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Terre Blanche at Fayence (France)
to become the French Fancourt
(continue Terre Blanche)

Architect of the golf courses is Dave Thomas, designer among any other places of the Belfry (UK) and San Roque (Spain): famous De Veere Belfry is one of Britain's top clubs, set out in the style of Augusta National, and has staged many national and international championships not least the Ryder Cup, while San Roque golf course at Sotogrande is the European HQ for the PGA European Tour (much like TPC Sawgrass in the States).

Dave Thomas has designed at Terre Blanche two championship courses which furrow through pine and oak trees hills with spectacular views over the valley and the pre-alpines mountains.

- The Château is 6433 metres long, par 72 and is already open to players. It is a challenging course and it will be interesting to hear from the pros what they will say about it. Anyway, with four well calculated tee boxes, it is very playable course for golfers of different skills moreover that each hole has a different design and style depending on the vagaries of the land : ups and downs, right and left dog legs, water holes or cascades, every natural distinctive feature has been used by Dave Thomas to play with. Most remarkable holes on the first nine are #3 a par-3 uphill over a cascade, #5 with a superb view from the tee-boxes to the pre-alpines mountains and the Fayence village and #6 par-5 with a water protected green and the Château in the background. On the back nine, #10 is an interesting dogleg around water while #11 with a ravine which goes through from one side to the other is the signature of the course. But this choice is restrictive as any hole of this superb course could be a signature hole in many other places.

- The second course will be a bit shorter with only 5959 meters. But of what can already be seen, it appears to be a target course more technical than the Château. Fairways seem narrower and greens more tormented and protected. It will open on the next fall.

Outside the club-house, pro-shop, practice range and many others facilities, a Leadbetter academy is at disposal for all kinds of golfers from beginners to players of all skills with a special biomecanic centre with massage, reeducation and video training.

It is obvious, as a first impression could be the good one, that Terre Blanche Resort can certainly become the French Fancourt.

For more information : www.fourseasons.com/provence

View from hole 11 tee box

and from the green

Chateau hole 6

Chateau hole 10

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