Prestigious Golf Courses
Take sun, sea and perfect summer weather... all you need to add is golf before you have paradise! The French Riviera is the perfect destination for golfers looking for a beautiful place to relax and play, and it was even recognized as the 2010 Golf Destination of the Year in Europe - the first region in France to ever win the prestigious recognition. The region is home to no fewer than 23 golf courses, 4 of which are located in the mountains and are only opened in the summertime. The rest are opened all year long.
French Golf Terms
While many words are the same, such as bunker, driver, putter, divot, handicap and fairway (all pronounced with a French accent, bien sūr), some words are different from those you may be used to. Backswing : prise d'elan. Driving range : un terrain d'exercice. The hole : un trou, the iron : un fer, the ball : une balle, and the score card : une carte de scores.
For those of you seeking to purchase or rent golf equipment or clothing, there is a retailer called Nevada Bob's located in Mandelieu, where all of your golfing needs can be met.
Each course has its own rules and regulations for players and payment, however the Grasse Region Golf Pass, available at the Office du toursime de Grasse, will get your into four of the exclusive riviera courses: Golf du Claux-Amic, Golf de Saint-Donat, Golf de la Grande Bastide, and Golf d'Opio-Valbonne.
Another such pass is the Golf Mandelieu-La Napoule Pass, which is available at Mandelieu-La Napoule and grants access to both the Old Course and Riviera Golf at Mandelieu-La Napoule. The Old Course was the first course ever built on the Riviera, in 1891. The entire complex is made up of two 18-hole and one 9-hole course.
Other courses include the Golf Club de Biot, one of the oldest courses on the riviera, the Golf d'Isola 2000, which is the highest golf course in Europe at 2,000 meters and the Golf Country Club de Cannes-Mougins in Mougins, which is just next door to Cannes, home of the rich and famous. All of the courses on the riviera offer beautiful scenery, and you are sure to forge some unforgettable memories.
