French French Connection Connection T
The Euro-Tunnel has opened up a wealth of tourism opportunities for French golf clubs, as our roving editor, John Vinicombe found out...
OURISM
Channel
JOHN VINICOMBE editor
Hopping T
he strength of sterling against the French franc made La Belle France especially attractive for British visitors this year. An estimated 9.5 million crossed from the UK and already travel firms are taking bookings for next year. When the French government was promoting the building of Le Tunnel so enthusiastically, the motive was to bring prosperity to the Pas de Calais. That region was then seen as the depressed part of France across the English Channel. But, so far as golf courses in the north of the country are concerned, the perspective has changed dramatically and the influx of British golfers is the main reason. Brits have found the convenience of driving onto a train just outside Folkestone and being whisked 35 minutes later to an Autoroute system at Calais, simply irresistible. In a good deal less than an hour one can be playing golf and savouring the myriad delights of the French way of life. What seldom fails to impress British visitors to French courses (there are over 500), is a high regard for the traditions of the game, particularly among members’ clubs. The image of home-based golfers in ragged jeans and trainers has been banished. In fact it is in Britain, that I have observed more flagrant violations of the dress code. Without doubt the French regard golf as a burgeoning part of their
leisure industry and those charged with responsibility for the game at national and club level are doing an impressive job. Standards are formidably high. For instance caddy masters, practically extinct in the UK, except at a few highly select clubs, are still a familiar sight in France. Local cuisine and the natural French ambience are powerful factors in tempting Brits over the channel and tour specialist Fred May of Francoleisure confirmed that 1997 has been good and that 1998 could well be even better. “Absolutely excellent, that’s the only way I can describe business this year. For my company that is chiefly in Northern France and Normandy and with golf societies and business people. “My clients tend to be middleaged and middle-income people and, of course, ladies. The strength of the pound has encouraged a lot more holiday makers, with a liking for golf, to spend time in France. “I deal with about a dozen clubs and in a very short time Arras has built up an incredible reputation and this is also true of Saint-Omer. “Visitors from Britain remark on the courtesy and friendliness extended to them at these particular clubs and the result, of course, is that they book up to go back.
20 GOLF MANAGEMENT EUROPE ! NOVEMBER 1997
“There is something special about golf in France. It is not always easy to get a green fee at some of the more established and, shall we say, senior clubs. But it is not by any means impossible and there are several in the region of Lille that are well worth visiting. “I thought that business had started to calm down a bit going into September, but no, I’m dealing with bookings for next year.” A huge operator, Brittany Ferries, actually ran out of brochures covering 40 courses in their speciality area plus Normandy and The Loire. A new deal for golfing breaks of two nights in France is a 25% saving on travel on any of Brittany Ferries’ cross channel routes with the return fare starting at £28.50 for a car and passenger. Courses selected by the company included Golf de Deauville and Golf Club du Champ de Bataille in Normandy, Golf Club des Ormes and Golf de St Malo, Le Tronchet in Brittany and Golf de la Bretesche, and Golf de la Baule in the Loire region.