From the old wine domain of famous Dr. Barbaroux of Brignoles (Var), the golf course kept the name and a few vines. If few people know the Barbaroux type of vine, the celebrity of the golf course for the Anglo-Saxon customers (who do not hesitate to hop on a plane to come play) comes from its American architect Pete Dye, who in 1971, conceived the famous “the Teeth off the dog” in Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic, regarded as one of the most beautiful seafront golf course in the world. In Europe, it is the only golf course designed by Pete Dye and we owe it to his friendship with the golf-“crazy” amateur champion, Vanni Mandelli, the Barbaroux promoter. The golf course opened in 1988. The project for a “private club” might have failed, but the course still enjoys a reputation of true championship golf course, all the more deserved since it found a renewed splendor with the new general management of the club by Benjamin Caternet.

Fabulous and demanding
The 87 hectares at the edge of the Maures Massif, offered to Pete Dye the occasion to create a nature course which follows the contours of the land through vines and forests, from mountain peak to small valleys where six lakes rest. The layout of Barbaroux, fabulous and demanding, will lead you to a golf experience that will remain engraved in your memory.

The course notebook at hand
The first hole is exemplary in this respect: from a raised start, you must jump over the first lake and then go between trees and vine stocks. For hole #2, you climb on an elevated green and for hole #3, in par5, the green (blind) is at the bottom of the small valley, very protected. Do not get discouraged. Look closely at the course notebook which is very detailed in distances and precise about obstacles and use it to choose your clubs appropriately. Very important, for example, at hole #11 to get across the lake.

Bunkers, water and greens above standards
Temerity can be expensive, like timidity or inaccuracy: at hole # 14, the green is further than you see it over the hillocks and staying short is often punished (11 sand bunkers). With the par3 of hole # 15, the green is locked up in a U-shaped sand bunker and three “pots”, one of which is made of grass; and the par5 of hole # 17 is cut by three lakes! Hole # 16, signature hole, is a par4 known for its green between a water obstacle and a slope contained by wood beams upon which the balls bounce in the lake! Of note, the green of hole # 9, with several plateaus, is the largest in Europe (65 m long)!

Open to all
Barbaroux obtained a score of 17 out of 20 in the Peugeot Guide, not astonishing! If as it is stated, this course “is opened to any player”, the average handicap ranges between 10 and 20 and the level is rising. The direction organizes departures according to the level of the players, as much as possible. It is recommended for the ones with a low handicap to play early in order to make it possible for the ones with a high handicap to start behind the good players. The course is not too physically demanding, you can do it by foot, but in very hot weather, the cart is recommended.

High level training clinics
A partnership was signed until 2008 with the French Golf
 Federation to accommodate the players of the France Pros Groups. In this spirit, various training infrastructures must be built (small play 2 ha zone, 2000 m2 green, bunkers and approach zones, gymnasium…) And, not as part of the contract, creation of a 3 holes compact course is contemplated. It is therefore understandable why some foreign federations (Germany, Austria and Italy) choose it to organize training for their very high level players.

Atmosphere
The Club-house is welcoming with its terrace facing hole # 18 and the training zones. Jazz events, barbeques or grape harvest are organized here. The hotel of 24 rooms and 9 apartments, with swimming pool and tennis court, is surrounded by the Mediterranean forest which, in hot days, lowers the night temperature by 5 to 10°C. Very appreciated by those who chose an early morning start. Real estate and projects very well integrated Would the art of living and wellbeing in the heart of Provence be located in Barbaroux? The Barbaroux real estate program is distributed around the first 9 holes of the golf course in a protected enclosure covered with pines, white oaks, evergreen oaks and brooms. There, owners can carry out the project of their dreams, contemporary, Provence or neo-Provence style… The only requirement is to respect the specifications which do not limit imagination, but integrate the building into the big size lots (1,300 - 2,500 m2), with a guarantee of an aerated program and a quality environment. Invitation to reside in Barbaroux, and to benefit from this green marvel, should be difficult to decline •
René Bourone

Design features:
18 holes par 72 (6,068 m) / 87 hectares
Architect: Pete Dye
Slope: whites 143, yellows 138, blues 136, reds: 129
18 holes Green-fee: 63 Û on week days .
Club rentals, electric trucks, carts,
Hotel and gourmet restaurant
Heliport
Golf Club de Barbaroux, route de Cabasse,
83170 Brignoles, France
Tel : +33 494 696 363 / Fax : +33 494 590 093
www.barbaroux.com
contact@barbaroux.com

Exploring the surroundings:
Fine dining:
• Abbaye de la Celle Inn past the Bastide de Moustiers manage by Alain Ducasse. www.abbaye-celle.com
• Hostellerie Les Gorges de Pennafor in Callas. www.hostellerie-pennafort.com
• Parc à Correns Inn. www.aubergeduparc.fr
• Chez Bruno in Lorgues. www.restaurantbruno.com
Enology: “Maison des Côtes de Provence” in Arcs-sur-Argens. www.cotes-de-provence.fr
Visits and escapades:
• The town of Brignoles, City of the Provence Counts. www.ville-brignoles.fr
• The very beautiful Thoronet Cistercian abbey (XIIth century).
Access: A8 highway, Le Luc exit, take D17 in the Thoronet direction, pass the village, 4 km on D19.
• See the “santon” museum in the Aumerade Castle

CONSEILS DU PRO

Pro Golfer, Christopher MEASHAM’S ADVICES
You think you can play golf? Then, the Barbaroux golf course is a challenge for you! The least fault in your play will have notable consequences on your score, on the other hand, with good judgment, you will be amply rewarded. The architect was able to build a course which at first sight can appear very, very difficult, but you will quickly realize that in fact, it is only intimidating (pro record: 64). All the parts of your play will be put to the test. The drives will require length and precision. The second strike will have to  sometimes be long on par5 holes, in order to prepare for a delicate approach (the greens are large and fast). It is not enough to be on the  green in regulation to ensure you par, three putts can be a success. Your shape, your play strategy and your mental approach will no  doubt be challenged. Two good advices for all: Once on the green, the slopes can be difficult to manage, this  architect is definitely very good, he is playing with you till the end thanks to the visual effects. It is thus necessary to look at the slope  from the lowest point, the slope facing you, as if you were to putt uphill, only then will you see the right slope. Whatever happens, maintain your routine, with it you should be able to disregard vines,  interminable lakes, hellish bunkers, impressive elevation changes, etc. One last word, there is a very useful course notebook (and yes, the distances are correct). Good  luck and, above all, enjoy yourself!