By Claude Granveaud Vallat
Since the dawn of time, the offshore wind has been sweeping the coasts of the English Channel. Invited by enthusiasts, Harry Colt came in 1912 to bring his talent on the massive dune, golfers enjoy it north of Granville.
On the occasion of his centenary, Stuart Hallett, an architect who specializes in Colt’s work, corrected a few errors from a recent past. Thanks to the original plans, bunkers, greens, departures were returned to the spirit of links, the essence of the game. The vegetation has been rigorously selected, holes adapted to modern play, but the soul has been preserved between the trompe-l’oeil and the undulations of rough… Between the holes in the bowl as at 1 and 7, the raised greens of 10 and 16, the doglegs where it is dangerous to fly over the oyats, the quality of the mowing of fairways and greens, on a playable ground all year round, we do not have time to get bored! And what about the 6th, the Panorama… The sea is roaring, it’s right there, at the bottom of the dune, where the beach is as far as the eye can see.
Since 1986, the Dunes course, 9 holes signed Fred Hawtree in the spirit of the Links, benefits from the same maintenance as its elder. A little simpler, it can be played quickly, perfect for a lunch break. Sheltered by a club-house «house of dolls», between the farmed chicken, the beef fillet with porcini mushrooms, the bar tartare and the inspirations of the chef at the time of the market, we do not see time passing. Enough to miss the tide!
Granville Links Golf Club
1, impasse des Dunes
50290 Bréville-sur-Mer
Tél. : 02 33 50 23 06
Site : www.golfdegranville.com
18T, par 72, 6195 m Architectes : Harry Colt (1921) – Stuart Hallett (2012)
9T, par 33, 2216 m Architecte : Fred Hawtree (1986).