golf is an excellent surprise and a small wonder, drawn on a hill with a majestic view of the sea. Between two swings, it is very tempting to take many photos, as the panorama is breathtaking. "It's an oasis, a completely natural golf course, you play in the company of rabbits and foxes," says Richard Cau, the director. You have no buildings, no hotels or houses on the golf course. "

This course which is sometimes very steep and mainly touristy, since there are very few local players, is a green spot at all levels. With its green appearance, Bermuda grass is in the spotlight here. But also because the site is subject to very strict ecological standards and does not use any chemical fertilizers. "This is the future of golf", estimates Richard Cau. A route that is certainly worth the detour.

Pevero, just for your eyes

Direction the northeast of the island and the Costa Smeralda (3 hours drive) with a stop halfway on the side of Orgoloso, this typical small village of medium altitude famous for its murals (there are nearly 400 ). In Porto Cervo, the Pevero Golf is one of the most beautiful courses in Europe, built in 1972 by Robert Trent Jones. "It is an incredible experience for the eyes, in the most beautiful part of Sardinia", observes its director, Marco Berio. Which also highlights the challenge of the course. In 1978, the South African Dan Hayes won the Italian Open, over Pevero, with a final score worthy of the US Open: +5!

At the start of hole 16, a plaque pays tribute to James Bond. A few hundred meters below, the Cala Di Volpe palace (count nearly 40 euros for a non-alcoholic cocktail!) Has indeed hosted several scenes from The Spy Who Loved Me, shot in the summer of 1976. The the coastal road leading to the golf course was the setting for one of the most legendary car chases in cinema history, with the amphibious Lotus Esprit driven by Roger Moore:

And it is on Romazzino beach, not far from hole 14, that the racing car comes out of the water in front of dumbfounded bathers.

Sperone for dessert

The time to recover from his emotions and to sheathe his clubs, it is time to take the ferry back to Bonifacio. This astonishing thousand-year-old city, built on limestone cliffs, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful jewels of Corsica. And since life isn't just about the driving range, the 187 steps of King Aragon's staircase, carved out of a seaside setting, are an opportunity for an atypical warm-up before discovering another gem. , golfing this time: Sperone.

The golf course is home to a very varied flora and fauna, as well as an 18 hole course which is just as varied. Inland, hilly and links, the course never offers the same face, sculpted in 1990 by Robert Trent Jones Sr. The return is downright breathtaking, with the Mediterranean coming into the game. So that your score card - already shaken by the mistral often present on the southern tip of Corsica - remains presentable at the clubhouse, you have to fly over the sea five times, without incident. The signature hole, the 16, is even one of the 18 dream holes of the European continent according to the British book “Europe Elite 1000”.

"Thanks to the presence of golf, Bonifacio is no longer just a tourist destination," underlines the director, Ariane Buzzo. “The course is also very pleasant to play whatever the season. We are often in a polo shirt in the middle of winter, it is the ideal place to come and spend a weekend without spending hours on the plane. "

Sperone offers a partnership with around ten luxury hotels in the area, including the Cala di Greco ****. Ranked n ° 1 on Trip Advisor in Bonifacio, this charming boutique hotel, which notably has 10 perfectly soundproofed mini villas, is a haven of peace offering a magnificent view of the heights of the city. As the hotel's theme is inspired by ancient Greece, each of the rooms is named after a famous name in mythology. How do you write “luxury, golf and pleasure” in Greek, Corsican and Italian?

Frank Crudo

* https://www.murtoli.com/

** https://www.mobylines.fr/

*** https://www.isarenas.it/#

**** https://www.hotel-caladigreco.com/

Hotel guests can benefit from a special reduction of 35% (except July-August) on green fees.