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The Golf du Médoc Hôtel & Spa - where superb golf and fine wine combine in the best of taste

Every golfer wants to make his or her pilgrimage to Scotland or Ireland and wine enthusiasts feel the same about France. For the greater delight of golfers and oenophiles, the Bordeaux Médoc region has now emerged as the ideal place to enjoy the best of both, and the Golf du Médoc Hôtel & Spa has put together tailored packages at excellent prices which make this experience simple and seamless.

The Golf du Médoc is set in the heart of an Aquitaine pine forest

There is no doubt a strong relationship exists between golf and great wine. Each offers pleasures that are immediate. Enjoying golf and wine together can be as simple as sharing a bottle with friends after a round, but great golf courses and great vineyards are rarely found in such close proximity as in the Bordeaux Médoc region. In fact, they are so close that there is no need to choose between the two passions: the connoisseur can comfortably indulge in both in the same day!

Surrounded by the magnificent scenery of the Atlantic ocean and the huge Aquitaine forest, Bordeaux Médoc offers the connoisseur a combination unsurpassed anywhere in the world: 36 challenging holes of golf and its sumptuous Grands Crus and Châteaux wine tours at the Golf du Médoc Hôtel & Spa.

The Hotel overlooks the 18th green of the Châteaux Championship Course

The Golf du Médoc offers two 18 hole courses, The Châteaux and The Vignes, tuition for all levels and a fully equipped driving range.

The Châteaux course

At 6,316 meters long and a par of 71, the Châteaux course was designed by American architect Bill Corre in the purest tradition of Scottish links golf. Wide fairways are bordered by heather, gorse and broom, enticing golfers to enjoy the delights of the carefully preserved natural environment.

Water – but not too much of it - deep bunkers, very large, fast, undulating greens, the constant influence of Atlantic winds and the technical difficulties of the layout make this championship course a constant challenge, and it has hosted many professional tournaments including the French Open.

Every hole is named after a Château (see below), giving a taste of the delights to come after the round. The most difficult on the course - "Château Brillette" - is the 415-metre long 4th with a dogleg left, a dangerous bunker on the fairway and a green protected by deep bunkers on either side. If you end up with a par, you can be well satisfied.

"Château Giscours", the 424 metre long 16th is the longest par 4 on the course and it also has the largest green. Although the fairway is quite wide, watch out for dense vegetation on either side. The prettiest hole is "Château Pontet Canet", the 5th, which is also the most difficult par 3, with a huge pond on the right and a green that is tough to read.

Although "Les Châteaux" presents a succession of demanding holes, you can perhaps afford to relax a little when playing "Château Poujeaux", the 7th, which is the shortest and the easiest. And while relief is almost at hand when you reach the 18th, "Château Léoville Poyferré", you will need accurate shots before tackling the very sloping green.

The Vignes course

6,220 meters long and a par of 71, the Vignes course was designed by Canadian Rod Whitman, and is set in a typical regional landscape, where the beauty of the moors and the maritime pines serve to enhance the architect's design.

Although less challenging than the Châteaux, the Vignes has some long par-5 holes, and its carefully designed greens and judiciously placed bunkers call for careful and accurate strokes. And, of course, the delightful surroundings will charm even someone having a bad day!

The Clubhouse (below right), like the hotel, is built entirely of glass and natural timber, and nestles in the middle of the two courses, offering an outdoor terrrace or a comfortable bar with a relaxing atmosphere to meet and chat after a game.

Tuition and practice

Whether you are an experienced golfer wishing to perfect your game or simply a beginner, the Golf du Médoc also offers a full programme of lessons with a team of three professionals. These can be arranged in the morning, still leaving time to enjoy one of the two magnificent courses, and completing the day with a visit to a prestigious château later in the afternoon.

For those wishing to hone their skills with some serious practice, the driving range is open seven days a week throughout the year and offers complete practice facilities in a beautiful natural setting. The Range features 16 covered bays and can cater to up to 40 players on the uncovered natural grass surface.

Architecturally striking and built entirely of wood and glass, the brand new Golf du Médoc Hôtel & Spa welcomes you with 79 Rooms and Suites for sporting and relaxing stays. The dominant tone of the decoration is simple, using warm and natural colours, and creates a pleasant sensation of rest and and relaxation. Light streams into the hotel. In the charming interior patios, the rays of the sun are captured by large windows opened towards the sky.

The spacious, bright rooms are tastefully furnished in a modern style and offer all the latest features with flat screen TV, internet access and individual safe. The generous bathrooms have bath, shower and separate WC.

As you would expect in such a gastronomic region of France, the Restaurant "La Table du Médoc" is a most memorable dining experience, facing the 18th Green of the Châteaux Championship Course.

"La Table du Médoc" serves a delicious regional cuisine, to complement the superb wines from the surrounding Médoc

The elegant grillroom serves only the finest ingredients, meticulously and deliciously prepared. The Master Chef proposes a regional cuisine, which makes the perfect companion to the finest wines from the surrounding prestigious Médoc region, very pleasantly served without pretention or ostentation.

The Lounge Library & Bar is a convivial place for a meal or a drink before or after a round.

And why not put yourself in the caring hands of the professional team at the Espace Spa & Forme to relax and refresh your mind and body? Massages and reflexology are available for men and women, as well as a heated pool, steam rooms and a fully equipped fitness centre.

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For golf, gastronomy and wine-tasting, only 20 minutes from the city of Bordeaux and its international airport, a visit to the Golf du Médoc Hôtel & Spa on the wine road of South West France is a must, with excellent value for money packages on offer, including:

The perfect combination for golf lovers wanting to discover the many fine wines and Châteaux of the Médoc. With two 18 hole championship golf courses on-site and a large selection of local Châteaux offering informative visits and tastings, the golf and wine experience is a great way get the most out of your visit to the region.

This summer's promotional package for two people includes accommodation, breakfast buffet, one 18 hole green fee each, free access to the Spa and fitness centre (excluding treatments) and a wine tasting at a local Château, all for the price of Euros 225 per night. Non-golfers can replace their green fee with a spa treatment.

For those looking to relax and unwind after a day of golf, the golf and spa package is the perfect choice.

This summer's special package for two includes accommodation, breakfast buffet, one 18 hole green fee each, free access to the spa and fitness centre and one 50 minute relaxing massage, all for Euros 335 per night.

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If you wish to concentrate solely on your golf, a wide range of golf breaks at prices starting as low as £225 for two nights, with bed and breakfast and three round of golf, are available from GolfBreaks.co.uk.

Many more excellent value packages are also available by contacting:

Golf du Médoc Hôtel & Spa
Chemin de Courmateau
33290 Le Pian Médoc
Tel: +33 (0) 5 56 70 31 31
Web : www.hotelgolfdumedoc.com/
Email: contact@hotelgolfdumedoc.com

(Click here for a detailed plan of the area, showing access to the Hôtel)

 Photo credits:

© DBC - Château Gruaud Larose - Accor - Phovoir - Diapothèque Haut Relief - GolfToday