Rating: 5 out of 5.

Rating 5/5

Review of Golf d’Hardelot ‘Les Pins’

The superb golf course ‘Les Pins’, also known as the ‘Old Course’ is an absolute pleasure to play. A classic early twentieth century layout with a very British feel to it, this Hardelot golf course is also arguably one of the most popular courses with travelling British golfers and for good reason.

Designed in the 1930s by legendary golf architect Tom Simpson, the Pins course elegantly weaves through a majestic pine woodland. Tom Simpson is a master on the Continent, where his reputation is assured with great courses including Morfontaine, Chantilly and Fontainebleau, all in the Top 100 golf courses in Continental Europe. It is such a shame that in England he only ever designed a few courses, of which The Berkshire stands out.

From the 1st tee, the short par 5 is a gentle introduction, but gives a good impression of what to expect over the next 17 holes; carpet fairways and lightening greens all crafted into a beautiful pine forest. There are many great holes with the Par-3 5th hole showing how Tom Simpson protects greens with large expanses of bunker. The 9th hole is another great one and the perfect example of how strategically placed bunkers create completely false illusions. Albeit a wide fairway to aim for, the large centrally placed bunkers makes this seem far from easy.

There are gentle undulations, beautiful views and cracking holes, all-in-all a sublime layout built to keep the golfer thinking. The finishing hole has an elevated tee box where you can enjoy a view right down to the Clubhouse terrace where that first beer can be enjoyed.

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