By Charlie Thurston, PGA
Photo courtesy Relais de Margaux Resort
I distinctly remember as a young junior golfer, watching the British Open on television in the early seventies and asking my father (an accomplished amateur golfer) what the winner of the British Open received for winning the tournament. My father explained that along with the prize money and a medal awarded by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the winner received possession of the coveted Claret Jug for the whole year until the next playing of the tournament. Dear old Dad explained that it was one of the four most important trophies to win in the world of golf. Being an inquisitive young lad, my first question upon receiving this information was, “what is claret?” With a puzzled look on his face, my father said, “I think it is a type of wine.”
My father was correct and as I grew into adulthood I learned that claret is actually the British name for the wines produced in the famous Bordeaux region of France. Was there a link between Bordeaux, France and the game of golf? Absolutely!
Despite centuries of war and animosity there occurred an important cultural exchange between the two countries. The French introduced the British to the incredible wine from Bordeaux thus giving them their “claret” and the British in return brought golf to that part of the continent. I have wondered if this is what finally paved the way to Anglo-Franco alliances that played a huge role in both world wars. Regardless of history, the fact remains, with four of the Top 100 golf courses in Continental Europe and 5 of the Top 40 golf courses in France, Bordeaux is one wine region worth taking your golf clubs along.
Photo credit Emanuele Scorcellatti
First let us talk a bit about the wine. Bordeaux is widely considered the most prestigious wine producing region in the world. The region has over 13,000 growers and there is no shortage of Chateaus to visit and tour. In fact even the most famous such as Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Chateau Mouton-Rothchild (including their Museum of Wine in Art) and Chateau Margaux offer free tours. Some even offer free tastings. Then there are the hundreds of Chateaus that even the most knowledgeable wine connoisseur may not have heard of, yet produces world class wines in a sublime setting. In Bordeaux, the wine touring and tasting options are abundant. Be forewarned, just like in golf, plan on making arrangements ahead of time for tours and tastings. Many of the Chateaus accommodate guests but do not always have full time staff to handle the drop in visit.
So what about the golf component when touring the region? A fine place to start is with Chateau des Vigiers Golf and Country Club. Designed by Donald Steel and featuring 27 holes, the course winds its way through scenic vineyards. Although the golf course is fairly new, the Chateau itself dates back hundreds of years, lending an historic quality to the property. Golf du Medoc features two eighteen hole layouts. The Les Chateaux course, a French Open host, has been ranked #50 in the Top 100 courses in Continental Europe. This Bill Coore design features the feel of a Scottish links. Although inland from the Atlantic coast of France, the fairways bordered by heather and gorse remind many players of the British Isles. The Les Vignes Course at Medoc is routed through the interesting landscape or moorland and pine trees and serves as a worthy compliment to the Chateaux course. Golf du Medoc has onsite lodging and a spa to help relax and recharge after a taxing day of playing golf and wine tasting in the Medoc region of Bordeaux. The Relais de Margaux resort complex features a new course routed through some of the most ancient and highly regarded vineyards in all of Bordeaux. Again new meets old to create a beautiful blend.
Photo courtesy Relais de Margaux Resort
Travel slightly south of Bordeaux and toward the border with Spain and you will be rewarded with a quartet of highly regarded golf courses that includes Seignosse. Ranked 53rd in Continental Europe and at one time considered a Top 100 in the world course, Seignosse features a mixture of pine trees, cork oak trees and sand dunes that lend a linksy feel that seems to fit its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The Chiberta Golf Club (Golf de Chiberta) was established in the 1920’s and designed by the famous British course designer, Tom Simpson. Ranked 90th in Continental Europe, Chiberta is also close to the Atlantic and is considered by many to be a true links golf course, albeit with some tree lined holes. It was the Duke of Windsor who commissioned Simpson to create the links at Chiberta. The Golf Club d’Hossegor, established in 1930 and ranked 78th in Continental Europe, features sandy subsoil, heather and routing through a pine forest reminiscent of the classic heathland courses of Surrey just outside London. Again, the British influence is felt on this French golfing ground. The last but certainly not least of this stellar quartet in southwest France is Golf du Moliets. A Robert Trent Jones design from the late 1980’s, Moliets has been rated as high as 25th in Europe. The course is mainly routed through an inland forest but Mr. Jones saw fit to include some seaside holes to close out the round. The course has been frequently used by the European Challenge Tour and continues to be held in high regard among the European professionals.
Still want more golf to go with your wine? The Bordeaux region has you covered. For the golfing wine lover there is Golf du Bordelais, established in 1900, Golf de Bordeaux – Lac with two eighteen hole layouts and Golf de Bordeaux – Pessac with twenty seven holes. More options include Golf de Teynac, Golf des Graves et du Santernais, Golf de Gujan – Mestras with twenty seven holes, Golf International de Lacanau and Golf d’Arachan which was established in 1952.
Just as there is no shortage of wine in this most famous of wine regions, so it goes with the golf opportunity for the savvy traveler who hauls their golf clubs across the Atlantic. It is lucky for us that the British and the French finally became friendly enough to exchange these two important cultural contributions to the world. The abundance of wine and golf make for a perfect pairing when in Bordeaux. Vive la France! Vive la wine! Vive la golf! Vive la Bordeaux!
Charlie Thurston is a Certified PGA Professional based in Spokane, Wash. and is the CEO and Founder of Pacific Northwest Golf And Wine Tours LLC. Charlie is the author of two golf related ebooks, “The Pilgrimage: A Father and Son at the Home of Golf” and “The First Steps of a Lifetime in Golf: A Guide to Basic Golf Fundamentals”. Charlie is a lifelong resident of Washington State. He can be reached at csnsthurston@hotmail.com
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