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Grand Avignon: a breath of fresh air | |
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Inspired by Provencal scents that surrounds this course (cypress, lavender, olives), Grand Avignon Golf Course is in a peaceful green setting only a few minutes from the “Cité des Papes”. Flat, with several water hazards, the mood of the Mistral can make it change in an instant. So, be ready for a battle. | |
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Avignon, with its Theater Festival, the historic “Palais des Papes”, its famous bridge. Capital of Christianity for ages, today it is the capital of the South of France, the papal city has one of the most attractive golf courses in Provence. In Grand Avignon, you will be charmed by the quiet and peaceful atmosphere. Built near some residential areas, its peacefulness is much appreciated by regular guests and tourists. The architect, Georges Roumeas, today, still one of the best golfer in the club, managed to make the best ofthe 60 hectares of farm land at the north-east part of Avignon. Even if he did not move tons of dirt around to create depth perception, he managed to place fairways and greens around lakes to add to its difficulty. This makes it tricky: it looks easy but it will make you work for it, specially from the back-tees, and even more when the Mistral has decided to blow, which is fairly frequent in this area where the “Mont Ventoux” is overlooking. Water in play on the front side Right of the bat, the 1st hole, a short dog-log (par 5), is giving you the main ingredients of the appeal of Grand Avignon: one of the several out-of-bounds on the right, water on the left and some occasional wind that could be with you or against you. The position of tee shot is important for the outcome of this hole. A powerful drive into the wind can help you reach the green with your second shot. If you hit an average drive against the wind, look out! With this well protected green, you can score a birdie as easily a bogey. The front continues with two conflicting par 4, the first one can be rather easy is you place you driveon the left, the second one is clearly harder to handle with a long range of cypresses on the right requiring an accurate second shot to reach a narrow green, protected by a water hazard on the left. Definitely a hole that should be played as a par 5 under strong Mistral. Now, comes the 4th hole, a great looking 143 meters par 3. Easy for good players, it could be very intimidating for beginners because of the water hazard in front of the green. So, you should take an extra club to avoid being short and wet (splash!). Other than being long (and an out-of-bounds on the right hand side), the 5th and 6th holeshave no particular difficulties. Beware when going for the 6th green, a sand trap, invisible from the fairway, is waiting for your shot. Now, here comes one of the most demanding hole on this course, a 210 meters par 3 from the back-tees (198 from the regular tees!). The driving range on water (another curiosity) is near and swallowed many balls already. Almost impossible when played against the wind (don’t bother pulling your driver), this hole asks for humility (or your index will move up) and a lot of self-control! The 8th hole, a par 5 with the only tough point, to say the least, is once more to fly over the water driving range right from the start (150 meters shot). Be cautious or your will ball will be “fish food”, otherwise you will be able to continue to the 9th hole, a dog-leg par 4 on which many will attempt to cut through, not too easy! Put your pride away on this hole.The Ventoux is watching The back 9 has less variety and less water but undoubtedly longer, narrow fairways surrounded by trees, and starts with a tricky par 5. On this hole, you need to be in a good position off the tee, to go toward the green with your second shot giving you an easier approach to the green. Third par 3 on the course, the 11th hole follows the same rules, a water hazard protects a double tiered green with a winding design. On this hole good putting will prevail over length. The stretch 12, 13 and 14, apparently harmless since there are no visible dangers, turns out to be terrifying. As you start to feel worn out, those three par 4 require length and accuracy, two conflicting qualities on any golf course. The 12th hole awaits slicers with an out-of-bounds on the right. The hedgerow on #13 is narrow and a long iron is needed for your second shot. On #14, play your tee shot on the left side of the fairway to stay out of the long bunker. If the wind is strong you could settle with three bogeys on this stretch. The 15th will let you rest a bit, listen to the cicadas and start the next hole with an iron between the 2 fairway bunkers. A simple pitch shot will get you to the green. The last par 3, #16 continues the idea of #4 and #7: distance (183 meters from the back-tee, 160 meters from the regular tees) and water almost covering up the entire fairway. At this stage, keep a tight swing and a strong mental attitude to safely go over the hazard. One suggestion: take one extra club to reach this uphill green. The 17th hole is a relatively easy par 5 as long as you stay away, on your second shot, from the imposing tree in the middle of the fairway. Wanting to test the good golfers’ endurance and comforting the beginners’ humility, Georges Roumeas chose to finish his course with a dreadful par 4 (hcp 1). Water is, once more, playing a mysterious part forcing you to play a daring second shot to reach the green. A par on this hole is worth any birdie in the world and it's with a smile in a typical provencal blue sky setting, that will have lunch at "La Cuisine d'Olivier", the appealing, tasty and tantalisting restaurant in the Club-House. 18 holes – par 72 (6025m) Architect: Georges Roumeas (1990) - 60 Hectares Slope: Championship Tees: 132 (sss 72,2) - Regular Tees: 123 (sss 69,8) Ladies’ Tees: 119 (sss 68) Red Tees: 117 (sss 69,9) Green Fees: 50 €; 60 € (high season March 31 - November 4)For guests and residents in the 13-84-30-04-05: 42 € (low season) and 51 € (high season). Water driving range: 32 covered and lighted booths; putting green; pitching greenIndividual and group lessons available, golf school. Tel: +33 (0)490 314 994 - contact@golfgrandavigon.com - www.golfgrandavignon.com A welcoming domain Located 10 kms from the “Cité des Papes”, Grand Avignon Golf Course, has several quality lodging options. A Residencial Hotel with outdoor pool and a solarium on site. It offers provencal style suites for 4 people at very competitive rates (Tel: 04-90-02-09-09). Players will enjoy a comfortable room only steps away from the first tee. The club-house and the restaurant “La Cuisine d’Olivier”. It offers a fancy cuisine in a modern décor, the staff will give you with a warm welcome and impeccable service. Minutes away, the “Auberge de Cassagne” (Tel: 04-90-31-04-18) offers in a relaxing setting in a luxury atmosphere (spa, outdoor and indoor pools, restaurant) and a “homelike” hosting. For those who enjoy browsing downtown, they should visit the “Mirande” hotel, a flamboyant property across from the “Palais des Papes”, and part of “The Leading Small Hotels of the World” (Tel: 04 90 14 20 20). A wonderful and exclusive address. Around the golf course Located on a major scenic axis, Avignon is a destination on its own. Its fortifications, its “Palais des Papes”, its famous bridge, its museums, its opera-theater, its streets and colorful squares, its several restaurants are contributing to make your stay successful. The city can also be a starting point to many trips: villages in the Luberon (Gordes, Bonnieux, Lourmarin, Roussillon, Isle-surla- Sorgue) or the Alpilles (Saint-Remy de Provence, Les Baux de Provence), Marseille and its old harbour, Aix en Provence and the Cours Mirabeau, Arles and its bullring. Do not forget the Pont du Gard, the Fontaine de Vaucluse, the ancient thater of Orange. Transportation Plane: Avignon airport, several daily flights from Paris. Train: TGV from Paris, Marseille A golf pass to discover Provence Implemented by the regional PACA tourism department, the Pass Provence offers preferred rates for 16 golf courses: Alpes de Haute Provence (04), Hautes Alpes (05), Bouches du Rhone (13), Var (83) et Vaucluse (84). A simple concept: a book let with 5 or 3 green-fees (from 200 to 250 € for 5 green-fees, from 120 to 150 € for 3 green-fees) good on 16 partner courses for a specific period. The Pass Provence is available for anyone living outside the PACA region. 32 lodging establishments (hotels, bed & breakfast, campgrounds) are partners, using the Pass Provence allows mixing your passion for golf and living well, a complete discovery of this beautiful area. www.golfpass-provence.com
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