Golf on the French Riviera: Start at the Old Course Cannes Mandelieu

The French Riviera is what happens when a coastline decides it would rather be a postcard. A 75-mile stretch of the Mediterranean running from Saint-Tropez east through Cannes and Nice to the Italian border, dotted with perched villages, perfume towns, super-yacht harbors, and somewhere north of 20 golf courses tucked between the sea and the Alps. Royal Mougins, Cannes-Mougins, Terre Blanche, Chateau de Taulane, Monte Carlo Golf Club up at 900 meters above the principality. The architect list reads like the inside of a Hall of Fame jacket: Trent Jones, Gary Player, Robert von Hagge, Dave Thomas, Cabell Robinson. You could spend a week here and not play the same style of course twice.

But if you only have one round on the Cote d'Azur, you play the Old Course at Cannes Mandelieu. This is the grande dame of French Riviera golf, the place where the whole story started.

Old Course Cannes Mandelieu

The Old Course, founded in 1891 by Grand Duke Michael of Russia, is one of the oldest golf courses in France. The parkland style course weaves through Mandelieu and along the Mediterranean shoreline. At 5745 meters from the back tees the course is short by today's standards but will challenge the best of golfers. Fairways are tight and lined with umbrella pines that will knock a ball straight to the ground. Tactical play is needed to score well. Big hitters can leave their driver in the bag.

Interesting Factoid

The Siagne River flows through the course and divides the property in half. To cross the river, golfers take a short ferry ride between holes 2-3 and 12-13. The need for a small barge for transportation is not found on many golf courses. Enjoy the voyage!

The Skinny

4 Tees: 5745, 5520, 5172 and 4999 Meters Par: 71 18 Hole Rate: 120 Euros

Old Course Cannes Mandelieu

Route du Golf F-06210 Mandelieu la Napoule Phone: 04-9297320 golfoldcourse.com

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