Elsewhere in France

27 August 2019 Escape

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The Blue-Green golf course at Pléneuf Val André in Brittany.

Perched on the northern cliffs of Brittany, the Pléneuf Val André golf course, designed by French architect Alain Prat, offers exceptional views of the Breton coast.
A marvellous 6,052-metre stroll overlooking the beach and the sea, this course becomes formidable as the wind rushes along the emerald coast, perfuming you with the scent of sea spray as the tides roll in.

The sea views are the course's strength. The 10-11-12-13 passage offers a succession of gradients and viewpoints. The course is not very long, but the course maintenance team respects the architect's layout, including cuts and tall grass. It's a course that stands up very well because it changes completely according to the weather conditions, including the wind. That's a key factor, as Challenge Tour players tell us: it's a big challenge to adapt to situations that change between the tee-off at 1 and the finish at the clubhouse.

The Pléneuf golf course has hosted the Challenge Tour since 2007. Today, this competition is part of the life of the site, part of the club's history and an extraordinary educational, promotional and economic tool.

Beware of vertigo!

The start of hole 11 - a 478 m par 5 - is vertiginous. Between the back tee and the finish of the fairway, there's a 60-metre vertical drop. This is unusual in the world of golf. When you get to the top, before hitting your shot, you feel as if you're the master of the world. In September, the wind is often downwind and rarely headwind. The hole then becomes very easy. But when the wind is from the front, you have to get your ball onto the fairway, which can become very, very distant. It's not easy to play from this tee, especially when your tee balls are close to the edge of the slope. When you drive, it can feel like you're falling.

North Brittany is a true golfing destination

Northern Brittany is a true golfing destination. Between the golf courses at Pléneuf Val André and Granville, there are six courses: La Crinière, Les Sables d'Or, Saint-Cast, Dinard, Saint-Malo, Les Ormes... In addition to golf, there are a number of activities available to golfers: spas, walks on the pink granite coast, visits to Saint-Malo, gastronomy (the local specialty is scallops at Erquy...).