Golf du Medoc
About the Course
Ranked among the top 100 golf courses in continental Europe, the third best golf course in France by the Rolex Guide, the Golf du Medoc offers two superbly designed 18 hole courses.
The more challenging of the two is Les Chateaux, which is likened to a links course. It’s very long with large greens and lots of hazards all around. Les Vignes is set among the beautiful pine trees so accuracy is required to score well.
Key Features
Les Châteaux certainly has a links design to it, but surrounded by forest land on the perimeter of the golf course. The greens are links style and massive with run off areas, which makes the approach and short game very tough.
The course Les Vignes has a really nice variety of holes, some through parkland forest and some through big pines trees, some with links style. The greens are smaller than Les Chateaux and it is a little shorter.
Play this course
The Medoc Golf Club is located just 35 minute’s drive from Bordeaux airport, which is accessible from several UK airports. Set in the heart of the Medoc wine country there are many vineyards you can visit nearby. Make it part of your itinerary knowing it’s only half an hour from the centre of one of France’s finest cities, Bordeaux, and what’s more, the coastline is just 45-55 minutes away!
Course insights
- The round starts with a Par 4, 341m. Bunkers on the right so keep left, on the approach shot aim for right-hand side of green to avoid overhanging trees on left.
- Holes 2 and 3 should be played with caution but considered safe.
- Hole 4 will need 2 very long shots to reach the elevated green, not easy.
- Hole 5 is the first par 3 and a real challenge, not long but has water on 3 sides, aim for the middle of the green.
- Holes 6, 7 and 8, not likely to cause difficulty.
- Hole 9 is another long Par 4 so don’t be disappointed if you do not make it in regulation.
- Fairway 11 has a small river running diagonally SE to NW so chose to play either short left or long right.
- Holes 12, 13, 14 and 15 are fairly safe.
- Hole 16 is once again another very long Par 4.
- After that, it’s safely home with a par 3 and 4 to finish!
Golf du Médoc – Les Châteaux – Yellow Tee Markers
(Designer – Bill Coore)
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | in | Total |
Distance | 341 | 505 | 317 | 394 | 127 | 332 | 324 | 122 | 386 | 2848 | 433 | 324 | 136 | 367 | 442 | 346 | 385 | 167 | 368 | 2968 | 5816 |
Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 71 |
Index | 9 | 7 | 15 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 3 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 6 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 4 |
Course insights
- The course starts with a Par 4, not difficult but stay left to avoid trees for approach shot.
- Holes 2 and 3 should not present any problems.
- Hole 4 requires SDTM to avoid water on left and bunkers on right.
- After that the rest of the outward 9 holes make plain sailing.
- Hole 10 is not long but has water all along the fairway on the lhs so stay right.
- Hole 11, long Par 5 with bunkers in the middle of the fairway for the second shot.
- Holes 12, 13 and 14 to be enjoyed.
- Hole 15, long Par 4 bending right, bunker on rhs just to make it even longer.
- Hole 16 has bunkers on the fairway so be careful.
- Holes 17 and 18 will allow you to redeem yourself.
Golf du Médoc – Les Vignes – Yellow Tee Markers
(Designer – Rod Whitman)
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | in | Total |
Distance | 344 | 179 | 349 | 470 | 157 | 434 | 305 | 311 | 116 | 2665 | 328 | 485 | 332 | 164 | 352 | 383 | 490 | 137 | 368 | 3039 | 5704 |
Par | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 35 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 71 |
Index | 4 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 13 | 3 | 11 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 17 | 5 |
Lucius’ tips:
Putting is never easy as the greens are big and generally slick. Beautiful natural scenery and wildlife for all 36 holes. I would advise you play Les Châteaux if you only have time for 18-holes. If you can play both courses, I advise you play Les Vignes first as a great warm up to Les Châteaux.