Golf holidays in South Brittany
Holidays in Brittany are eternally popular with British holidaymakers, primarily for the wild Atlantic coastline with its rugged scenery - all rocky coves and sandy inlets - the source of wonderful seafood that abounds in every seaside town. Out on the coast, houses are low-slung against the prevailing breezes, whitewashed and capped with slate: inland, charming Breton villages abound composed of stone cottages huddled around a central, solid church dating back to medieval times with their characteristic Calvaries sprouting from the encircling graveyard.
Breton folk are fiercely proud of their Celtic roots and retain strong links with their Irish, Cornish and Welsh forbears that sailed the routes between their shores in days gone by (Breton sea shanties are to be heard in every crêperie and at every fête). They are welcoming folk and rightly proud of their beautiful land and seafaring history dating back to Megalithic times: viz the standing stones at Carnac among other places.
South Brittany - golf courses
Golf courses in southern Brittany extend all the way from Benodet in the far West down to Carnac in the East on the very limit of Brittany. The Golf Clubs lie close to the main arterial route (N165) that links Brest to Nantes (and all the major towns in between) so travelling from golf course to golf course along the South Brittany coast is really quite convenient. And there are always plenty of places to stop and see along the way.
The prime area for golfing holidays in South Brittany is around the popular holiday town of Carnac. Here there are four very good golf courses offering a variety of styles of golf within a radius of an hour's drive: old St. Laurent and younger Val Queven offer very good parkland golf, Baden is has a lovely variety of terrain as it dances around the huge inlet of the Golfe de Morbihan, out on the coast the links holes at Ploemeur Océan would test the hardiest links golfer's mettle!
On the western tip of the Brittany peninsula (Finistère) there are 27 holes at Brest-Iroise, a nice little course if slightly isolated from other golf courses in Brittany (and the hotel on-site closed a few years back).
Back on the south coast of Brittany, there are two Golf Clubs close together near Benodet: the quite commercial course at Golf d'Odet and the more traditional, shorter course, at Golf de Cornouaille: the latter rather reminiscent of an old English Golf Club in many ways with its whitewashed clubhouse beside the inlet.
South Brittany - where to stay
The well-known resort of Carnac-Plage makes a good base for your golf holiday as it is a busy seaside town (very busy in the Summer months) yet there is still enough open in the low-season to feed and entertain most holiday golfers.
However, just along the coast is the much smaller, and much classier, town of La Trinité-sur-Mer. This is where the locals go to dine along its short seafront of high-class restaurants facing the quay and oyster beds on the far shore.
Other good places to base yourself for a golf holiday in Brittany are Auray with its cluster of restaurants down on the riverside quay or heading further Northwest Benodet and Concarneau are ideal holiday towns and so convenient for playing golf at Odet or Cornouaille Golf Clubs.
For a truly luxurious golf holiday in South Brittany, look no further than the stately home of Château de Locguenolé. A quiet, gastronomic getaway and well placed for the golf courses too.
South Brittany golf holidays - the area
The landscape of Brittany is all rocky coastline interspersed with sandy coves and a wild Atlantic Ocean crashing on the shore. The towns that dot the seashore are built in the characteristic Breton style - white single-storey houses with black slate roofs. Inland as the ground rises away from the water, herds of chocolatey-brown cattle roam the lush green fields and towering stone spires rise skyward from every village and hamlet.
The seafaring traditions in Brittany are as strong today as they have ever been - witnessed by the ubiquitous striped Breton jumper, everybody's favourite souvenir! This also means that seafood is abundant - fish and shellfish dishes adorn every menu and you are never far from a plateau de fruits de mer.
Keep an eye out too for the tasty Galettes (savoury) and Crêpes (sweet), another classic Breton dish and always consumed with a bowl (yes bowl!) of local cider: just the job for a light supper if you have lunched-late at the Golf Club.
Getting to Southern Brittany
The very easiest way to play golf in Brittany from the UK is via the Brittany Ferries crossings from Portsmouth to St. Malo, Caen or Cherbourg. An overnight sailing with a cabin, followed by a two-hour drive across the north of Brittany will have you on the Tee just after lunch.
Alternatively, day crossings are very good value if you have the time to spare; there are also Fastcraft sailings if you are in a little more of a hurry to get to this lovely part of France!
Flights to Southern Brittany
If you would prefer to fly, then there are several routes into Nantes, or Brittany's capital city Rennes. We can advise on the best flights to Brittany for you, just let us know your preferred departure airport.
