GOLF BARGE CRUISES IN FRANCE

Golf cruise france

Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or have just taken up the sport, traveling and golfing can be a wonderful way to explore a destination, getting in touch with the landscape at ground level. With over 600 golf courses in France to choose from you’re spoilt for choice.

Combine your favorite sport with a luxury hotel barge cruise and its top-class accommodation, gourmet food and friendly crew and you might just have the perfect vacation!

Take a moment to read about the top 9 golf courses in France.

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Golfing in France

Combine your love of golf with a luxurious hotel barge cruise or an enjoyable self-drive boating cruise. While France may not be known as the top golfing destination in the world, it certainly holds its own with around 700 courses throughout the country. The French Golf Federation has around 400,000 members enjoying the beautiful and plentiful parklands of France. In fact, did you know that the first course to open in mainland Europe was in France?

Pau (pronounced Poh), in south-west France, became popular with the British in the 19th century when wealthy travellers found winter solace there in its warmer climate. One thing leading to another, a golf course was created in 1856. Other courses followed soon afterwards, on the coast at Biarritz and in other places frequented by Britons, including Le Touquet in the north of France, and on the Cote d’Azur.

Golf in France
Golfing in France has been growing in popularity in recent years, particularly thanks to the Ryder Cup being held in France in 2018. The Lacoste Ladies Open de France, held since 1987 but under another name, is a major stop on the Ladies European Tour and the women’s Evian Cup have both contributed to France’s international reputation as a golfing destination.

Despite being the first destination for tourists worldwide, France has rarely put golfing at the forefront of its tourism development and the sport remains outside the mainstream sport coverage. Still, France does distinguish itself with beautifully varied golf courses, from sprawling castle estates to hidden greens in thick forests where the worries of the world disappear as soon as you pass through the gates…

Why Golf and Barge cruise?

The gentle pace and plush comfort of a hotel barge provides the ideal setting for true relaxation after a day out practicing your swing. You’ll be able to enjoy the exquisite food prepared fresh every day by the on-board chef and sip some of the finest French wine. The wonderful advantage of a hotel barge is that your view is ever changing so you’ll be exploring France in a truly unique way. Find out more here.

If you’d like to combine a hotel barge adventure with a golfing vacation, some barges offer special charter cruises with plenty of putting time in the week’s itinerary. And don’t worry, if you don’t want to golf every day, you can stay on-board or your whole party can take an alternative activity or excursion.

Where can I Golf and Barge?

Cruising the river Rhône and Canal Rhône à Sète, in Provence and the Camargue, Le Phénicien’s colorful route can include a Golf Cruise (for large charter parties only) in which you can choose to swap two or three excursions from the classic cruise itinerary for rounds of golf in the region’s excellent choice of courses.

On the elegant Renaissance, which can host 8 guests in an intimate and cosy cruise along the Upper Loire and Canal de Briare, you can also opt for the Golf Cruise. Known for its outstanding wines and castle estates, the Loire is also home to some of France’s most picturesque golf courses. Charter guests on the Renaissance can try out the Golf de Fontainebleau and Golf du Château de Cely.

With its strikingly modern design, Grand Cru provides high end accommodation and a contemporary atmosphere while it meanders along the most beautiful waterway of Burgundy. Its charter golfing cruise can be arranged with visits to several 18-hole courses within its itinerary on the Canal de Bourgogne.

Golf in France

Exploring the Nivernais canal in western Burgundy the excellent Randle, available for just 4 guests, provides a truly exclusive setting for your luxury hotel barge vacation. Here too, excursions to golf courses can be arranged, including the enchanting Château de Chailly, an 18-hole parkland golf course, with natural springs and centuries-old trees, set in the grounds of a stunning 16th century castle.

Charter barge Saint Louis provides a luxury cruise along the beautiful waterways of the historic lands of Aquitaine and Gascony in south-west France. A golf cruise is available for charter groups, combining the best of both worlds: the Grand Saint Emilionnais is a beautiful course where you can place your shot to the backdrop of world-famous Bordeaux vineyards, with wine tastings to celebrate (or help forget) your final score!

Golf in France

Here are some itineraries to whet the appetite.

Barge C'est la Vie ~ Burgundy

Charter a cruise for 8 aboard C’est la Vie on the famous Canal de Bourgogne in Burgundy

Hotel barge C'est la Vie

St Florentin to Ravières – Highlights:
Chablis, Château of Ancy-le Franc, Noyers, Abbey of Fontenay, AuxerreRestaurant: Hostellerie-des-Clos in Chablis
2 Golf Courses

Sunday: arrival
Your party will be met in your Paris hotel at 3:00pm for a private transfer to C’est la Vie, moored in the town of St Florentin. After a champagne welcome settle into your spacious cabins before your first gourmet dinner aboard.

Monday: cruise to Tonnerre, sight-seeing in Chablis
A morning cruise to the town of Tonnerre, with time to walk or ride along the tow path and work off  your breakfast of locally baked pastries. Visit the famous 13th century Hospice and the Fosse Dionne, an 18th century public ‘lavoir’ but dating from the Roman era. After a buffet lunch, we’ll visit the town of Chablis to taste some of the famous white wines of this region and enjoy a drive through vineyards, covering the hill sides as far as the eye can see. Dinner on board this evening.

Tuesday: cruise to Tanlay, sightseeing in Auxerre or Golf at Château de La Cordelière
With 6 locks to navigate on the cruise to Tanlay there’s time to walk between locks and work up an appetite for lunch before your afternoon visit to the town of Auxerre. On the banks of the river Yonne this historic town, first settled by the Romans has a Cathedral and an Abby side by side. With many styles of architecture, it’s a fascinating and prosperous provincial capital; walk along its narrow streets and window shop, or just sit and relax with a coffee in one of its many cafés and reflect on Napoleon, Joan of Arc and Charles VII who all passed through this elegant town. If you’d rather play golf today we’ll drive to Chaource for an afternoon of 18 holes at the Château de la Cordelière.  www.golfdetroyeslacordeliere.fr

Wednesday: cruise to Lézinnes, sightseeing in Noyers, local market
A morning visit to the medieval town of Noyers; walk through the cobbled streets, enjoy the local market and discover the old ramparts and half-timbered buildings from the 15th/16th centuries. Noyers is noted as one of the prettiest towns in France and is also famous for its Truffle auction in November which attracts buyers from all over Europe. Lunch on board and then an afternoon cruise to Lézinnes now lined by poplar trees, a perfect moment to put on your walking shoes and explore the towpath and small villages along the way. From Lezinnes we’ll head for Chablis for your dinner ashore at the recently refurbished Hostellerie-des-Clos. www.hostellerie-des-clos.fr

Thursday: cruise to Ancy le Franc, sightseeing at the Château
Morning cruise to Ancy le Franc with opportunities to walk or cycle along the tow path, or if you prefer a morning of golf, we’ll drive to Tanlay www.golfdetanlay.fr for 9 or 18 holes on this pretty golf course nestled in the grounds of the Château. Back to the boat for lunch and this afternoon’s visit to the gorgeous Renaissance Chateau Ancy le Franc. Renowned for its 16th century wall paintings and frescos (which are said to rival Fontainebleau’s), Ancy-le-Franc has been extensively and sensitively renovated. Dinner on board.

Friday: cruise to Ravières, sightseeing at Fontenay Abbey
This morning’s cruise is to the town of Ravières, famous for its limestone quarries whose stones have decorated many buildings in Paris and across the world. After a buffet lunch we’ll drive to the Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay, founded by St Bernard in the 12th Century and listed as a Unesco World Heritage site. It survived the revolution by being bought and turned into a paper factory and it remains in the same family today. After the collapse of the paper industry they decided to restore the buildings to their original state. Tonight it’s Captains dinner which ends your cruise in style.

Saturday:  Return to Paris
After breakfast at around 9.30am you’ll be chauffeured back to Paris to arrive at midday.

Please let us know if you are interested in hiring a golf cart. The golf courses of Chailly-sur Armançon and Roncemay can also be added during the week if requested. The golf fees (not included) are paid directly at the golf course and golf clubs can also be hired.

Barge Rosa ~ Aquitaine

Charter a cruise for 8 aboard Rosa and play in the south-west of France

Sunday, Day 1 Boé
Guests are met in Toulouse and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Rosa. Following a champagne and canapés welcome, there is time for a gentle stroll along the towpath in Agen before your first dinner on board.

Monday, Day 2 Boé to Pommevic
Today, we enjoy our first round of golf at the impressive Golf d’Albret situated in expansive parkland with wonderful views of the surrounding valleys and villages. After lunch on board we enjoy a leisurely cruise through the bucolic countryside to Pommevic near Valence d’Agen, an 18th century Bastide town with its Palladian canalside public wash-house and arcaded market place. Dinner on board.
(18 holes, par 72, 5760 metres)

Tuesday, Day 3 Pommevic to Moissac
This morning, we transfer to Golf d’Espalais a gentle course with beautiful water features located in the Auvillar foothills. Afterwards, if there is time, we can take a short drive to Auvillar, a 15th century village perched high on the side of a gorge above the River Garonne. We return to the hotel barge for lunch, then an afternoon cruise on the River Tarn takes us to the nautical base of St Livrade, before rising up from the river and turning west on the brick-lined canal to Moissac. This evening, maybe after a game of boules, we stroll ashore to savour regional specialities at the excellent restaurant Le Florentin, in front of the spectacular entrance portal of the abbey.
(9 holes, par 35, 2286 metres)

Wednesday, Day 4 Moissac to Castelsarrasin
This morning, we visit the UNESCO-classified Abbaye St-Pierre de Moissac, one of the architectural highlights of the region, founded in the 7th century with its wonderfully preserved cloisters and chapel. Then explore the charming town with its abundance of arts and crafts workshops. After lunch on board, we continue our cruise towards Castelsarrasin crossing the River Tarn via the 1,000 foot long aqueduct, the Pont Canal du Cacor. Dinner on board.

Golf cruise france

Thursday, Day 5 Castelsarrasin to Montech
After breakfast, we drive to Golf Montauban L’Estang. It is the longest course in the region and is set in a nature reserve with superb panoramic views. A challenge for any golfer. In the afternoon, a leisurely cruise to Montech allows us to enjoy the hotel barge’s sundeck, or walk and cycle along the towpath. We also tour the remarkable inclined Water Plane, an amazing feat of engineering that by-passes five locks and, when back in service in the near future, will lower vessels 43 feet all in one go. Dinner on board.
(18 holes, par 72, 6309 metres)

Friday, Day 6 Montech to Montauban
This morning, we drive to Golf International Toulouse Seilh which offers two courses set in rural countryside. There is the championship ‘Rouge’ course which features in the European Challenge Tour and provides a sterner, or the more forgiving ‘Yellow’ course. For our final afternoon cruise, Rosa meanders down the flight of ten locks on the beautiful and recently-restored branch canal skirting the Forest of Agre and moors in the port of the historical town of Montauban. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
(18 holes, par 72, 5577 metres), (18 holes, par 64, 5852 meters)

Saturday, Day 7 Montauban
After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus back to their choice of location in Toulouse.

Other Hotel Barge cruises with golfing options are also available

Barge Randle ~ Nivernais

Charter a cruise for 4 aboard Randle on the delightful Nivernais canal in west Burgundy

Day 1 Sunday: Arrival
Pick up in Paris at 14:00 for a transfer by private executive car to the Randle, moored in Chevroches, arriving at around 16:30 for a evening cruise. Welcome drinks on board and then dinner ashore at the Hostellerie de la post on arrival in Clamecy.

Day 2 Monday:
After breakfast, a whole day cruise to Mailly-la-Ville stopping along the way at Lucy-sur-Yonne for lunch, with the cliffs at le-Roches-Saussois to explore.
Evening dinner at the wonderful Chateau Vault-de-Lugny, (20 minutes by car)

Day 3 Tuesday:
After breakfast on board Randle depart by car for a day of golf at the magnificent Château de Chailly, with 18 Holes amidst the rolling Burgundy landscape of the Armançon valley.
The golf course was built in 1990, a 6,036m (6601yd) par 72 course its overall design was the vision of Mr Sata who commissioned Thierry Sprecher and Géry Watine, who have since designed over 50 golf courses in 14 countries.
The golf course design has incorporated the natural streams which are in play on three holes and preserved the century old trees throughout. The Château de Chailly is a parkland golf course with raised greens, which are well protected by bunkers and water hazards. The 11th semi-island par three hole is the signature hole on the golf course with the Château in the background.
Evening return to the Randle for dinner on board prepared by our gourmet chef Gael Robertson, complemented by a premier cru wine of the region.

Day 4 Wednesday:
Morning visit to the wonderfully preserved medieval village of Noyers-sur-Serein, then return for lunch aboard the Randle and an afternoon cruise to Accolay. Dinner at Hostellerie de la Poste, a short stroll from the mooring.

Day 5 Thursday:
A morning cruise to Vincelles and then depart by car to Roncemay, a 6,801m (7,437 yds) par 72 course created in 1989 on an area of land between an oak forest, lakes and a lush plateau. After lunch at the club house, play the 18 holes of this magnificent course. Evening return to the Randle for another delightful prepared by chef Gael.

hotel barge randle Burgundy Nivernais

Day 6 Friday:
A morning tour of the Grand-Cru vineyards of Chablis with wine tasting in the village; then return for lunch aboard the Randle
Afternoon cruise to Auxerre, a wonderfully preserved medieval town, and what better way to cap the week than evening dinner at the Michelin Starred L’Aspérule, just a short stroll from our mooring in Auxerre.

Day 7 Saturday:
After breakfast, private car transfer back to Paris for onward journey.


Other Hotel Barge cruises with golfing options are also available

Self-Drive ~ Anjou

Nicols self drive hire boat

Take a long week-end Self-Drive Hire-Boat holiday and Golf in Anjou in north-west France

Usually golfers like to steer clear of the water but at Sablé-sur-Sarthe you might think otherwise. A combination of fine golf and a relaxing boating holiday appeals to golfer and non-golfer alike.

Friday: day 1
Arrive at the Nicols Sablé-sur-Sarthe base to collect your boat at 4pm. After some instruction you’re free to set off and after 45 minutes you’ll arrive at the Sablé Solesmes Golf Course. It’s right at the waters’ edge and you can  moor up here for the evening enjoy evening meal at the golf course restaurant ‘The Kingfisher’, sat on the beautiful terrace with views over the course.

Spend the night there or after a 15 mins cruise, moor at the peaceful village of Pincé (no facilities or shops).

Saturday: day 2
This morning it’s all about golf! The Sablé Solesmes Golf Course is a true gem and one of the most beautiful golf courses in western France. With a total of 27 holes you have the choice of the three ‘Waterfall’, ‘Forest’ and ‘River’ nine hole courses.

It’s possible to get on the course pretty much as you step off the boat! The 13th hole is located directly alongside the pontoon. Be aware though – this hole provides a tricky start and is known as the Bermuda Triangle for golf balls!

After completing your round there is still plenty of time to explore the beauty and history of the Sarthe valley. A 45 mins return cruise will take you back to Sablé, where, if you were on the course early, you should still make the Saturday market (until 1pm).

A must see is the remarkable Solesmes Abbey – famous for its precious alter pieces and Gregorian chants. Panoramic views can be enjoyed fromv the top of the Chapel Notre Dame in Port de Juigné.

Avoise is 90 mins further on where the magnificently restored Manoir de la Perrine de Cry overlooks the Sarthe river. The pretty village of Parcé provides an excellent evening mooring for supper on deck.

Sunday: day 3
Pescheseul Castle and Dureil
await further along the canal, and l’Auberge des Acacias is a delicious stop for lunch. Enjoy the cruise back to base for 6pm.

Features of this canal boat holiday:

  • The Nicols team will handle all of the golf course bookings for you
  • Golf starts the minute you set foot off your boat
  • No car transfers needed because the base is close to the train station (90 minutes from Paris / 1 hour from Nantes)
  • Sablé-Solesmes Golf Course is set right alongside the River Sarthe offering all the freedom and flexibility that a boating holiday offer

Nicols cruising Anjou

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