Normandy - golf, history, cuisine, nightlife... Whatever made the Normans want to invade England?
Normandy is as distinctly diverse region, offering golfers a wealth of options, not just in the way of courses, but also the great après-golf. It caters for groups of golfers looking for good nightlife and a casino (Deauville, Dieppe), couples looking for a romantic setting in a traditional château (Saint-Saens, Etretat) and smaller groups just looking to integrate themselves into the Norman way of life and appreciate the culinary delights the region has to offer, including some great ciders, local cheeses and the wonderful seafood restaurants which are found aplenty throughout.
Golf Barrière de Deauville: superb golf and elegant living
Firstly, before running through the numerous venues, we need to consider the transport options. Normandy can be accessed by a variety of routes and the most convenient and hassle free way would be to catch the ferry. There are a number of ferry ports running down easterly from Dieppe, to Le Havre, Caen-Ouistreham and Cherbourg. The main advantage of this method is that it reduces the driving distances on the French side. Golfbreaks has some very preferential rates with Brittany Ferries and can include your crossing from one of the following routes; Portsmouth/Caen-Ouistreham, Portsmouth/Cherbourg or Poole/Cherbourg. There is a good choice of times and they will do all the necessary work to adapt your tee times around your chosen ferry time.
If the thought of being sat on a ferry for 4-6 hours doesn’t appeal, you may prefer the cheaper alternative of crossing via Eurotunnel (Folkestone/Calais), again something Golfbreaks can organise for you. From Calais it takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to get to the Norman border, but closer to 3 hours to get to the more central destinations. Finally, the more jet-setting types have the option of flying into Beauvais or Deauville airports.
The most popular destination in Normandy is the glamorous and upmarket town of Deauville. It is a coastal town renowned as being the Parisian’s summer retreat. There are boutique shops, fantastic restaurants, beach promenades, bars and a large casino. It is 3 hours drive from Calais and approximately 45 minutes from the Caen-Ouistreham ferry port. Despite having a good choice of hotels, the main golf venue, which sits perched above the town on the Mont-Canisy hill, is the Hôtel du Golf Barrière. This large 4* hotel is surrounded by the Golf Barrière de Deauville, a top class championship course which provides a great test of golf. Featuring strategically placed bunkers and quick greens, this is a real test and is a must play on any golf break. The hotel is a 5 minute drive into Deauville or a good 20 minute walk. This luxurious, grand, yet welcoming hotel has hosted groups of golfers for many years. Indeed, when staying at the hotel you benefit from some very attractive resident rates; not only on the golf course onsite, but also the Golf Barrière de Saint-Julien, a more undulating course situated 15 minutes drive from the hotel with a lovely clubhouse, as well as the traditional Golf de Dieppe and the exquisite Golf d’Omaha Beach, a little further to travel away. Other hotel options are available, including the friendly Hôtel Le Fer à Cheval, located in the town of Trouville-sur-Mer, which is adjacent to Deauville, and the Hôtel Amirauté. Likewise, there are a number of other golf courses to choose from, including the impressive Golf de L’Amirauté with its many art sculptures and modern clubhouse, the traditional Golf de Deauville Saint-Gatien, and the friendly Golf d’Houlgate.
Golf d’Omaha Beach: four loops of nine holes and much history
Golf d’Omaha Beach was mentioned as one of the courses where you get resident rates if you stay at the Hôtel du Golf Barrière. The venue is located right next to the beach made famous for its D-Day landings and allows you to not only satisfy your golfing cravings, but also indulge in some sightseeing. The golf itself is superb and consists of 4 different loops of 9 holes. The main two 9’s are La Mer and Le Bocage, an exquisite 18 holes. L’Etang and the recently completed Le Manoir are the other two 9’s, more undulating but certainly worth playing and not at all considered the weaker of the two courses! If commuting an hour and a half from Deauville is too much driving, then the onsite Hôtel Mercure Omaha-Beach will prove the perfect option.
Golf d’Etretat: magnificent views high above the Channel
Staying on the coast are two more seaside resorts, the first a very beautiful town with a lot of character, Etretat. This lovely town sits only an hour from Deauville and despite its relatively small size, houses some fantastic restaurants and two very characteristic hotels, the Hôtel Dormy House and the Domaine Saint-Clair Le Donjon, both ideal for couples or small groups. However, it is the golf course at Etretat which is most recognised for its stunning views over the Channel and famous signature 10th hole, which is an uphill par 5, where you tee off from 50 metres up next to the clubhouse and where hundreds of ramblers and walkers can watch you struggle to hit the fairway!
The second coastal town and most Easterly is that of Dieppe. Dieppe is a lot more convenient for those travelling down from Calais, being approximately 2 hours drive. It is much larger and more industrial than Etretat, but makes up for this with a lively and fun town centre. This will appeal much more to groups, as there are a great choice of restaurants, bars and pubs and a large casino, all within 10 minutes walk. Choose between the 3* Hôtel Aguado, or the more economical, 2* Hôtel de L’Europe. The Golf de Dieppe, only 5 minutes drive from the town centre is the 7th oldest course in France and despite being relatively short, makes up for it with some challenging holes, stunning views and a friendly welcome.
The next major town is much more inland, perfect for groups, and very price friendly! Evreux is around 3 hours drive from Calais, and 1 hour 30 minutes from Deauville. We have just one hotel to choose from, the Hôtel Mercure Evreux, which is very cheap, comfortable and within walking distance to the town centre. However, there is a great choice of golf courses nearby allowing plenty of variety to your tour. The Golf du Vaudreuil has a large traditional clubhouse and is a lovely parkland course benefitting from extensive investment. The Golf d’Evreux is only 5 minutes from the hotel and is great holiday golf. The Golf du Vaucouleurs, 45 minutes away, has two very different 18 holes, where for the price of one you can play the other. But the jewel in the crown is the Golf du Champ de Bataille, located a mere 15 minutes drive from Evreux and 1 hour 15 minutes from Deauvillle. The course runs through ancient woodland and the variety of challenges, beautiful scenery and affordable price makes it a top seller.
Le Golf Parc de Nantilly: one of the top courses in France, in impeccdable condition
Those were the main towns in Normandy, but there are some smaller, more isolated venues worth a mention. The first, and in the same part of the region as Evreux, is the Gingko Hôtel. This relatively new 3 star was built next to the Golf Parc de Nantilly, arguably one of the top courses in France, littered with island greens, island tee boxes and perfectly manicured fairways. To play this course, you must be a resident at the Gingko Hôtel, and the price you pay for a green fee will also include a free GPS buggy. Further to the north, and only 25 minutes drive from Dieppe, is the traditional Château du Vaudichon, otherwise known as Saint-Saens. The main building, which houses 7 hotel rooms, has a restaurant and bar, and is surrounded by the Golf de Saint-Saens. Recent development to the onsite barn has seen the number of rooms treble and it can now cater for much larger groups. This is a very popular venue for more experienced golfers looking to relax in a typically French environment. And finally, those looking to completely immerse themselves into traditional French life and keep the cost down to an absolute minimum, must visit Le Manoir de Clécy. This friendly 2* hotel is run by a couple who cook local food, take pride in the satisfaction of their hosts, and have onsite the Golf de Clécy, a very hilly course, but again, perfect for a group looking for a relaxed break in France making the most of the local produce and tasty ciders!
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