Rating 4.5/5
Golf d’Hossegor
This sublime layout located close to the sprawling Atlantic beaches in south-west France, is recognised as one of the finer private golf courses in France. Nestled in an expansive area of pine woodland, Hossegor golf club is definitely worth the detour and is well-respected by the ranks of French golf professionals.
The site was acquired in 1927 by a group of individuals whose objective for the site was to transform this seaside resort into an elegant, refined and sport-orientated area. With the help of France’s most successful professional golfer Arnaud Massy and Tom Morrison, a British golf course architect and a local landscape designer, the course eventually opened in 1930.
The site itself was chosen specifically for the protection it offers from the strong coastal winds with pines and oak trees in abundance throughout. Indeed, one of the most common bits of feedback is how British the course feels due to how little the surrounding nature appears to have been affected and this was definitely part of the criteria when creating the course all those decades ago, following the example of many other great British courses like Sunningdale, Swinley Forest etc.
Although not too long, the course can be in places quite demanding, with numerous narrow fairways obliging precise driving. However, once you do find the centre of the beautifully cut fairways, the approach shots are a pleasure to play, with visually attractive greens being the target. Built on sandy terrain, the course and especially the greens are more often than not, in top condition.
The clubhouse has a very Pays-Basque feel to it with decorative coloured wood surrounding the exterior of the building in the style common to the area. The fine traditional restaurant has a superb reputation and is the perfect place to unwind following your round – I definitely recommend the Menu Golfeur for choice and value for money.
The course is private so avoid weekends, but during the week they will happily welcome you. So if you happen to be visiting Biarritz or driving down that stretch of coastline, you would be foolish not to stop at this wonderful course.
Detail
- Designer: Tom Morrison
- 18 holes
- Par 71
- Length: 5,797 metres (6,340 yards)
- Slope 126
- Golf club website: https://www.golfhossegor.com/
- Phone number: 05 58 43 56 99
- Private
- Address: 333 avenue du Golf – 40150 Hossegor
