| Brittany is just a pleasant ferry journey away or | | | | soon vanish after your first three putt on the |
| you can take the motorway from Calais or even | | | | tricky greens (made all the more difficult by the |
| fly from many UK airports to several in Brittany. | | | | coastal winds!). Expertly maintained, Val Andre is |
| The sheer number of high- quality golf courses in | | | | well worth a day's golf on a golf holiday in Brittany |
| Brittany make it the ideal location for golfers | | | | - not just for the course, but for the fabulous |
| seeking a luxury holiday with easy-to-get-to | | | | views and splendid seafood on offer in the nearby |
| access and that French "je ne sais quoi!" | | | | coastal town. |
| Here are 5 courses that should make you | | | | 2. Saint-Laurent |
| consider a Brittany golf holiday. | | | | Perhaps the most famous golf course in Brittany, |
| 5. Dinard | | | | Saint-Laurent has hosted the PGA Championship |
| The oldest golf course in Brittany (and the second | | | | on numerous occasions and offers a suitably |
| oldest in the country!) starts our list. Designed by | | | | challenging parkland test. Tough off the back, |
| celebrated golfing architect Willie Dunn all the way | | | | friendly off the front, you have to have all the |
| back in 1887, this is a course that has improved | | | | shots in the bag to put a good score together. |
| with age and simply has it all: great golf, | | | | It's a classic design with great variety and a lovely |
| sensational coastal views and a charming Art | | | | "clubby" feel to the place. |
| Deco clubhouse. It isn't for novices though, despite | | | | 1. La Baule |
| being a short 5814 yards - it starts off easily, but | | | | La Baule is the most popular golf course in |
| quickly ramps up the difficulty to tax the most | | | | Brittany and one of our clients' favourites. What |
| experienced of golfers. If you can manage it, try | | | | you get is two fine 18 hole courses - the Red and |
| and play midweek as it's popular with members at | | | | the Blue - and the jury is out as to which one is |
| weekends. | | | | the better. With a hotel on site, many clients "play |
| 4. Nantes La Vigneux | | | | and stay" for a few days, enjoying not only the |
| Nantes Vigneux is full of surprises - fortunately, | | | | golf but the nearby resort and myriad of |
| they're all of the pleasant variety for experienced | | | | restaurants. The golf course designers were Dave |
| golfers. Designed by Frank Pennink, this course | | | | Thomas, Michel Gayon, Jack Nicklaus Jnr and |
| really is a hidden gem. Lovely fairways, delightful | | | | Peter Alliss - they don't disappoint. This is parkland |
| woodland, and a relaxed atmosphere are | | | | golf at its prettiest and requires a tight driving |
| countered by the difficulty of the small greens | | | | game to the lush fairways. As they say, "keep |
| and the River Cens. First timers may struggle to | | | | the ball in play and the pars look after |
| get a good score, but this is one course that gets | | | | themselves". With the round topped off by the |
| better every time you play it, meaning that one | | | | smart thatched-roof club house, golf days in |
| Brittany golf holiday may not be enough for this | | | | Brittany don't come much better than this. |
| gem. | | | | Honourable mentions must include the courses at |
| 3. Val Andre | | | | La Bretesche and Saint Malo...With so many great |
| At only 15 years old, it's easy to overlook Val | | | | courses and just a short ferry and drive from |
| Andre as a young pretender to the prestige of | | | | England's south coast, Brittany makes the perfect |
| some of the older golf courses in Brittany. | | | | escape for golfers. Consider a golf holiday in |
| However, Val Andre is one of France's best "new" | | | | Brittany next time you feel like hitting the |
| courses. The wide fairways will do their best to lull | | | | fairways with friends! |
| you into a false sense of security but that will | | | | |