Hole 1 Pont-Royal golf course, white balls. For the handicap 10 that I am, the objective is each time the same at the start: to play better than my index finger, that is to say to hit a single-digit score. And possibly, due to a misunderstanding, to beat my personal record established in Courson three and a half years ago (card of 75, +3), a daydream where all my balls seemed to be guided towards the hole. As if Darth Vader was holding the putter. In short, the kind of stories that only happen on February 29. I don't know about you, but golf is unique in that, despite our initial enthusiasm, we often lose a few inches between the tee of 1 and the green of 18. This game is as addictive as it is cruel and the sometimes terrible gap between our desires and reality. But hey, after all, we stole a World Cup and planted four goals in the final with a chance and a half. So anything is possible.

The tee of 1 at Pont-Royal is visually quite impressive, it is not the only one. The fairway of this short par 4 turns quickly to the right and seems to get lost directly in the pine forest. When in doubt, I therefore take out my… driver. Bubba style. When I hear the word "strategy", I pull out my gun. I can't help it, it's innate, almost Darwinian, but I have the offensive in my blood. I am General Nivelle of the little white ball.

My drive goes over the first trees, but I have absolutely no idea of ​​the end result. A ball in the middle of the fairway not far from the green or a decapitated squirrel, anything is possible. As I point to the scene of the crime, I realize that it was not, but then not at all, the club to play and that a long iron was more appropriate. I look for my ball for a good ten minutes, to no avail. After a short consultation with myself, I decide to return to the start to offer myself a mulligan. After all, I do not know anything about this course and in particular its tortuous implementation, which prevents me from any form, even insidious, of guilt.

Back between the white balls and knowing that a 4 or 5 iron is more than enough here, I choose very logically ... my wood 5. A reckless decision - to remain positive - which materializes by a disgusting hook (pleonasm) towards the mountain. Ventoux. Lost ball, it starts well. With a deceptively relaxed air, I glance blankly at the putting green, then the clubhouse terrace, just to see if any witnesses have witnessed this second golfing forfeiture. Okay, no one, that's it already. As I did not have time to warm up at the practice, it does not seem illogical to me to benefit from a second mulligan. But promised, this time, no matter what, no replay possible. There are limits. In addition, at this rate, I will be at 6^e hole when night falls.

My iron shot 4 ends in the rough on the right, very close to the fairway, a slide that tumbles down towards the green. Many branches prevent me from attacking the flag, treacherously stuck to starboard. Suddenly, I stuck with a putt of about twenty meters uphill, with a nice side slope to spice things up a little more. Suffice to say that I immediately signed for a two putts. As I started hussar without going through the putting green box, I quickly hit two-three warm-up balls on the green, just to assess its speed. It's fair game. Obviously not in the direction of the flag, it would be contrary to any form of golf ethics and I have principles. I finally hit my "real" ball which ends 1,50 meters from the hole. Not bad. I'm investigating, mission accomplished. Nice to start with. Finally… by to start.

On my score card: by (actual score: quadruple bogey, even disqualification)

Hole 2 Pont-Royal golf course.  A par 3 of 160 meters (135 meters from the yellows) below, headwind. Nothing insurmountable in itself, except that it is preceded by a pond and surrounded by three hundred year old plane trees. With, icing on the cake, an out of bounds on the left and behind the green towards the Moulin de Vernègues, this former coaching inn transformed into a 4-star hotel.

I hit a good blow of iron 5 which pitched 6-7 meters from the flag, also placed in a corner. "Birdie failed, bogey assured" is customary to say my old father in these cases. For my part, it will be a par. Without a bad pun.

On my score card: by

Hole 3 Pont-Royal golf course.  We pass near the old royal path taken during his hunting trips by the "Good King René" (1409-1480 for the followers of Stéphane Bern) to join this par 4 where it is better to miss his stake to the left. Well, in absolute terms, it is better not to miss it at all. I pass the cart of Jérôme Lauredi, the manager, whom I congratulate for the quality of the course and in particular its green aspect. Most golf courses in France, even among the most famous, suffered a lot from this hot and very dry summer, except Pont-Royal, in green and against everyone. He tells me that the fairways are composed of 75% fescue and 25% ryegrass and that the maintenance of the golf course is a priority. The tees are mowed like greens (which is very pleasant), 100% pencross and, despite the presence of scrubland and pine forest on many holes, it is very difficult to lose a ball, he tells me. . Obviously, Jérôme underestimates my capacities in this area.

After a drive which, quite rare for me, splits the fairway in two, the awakening of this damn mistral forced me to overclub my second shot a little too much. Result, I exceed the green by 5 meters. An approach à la Tiger Woods vintage 2015, that is to say a topée approach, propels me to 6 meters behind the flag. No miracle, the bogey comes to sanction my first mistake of the afternoon. Yes, well, I'm fine ...

On my scorecard: bogey

Hole 4 Pont-Royal golf course.  A par 5 with a wide and flat fairway, but with an out of bounds on the left and a stream on the right which keeps us company to the green. After a drinkable stake, the field is reduced appreciably. I face a water obstacle (in front of the green on the left) which, for the record, has been moved three times by Ballesteros, always a perfectionist, during the construction of the course in 1991. Lack of luck, my shot Bois drinks the cup, which might not have happened if Severiano had stuck with his first idea. It's smart.

I drope about fifty yards from the flag, but my ball disappears completely in the rough. Suddenly I “free” redrop and delicately place my ball on a tuft of grass. After all, the rule will soon change on this, I'm just a trailblazer. My wedge stroke ends 2 meters from the hole. Bravache, I look around me, just to know if anyone could appreciate the show. Nobody, too bad. Besides my incredible ability to find excuses, wedging has always been my strong point… well, compared to my level of play, of course. For Tiger and Phil, it's probably just a joke. My long putter finds the middle of the hole and pulls a miraculous par.

On my score card: by (actual score: at least bogey, even disqualification)

Hole 5 of Pont-Royal. Another par 3 headwind with a large body of water in front of the green. Grattes and other delicacies of the same kind not recommended. Assuming that it is better to be too long than too short, I hit a hybrid that is braked then deflected by the wind, flirts with the lake and crashed 4 meters from the flag. Winner Mistral.

This rescue has changed my life since that day when the head of my 3 iron came off the shaft during a practice session and almost knocked out the guy who was three stacks behind me. We all have a friend who changes driver, putter or series when he plays badly, thinking that it is first and foremost a hardware problem. My friend to me is Henri. With his 5 or 6 drivers and his ten best brands of putters, Henri could almost open a store. I have much better ball contact, especially in the roughs, since he generously gave me his Mizuno hybrid. Thank you Henri!

I put in my birdie putt and let out a primary howl. It's stronger than me in these cases, especially when there is no one around: I have the thunderous birdie.

On my score card: birdie

Hole 6 Pont-Royal golf course. Not much to report. A short par 4 uphill with out of bounds on each side if you unscrew hard. I take my wood 5 then my 2 putts as we take a ticket at the security counter.

On my score card: by

Hole 7 Pont-Royal golf course. One of the signature holes. A long par 4 that turns left at 90 degrees with a unique panorama of the Alpilles and the Provençal countryside. I'm not tempting the devil and subtly play it safe by dropping my ball on the right side of the fairway. Okay, that's the official version. I'm actually trying to cut the dodleg and broom from the left but a gust - unless it's a big bland - pushes my ball to the right of the fairway. Voluntary or not, the result is the same: there will be another 195 meters to go to the flag.

For me, who has struggled for the last century to limit the effects of my natural draw, it's a little surprise. A few days earlier, I thought I had found THE TRICK that allows me to drive in a more or less straight line. I did not count, but THE TRICK that allows you to contact the ball well, I must have found 378 since the start of my career: slower swing, faster swing, swing neither too fast nor too slow, slow backswing and fast downswing, mechanical swing where you think about your gesture at the same time, instinctive swing where you think of nothing, more vertical, more horizontal swing, straight finish towards the target, ball closer to the left foot or with the right foot, we move a little away from the ball, weak hand, strong hand, hand closer to the body, lower hand, back straight, more or less inclined, left arm stretched out from start to finish, legs stiffer à la Fred Couples or bent and well anchored in the ground à la Jason Day, tight grip stronger, shorter, we aim for the top of the ball, we aim for the center of the ball, we tilt the shoulders and the head to the right, we raise our head, we move the club away from the ball at address, etc, etc, etc.

All of this stuff worked. An hour, a day, a week… We get carried away, we are in the zone, we say to ourselves that "that's it, I found something, I took a step forward", we almost see each other in qualifying of the French Open, even with 47 brushes, 10 handicap and a crappy technique. And then patatras, there is always a moment when we suddenly come back down to earth, where we foil for the umpteenth time. This damn game is elusive, and despite that, we can't do without it.

My second shot ends up in the bunker. No miracle, two putts later, I leave the green with my bogey and my knife.

On my scorecard: bogey

Hole 8 Pont-Royal golf course. A long par 4 in a straight dodleg this time. On my second shot, my ball ended up in the bunker, very close to the hole (just 5-6 meters). In these cases, I used to hit like a nag, taking as much sand as possible. And it works, my ball coming to a stop four feet from the flag. As I have emptied half of the bunker, I sweep the green a bit and then enter the putt without shaking. It is still not rocket science. And me, moreover, it's not my job. When I think Adam Scott missed a 1,20cm putt in St. Andrews while he was at the top of the leaderboard or Scott Hoch redacted 30cm to win the Masters. Without forgetting Kevin Stadler, unable to return 60 cm to win the French Open.

On my score card: by

Hole 9 Pont-Royal golf course. A par 5 straight ahead with the wind at last at your back. I don't know why, but since playing golf I always feel like I have a headwind more often than my back. I secure my second shot with my magic rescue because a lake, what am I saying an ocean seems to protect the green on the right. An S-shaped bunker was even designed as a tribute to Seve. A wedge stroke on suspicious contact - fortunately that's my strong point - ends its run two short yards before the green. Assuming that a missed putt is potentially less disastrous than a missed wedge, I take the putter and manage to get close enough to the hole to secure par.

On my score card: by 

Total score on the outward journey: +1 (actual score on the outward journey: at least +6, or even disqualification)

To read more of the adventures of Franck Crudo, our special envoy to Pont-Royal, click here…

To find out more about the Pont-Royal golf course: click here