In this article we’re going to explore the golf coursers in Le Touquet and determine which are the best.
There are thousands upon thousands of golfers who travel to Le Touquet annually and this incredibly popular destination has a lot going for it, which we’ll explore below.
An introduction to Le Touquet
The seaside resort of Le Touquet, in Northern France, is incredibly popular and not just for the golf courses dotted around it. Its location, just an hour from Calais and the Eurotunnel exit in Coquelles, means it can be easily accessed for a short weekend golf trip.
See also: What are the best golf courses in Northern France?
The town has plenty going for it, not too big, ample character and charm and a good choice of hotels ranging from cheap and comfortable 2 star up to the more grandiose 4 star like the Hotel Westminster, just minutes walk into the heart of the town.
The other redeeming factor is its renowned nightlife. There is a wide choice of restaurants offering classic French cuisine, Chez Perard and its fresh from the trawler seafood menu, to the ‘let’s please everyone’ La Matisse, which serves Pizzas, burgers, traditional French dishes…you name it.
There is also a good choice of bars and also nightclubs. Le Touquet is not a huge town, but you won’t be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing places to eat and drink. There is even a casino if you’re feeling lucky or the golf course wasn’t too kind.
See also: A complete guide to staying at Le Touquet
Le Touquet golf courses
Aside from the location and its extracurricular activities, there are some fantastic golf courses to play near Le Touquet. Unlike some other European golf destinations, Le Touquet is more about quality than quantity. Within an hour’s drive, there are comfortably nine golf courses.
Those closest to the town are the two championship courses at Le Touquet golf club. You have the outstanding Le Touquet La Mer course, designed by Harry Colt back in the day as well as the more relaxing Le Touquet La Foret.
30 minutes drive up the coast is the incredibly popular Hardelot golf club, again with two championship courses. You have the sensational Pines course as well as the entertaining Les Dunes course. Unlike Le Touquet, the two courses are a short drive away, so take note of which clubhouse you’re driving to when putting it in your satnav!
The other notable Le Touquet golf courses include Wimereux golf club, one of France’s and the continent’s true links courses. Just 20 minutes’ drive from Calais, I always recommend playing this course on your way down or back up.
Belle Dune golf club is in the opposite direction, 45 minutes drive south of Le Touquet. This really is a superb course and incredibly good value for money. Not far from Belle Dune are the two courses at Nampont golf club. In this rural setting don’t expect championship golf to the level of the aforementioned, but this will be an enjoyable round with ample water to ruin your scorecard.
What are the best golf courses in Le Touquet?
Without a doubt, there are three golf courses which stand head and shoulders above the rest of the Le Touquet golf courses, and these are Le Touquet La Mer golf course, Hardelot Les Pins golf course and Golf de Belle Dune.
Golf du Touquet La Mer
Just 5 minutes drive from the town of Le Touquet, this sensational links course is nestled amongst the coastal sand dunes that characterise the coast.
Designed by Harry Colt back in the 1930s, it has benefitted from significant investment over the years, none more so than in 2014 when extensive work was done to restore the course to better reflect those original designs.
This is a beast of a course where coastal winds funnel their way through the dunes and play havoc with your ball-striking. Greens are well-protected and you really don’t want to lose your ball in some of the long rough. If you do, drop another and save yourself some time.
It was the host venue for the French Open on a number of occasions with none other than Seve Ballesteros being amongst those to have lifted the trophy here. Unfortunately with Le Golf National now firmly the host course for the tournament, it is unlikely to get the chance again. But rest assured, this is championship golf at its finest.
Golf d’Hardelot Les Pins
The next of our best Le Touquet golf courses is none other than the elegant Les Pins course at Hardelot golf club. Here it isn’t sand dunes but vast pine trees which the course weaves its way through, with subtle elevation changes and bunkers coming into play on numerous occasions.
Another course immensely popular with visiting golfers, it is arguably a little more popular than the Le Touquet La Mer purely because it isn’t so brutal. That said, don’t be fooled, this is still a course you need to strategically plot your way round to score well. Many a ball has careered off into the pine woodland or plugged into one of the myriad of bunkers!
With the same management group owning both Le Touquet and Hardelot golf clubs, the Pines course was also the recipient of substantial investment in 2015. And the objective of this investment was the same, unearth the original designs, in this case the prolific Tom Simpson, and restore the course to its original style.
Today enhanced by the recent renovations, the Hardelot Les Pins course has only cemented its position as one of not just France’s, but continental Europe’s finest golf courses.
Belle Dune golf club
The last of our Le Touquet golf courses is Belle Dune golf club, located a 45 minute drive down the coast. The courses at Le Touquet and Hardelot naturally take all the plaudits here, but Belle Dune is quite frankly right up there with them.
A municipal owned course, it is quite humble in its ambitions and quietly keeps to itself. The cost to play here is significantly cheaper than our previously highlighted courses but don’t let that deflect from the challenge on offer.
This is a sublime course which throughout the front-nine plays as a traditional, but superb parkland course meandering through pines, birches and other greenery. Yet at the turn, it suddenly morphs into this wide open track weaving through the vast sand dunes, a mere stone’s throw from the coastline.
Yes the drive is that little bit further, but once you’ve finished your round and you’ve settled down to a spot of lunch and beer on the clubhouse terrace, you’ll have nothing but good memories…well, I can’t vouch for the golf, but certainly the course.
Conclusion
With the history, elegance and aurora which surround the Hardelot and Le Touquet golf clubs, they’re nicely contrasted by the unassuming Belle Dune golf club. In fact, you’d be hard up finding another group of quality courses being this close to rival this triumvirate.
You can also understand why the Le Touquet golf courses are so popular and attract thousands of golfers year on year. Do yourself a favour and join the pilgrimage.
