| Whether you are a regular player of the game of | | | | year. You can relax, safe in the knowledge that at |
| golf or just getting started in the sport, you may | | | | least until the golfing aficionados arrive, from the |
| have noticed how crowded the courses are | | | | other overbooked destinations in Europe, you will be |
| becoming in Spain and Portugal's Algarve. Well fear | | | | able to enjoy a relatively peaceful and uninterrupted |
| not, there is an alternative golfing holiday destination | | | | game. |
| that is closer, more convenient, quieter and | | | | So, what of the facilities? Having to compete with its |
| extremely high quality - the South West of France. | | | | near neighbours of Spain and Portugal, the French |
| France, the land of fine wines, haute cuisine and high | | | | authorities have been at pains to ensure the creation |
| fashion has over the last twenty years, taken the | | | | of golf courses and facilities that are second to none. |
| game of golf to its heart. Having once considered the | | | | Within striking distance of Poitou-Charentes itself, you |
| sport elitist, its popularity has grown to such an | | | | will find some 22 courses, most notable among which |
| extent, that the enthusiastic golfer now has in | | | | are the courses at Chateau des Forges, Haut-Poitou |
| excess of 650 golf courses to choose from. These | | | | and Golf du Cognac. |
| feature some of the most beautiful countryside to | | | | 27 holes wait to greet you at Chateau des Forges. |
| be found anywhere in Europe. | | | | Made up of an 18 or 3 separate 9-hole courses, this |
| France has more choice of fairway and green to | | | | challenging, yet undeniably relaxing course covers |
| offer than is available, throughout the rest of the | | | | some 110 hectares of beautiful, unspoiled French |
| European continent too and the quality doesn't | | | | countryside. If having played the 18, you're still up for |
| diminish with quantity: 25 of France's courses are | | | | more, why not take on another 9 before retiring to |
| rated amongst the top 100 in Europe. | | | | the clubhouse for a well-earned half litre or two. A 10 |
| Over four times larger than England, France offers a | | | | round pass is available mid to high season with special |
| varied climate from North to South and East to | | | | rates for couples. |
| West. The climate turns from typically southern | | | | Haut-Poitou challenges with a long par 73. Here a |
| English, in Calais North France, to distinctly | | | | tough, wooded back nine follows an outward battle |
| Mediterranean in Languedoc Roussillon, in the south. In | | | | with numerous water hazards. At Golf du Cognac, |
| the southwest of France, around the area of | | | | nestled on the banks of the Charente, between |
| Poitou-Charentes, the climate cools, just enough to | | | | Cognac and Jarnac, the course gently-slopes |
| make an 18 hole stroll with a bag of sticks, one of | | | | between vineyard and woodland, with three water |
| the most memorable and pleasurable of all holiday | | | | hazards. Even experienced golfers may need a |
| pastimes. | | | | Cognac or two after the 12th, 15th and 17th holes |
| Golf in Poitou-Charentes, France, is also comparatively | | | | here but they can rest assured, there'll be one |
| inexpensive with 18 hole green fees costing between | | | | waiting for them at the 19th. |
| thirty and forty Euros, depending upon the time of | | | | |