By Claude Granveaud-Vallat
In a Saône-et-Loire nostalgic for its steel industry, a little greenery was welcome at the end of the 80s. On an industrial wasteland where the stigma of a foundry reminded us of its heyday, the Golf Collection du Château d’Avoise was born on 120 hectares, inspired by Martin Hawtree and driven by Jean-Claude Soula, the little prince of Burgundian ovalie.
Taking advantage of the birch, beech and oak forests, the architect offered an interesting drawing, alternating the holes in the game constrained by the foliage with wider fairways, less stressful, where the small greens complicate the approach. The piece of water bordering holes 8, 10, 12 and 17 as well as the departures of 9 and 18, is to be considered while evoking the difficulties of Avoise. On a falsely flat, almost urban terrain – the city centre of Montchanin and the Creusot TGV station are within reach of a large drive – this green lung is appreciated by all, players and city dwellers, but also the deer and pheasants who took possession of this idyllic garden even though, in 2014, the castle did not resist the expansion of the road network. Now only golf carries the memory of this bourgeois 19th century residence.
For several years, great efforts have been made on the greens, on their quality, their regularity, their speed. These improvements are noticed every year during the Grande Semaine du Golf, the summer meeting of this club where the conviviality so dear to the president goes beyond the terrace of a clubhouse!
Golf du Château d’Avoise
Rond-point de l’Europe
71210 Montchanin
Tél. : 03 85 78 19 19.
Site : www.golf-avoise.com
18T, par 72, 6179 m
Création : 1992
Architecte : Martin Hawtree
