During a relaxing vacation in the French Riviera, I played a few courses near the City of Cannes. While enjoying a cold beverage at the 19th hole, small talk started with a local golfer. When he found out I was on vacation/holiday the typical conversation ensued - "what courses have you played?", "Where are you playing?", etc.
With a smile, he asked if I was going to play Golf de Barbaroux?
I had not heard of the course and it was not on my area course guide. Later, I realized it was not in the recommended list because the course is a little over an hour drive away. He told me I had to play the course and quickly reached for his phone. He pulled up a website that gave all the course details for Barbaroux. He read one line that was music to my ears, "...an 18 hole resort course designed by Pete and P.B. Dye."
Truth be told, I love Dye designed courses. Every time I admit this, people comment that I must be mad. Insane no, but I am crazy about his layout and the number of risk versus reward opportunities.
When I got back to my hotel room, I surfed to Barbaroux's website, booked a tee time and researched the course. What I found out, was the property opened in 1997 in controversy. Locals complained the course was not a traditional course for the area - too many blind shots, crazy bunkering features and too much water. Little did they know that is just Pete's modus of operandi. He thrives on challenging golfers.
Well, all grievances aside the course is remarkable. The course is defined by its dramatic elevation changes, magnificent mountainous views and Dye's signature railroad ties galore.
The first hole opens with a jaw-dropping, three story descent to a narrow fairway protected by a oval shaped pond. The roller coaster ride continues on to a short tight par-4 that plays over a small valley then climbs to an multi-tiered green.
The third hole, was my favorite par-5. The 466 meter hole opens with a blind shot to a downward sloping fairway. Blast a drive and you will be left with a huge decision. Either play it safe and layup in front of the gorge or gamble by blasting a hybrid/long iron towards a white aiming disc high in the trees. The gorge drops nearly 60 feet to a small raised green. A typical Dye risk versus reward hole. Challenge Pete, lick your chops and go for broke will have you jotting down a 7 rather than an eagle.
In all honesty, I love this hole because this time I won. Initially, I struggled with calculating an accurate distance on my second shot (I was not close to any yardage markers plus I did not not know how many clubs to surrender for the drop) Miraculously, I flighted a 5 iron over the flag and plugged the ball 15 feet from the pin. I missed the downhill putt but tapped in for a fist pumping birdie.
Pete got his revenge on me two holes later. A challenging par 5 that requires proper layups, starting with the tee shot. I hit a driver off the tee and drove the ball through the fairway out of bounds. The second shot is a blind shot to a narrow fairway edged with a cliff. Yes, I pulled one of the mountain losing a second ball. As I wrote an eight on the scorecard, I just chuckled.
Thanks Pete for giving me the highest of highs and lowest of lows during my 4 hour round. While I did not conquer the course, I enjoyed its magnificent beauty. More importantly, I added Pete's first course in France on my "already played it" list.
Golf de Barbaroux Route de Cabasse 83 170 Brignoles Tel +33 4 94 69 63 63 www.barbaroux.com
