Only 2h30 from Paris, the Avignon TGV station drops you off within driving distance of some of the most beautiful golf courses in Provence. A great opportunity to combine golf and tourism in the heart of one of the most beautiful regions of France, as rich in culture as it is geographically.

Grand Avignon, under the gaze of the Giant of Provence

  • Photo: DR

About twenty minutes from the station, heading east with this course designed by George Roumeas, with the help of his friend Jean Garaialade, in a green park of 60 hectares with many water obstacles . “The greens are fantastic, souligne Ludovic Mangaud, the golf director. And, if the mistral is not blowing too much, it is possible to achieve a very good score. " Like Romain Lanteri, who signed the best card (64) on this par 72.

“The particularity of the Grand Avignon golf course is also its conviviality. The welcome is top notch and everything is concentrated over 50 meters: the clubhouse, the pro-shop, the driving range (on the water), the putting green, the approach green as well as holes n ° 1 and 18 ", adds Ludovic Mangaud. Flat, the course wanders between five lakes and typically Provencal vegetation made up of lavender, olive trees and cypress trees. The start of hole n ° 1 (for the men) is particularly intimidating, all the more so if you haven't warmed up beforehand, with a large lake to overlook from the first shot of the driver. The last hole - a 3-meter long par 200 - is breathtaking with Mont Ventoux on the horizon.
http://golf-grand-avignon.com/

What to visit?

Nicknamed the Giant of Provence, Mont Ventoux culminates at 1910 meters with, in the last kilometers, a lunar landscape and a view on a clear day of Mont-Blanc, located 150 km as the crow flies. Mythical stage of the Tour de France, the more athletic can hire a bike at the foot of the climb and challenge Froome, Pantani or Armstrong, who reached the summit in just under 59 minutes.
http://www.bedoin-location.fr/

Where to stay?

Located about twenty minutes from Mont Ventoux and 8 minutes from the motorway, Chateau Gigognan has 8 guest rooms decorated in the Provencal style of the XVIIIe century. Wine lovers will appreciate its cellar, stocked with Châteauneuf du Pape and Côtes du Rhône.
http://www.gigognan.fr

Avignon Chateaublanc, a natural golf course

  • Photo: DR

A quarter of an hour's drive south, head for the Chateaublanc course. Designed around thirty years ago by the duo Géry Watine and Thierry Sprecher along the Rhône valley, its flat and spacious fairways allow - on a good day and if the mistral is napping - to keep the parties busy. Or even better if affinities.  “We are above all a friendly golf course, says Charlotte Giuliani, the deputy director. Besides our 18 hole course, we have a 9 hole compact which people can play in 1h15, especially at lunch time. " The greens, well maintained, are not very rolling. An ideal golf course for players of all levels.
https://www.ugolfavignonchateaublanc.com

What to visit?

In the historic center of Avignon, the palace of the popes is the largest of the Gothic constructions of the Middle Ages. The building, built in 1355, is one of the 10 most visited monuments in France. A few hectometers away, you can also dance on the the bridge of Avignon, built in the XIIe century and listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, like the palace. Several times washed away by the wines of the Rhône, it has been left as it is since the XNUMXth century.e century.
http://www.palais-des-papes.com/fr

Or to stay?

The Divine Comedy is an oasis nestled in the heart of the medieval city of Avignon. Five suites decorated in a mixture of modernity and Empire style surround a large garden with a hundred different species. The jacuzzi offers a view of the Papal Palace, located a few minutes walk away. When you come home from dinner, it is often Theodule, an adorable Weimaraner, who will climb the stairs with you and guide you to your room. A journey through time and a unique experience.
https://www.la-divine-comedie.com/

The Domaine de Manville, a perfume from Provence

Photo: DR

Head south, towards Les Baux de Provence, in the Alpilles. The Manville golf course is as aesthetic an experience as it is golfing. This original 9-hole course was transformed a few years ago into an 18-hole course, carved out of 44 hectares which offer a breathtaking view of the Château des Baux and the vines of Mas Sainte-Berthe. "No one enters here unless he is a surveyor" could be the (Platonic) motto of the domain. Because in addition to its synthetic departures melted in the rockery, the specificity of the course lies in the shape of its greens and bunkers, drawn in square or rectangle!
https://www.domainedemanville.fr/fr/

What to visit?

Between Avignon and Les Baux, stop at Tarascon, the cfamous city immortalized by Alphonse Daudet and his Tartarin. Perfectly preserved, the castle of Tarascon is considered one of the most beautiful fortresses in Europe. At the top, the spectacular machicolations as well as the panorama of the partially destroyed Beaucaire castle, on the other bank of the Rhône, will thrill young and old alike.
http://chateau.tarascon.fr/

Land of artists, Provence has inspired famous painters. At Les Baux de Provence, the Carrières des Lumières offer famous sound and light shows. On the program from March 30, 2019: Van Gogh's Starry Night.
https://www.carrieres-lumieres.com/

Or to stay?

Even if we did not test it during our visit, it is difficult not to mention the five-star Domaine de Manville hotel, which offers a high standard experience. Its Michelin-starred restaurant and bistro are also excellent assets to seduce visitors.
https://www.domainedemanville.fr/fr/

Near Baux de Provence and golf, The Mas de l'Oulivié is an upscale hotel with the feel of a private house. A sumptuous swimming pool bordered by rocks adds character to this establishment which offers many activities (hiking, meditation, massage, horseback riding, mountain biking, off-road segway, tennis, artisanal discoveries, etc.). Hotel guests benefit from a 10% reduction on green fees at the Manville and Servanes golf courses (located 7 kilometers away).
http://www.masdeloulivie.com/

Servanes, a postcard with the Alpilles in the background

  • Photo: DR

It could be a painting by Paul Cézanne. At the foot of the rocks, the fairway curled by the Alpilles which take you high, hole n ° 1 immediately makes us understand why golf is a game apart. Bordered by olive groves (nearly 4000 on the course), rocked by the song of the cicadas, the golf course of Servanes is a beautiful Provencal stroll punctuated by a little US touch, like its two large greens on the island and its cascading lakes. The last three holes, surrounded by maritime pines, will act as justices of the peace for your score card.

« We play golf in a postcard decor, magnified by the whiteness of the Alpilles, confirms Jean Badéa, the director. Servanes is a hymn to the beauties of the region. »Along the fairways of 7, do not hesitate to greet Marius Comba, the club's darling. This almost nonagenarian, who seems to have escaped from a novel by Pagnol, spends his days on a chair at the foot of his house watching the golfers. Dean of the drummers of Provence, he will tell you about the occupation of Servanes castle by the Germans during the war or even of Mont Ventoux, which he would have climbed by bicycle in… 1949.
https://golfservanes.com

What to visit?

Considered the small capital of the Alpilles, Saint-Remy-de-Provence is a city as typical as tourist. At the bend of its narrow alleys, you will pass in front of the house where Nostradamus was born.
http://www.saintremy-de-provence.com/

Pont-Royal, in the footsteps of Severiano Ballesteros

  • Photo: DR

45 minutes east of Servanes, Pont-Royal is the only golf course designed in France by the legendary Spaniard. This incredibly varied American course is distinguished in particular by its green character. "Golf maintenance is a priority, specifies the director, Jérôme Lauredi. The tees are mowed like greens and, despite the presence of scrubland and pine forest, it is very difficult to lose a ball. "

Many holes are worth a look, like 8, a par 4 that turns left at 90 degrees, with a unique panorama of the Alpilles and the Provençal countryside. Or the 11, a par 3 of 190 meters protected by a ravine between the tee and the green. When designing the course, Ballesteros would have hit about 7 balls from the back tee (specially built for the occasion) in order to precisely determine the location of the green. Depending on the direction of the mistral, the choice of club can vary from XNUMX iron to driver!

This is also one of the peculiarities of the site. All the par 3 greens are preceded by obstacles that will help speed up your heart rate: scratches, tops and other similar delicacies are not recommended here. Hole 18, a left dodleg par 5 surrounded by forest and its green next to a welcoming lake will give you the final thrill like a good Hitchkock movie. One thing is certain, Pont-Royal will not leave any golfer indifferent.
https://www.golf-pontroyal.com/

What to visit?

About twenty minutes from the golf course, towards Salon-de-Provence, Barben zoo home to more than 650 animals of 130 different species. On the “menu”: Bennett's wallaby, Brazilian tapir, Asian elephant, hippopotamus, cheetah, bison, little red panda or even West African giraffe… A park highly rated on Trip Advisor.
https://www.zoolabarben.com/

Or to stay?

About ten minutes from the Pont-Royal golf course, the Domaine de Méjeans is an elegant, typically Provençal guest house located by the lake and comprising five rooms furnished with period furniture, with different themes.
http://www.domainedemejeans.com/

Saumane, to take in the view

  • Photo: DR

To end your golfing journey in style, head north towards Isle sur la Sorgue, a 40-minute drive away. The Saumane golf course is a nice surprise, in every sense of the word. As playful as it is spectacular, this 18-hole course nestled in the hills of Vaucluse offers some magnificent views of the Alpilles and the Lubéron. The final hole is matched with a left dodleg par 4 which requires a faceoff between two lakes. Apply yourself, because your other shots will be closely scrutinized, the terrace of the bar overlooking the green of 18. In case of a double bogey, perhaps you will hear the mocking laughter of the ghost of the Marquis de Sade, who was once the owner. from the castle of Saumane ...
https://www.golfdesaumane.fr/

What to visit?

The Luberon is full of treasures. From Isle sur la Sorgue, go to Bruoux mines, about thirty kilometers to the east. The hour-long guided tour is worth its weight in gold, or rather ocher in this case. Along the way, stop at the Lavender museum in Coustellet in Sénanque Cistercian Abbey nearly Gordes, considered one of the most beautiful villages in France. Without forgetting the unique panorama of Rustrel ochres, a semi-natural site which earned it the nickname of Provençal Colorado.

Or to stay?

5 minutes from golf, the Mas des Grès is a friendly hotel housed in a small Provençal farmhouse restored and managed with warmth and friendliness by Nina and Thierry. They are themselves followers of the little white ball in their spare time, and each year they organize a tournament in Saumane with their golfing clients. In the evening, Thierry does not hesitate to put his hand in the kitchen and serves delicious seasonal cuisine made from local products.
http://masdesgres.com/

* GOOD TIP: a pass gives you up to 30% reduction on 28 golf courses in Provence.
https://provencegolf.com/creez-votre-pass/

Frank Crudo