Greens maintenance – Dunes course – 28th, 29th and 30th August 2023
Greens maintenance – Dunes course – 28th, 29th and 30th August 2023
The 18-hole golf course Hardelot Pines is a stunning masterpiece designed by Tom Simpson. You’ll play on pine tree-lined fairways that weave their way through sand dunes and the Hardelot national forest. Its original 1934 layout has been meticulously restored to enhance its simple, subtle British style with its sophisticated green contours and notoriously tricky bunker edges.
Don’t panic on the second stroke: position yourself between the bunker and the large pine tree on the right, which is only 125 m from the green.
There’s often a headwind at this former par 5 and you’ll need patience and tolerance to reach the double plateau green, whose short right-hand section will have you playing downhill.
A short par 4 where you shouldn’t hesitate to attack the back of the “inverted plateau” green, even if the flag is short.
After avoiding the fairway bunker, you should be careful when attacking the diagonal green (short to the left, long to the right). Your choice of club will be crucial.
Aim for the middle of the green and all will be well.
A superb par 5 where big hitters can reach the green in two if they don’t get stuck on the left side (and risk having to take a very tricky second shot). To adjust, stay slightly back from the dune. A second shot on the left side is often the way to go.
Don’t be greedy here – the bunkers are dangerous. Aim for the middle of the green.
Stay in front of the bunker or go over it if you’re a big hitter. Be careful – the narrow entry to the green will bring you back down. It’s best to attack in the right half, where it’s deeper.
Big hitters should stay as far left as possible. For the rest, aim for the small tree behind the right-hand bunker. Take care with your second shot – attacking the green from the right is tricky. Keep your eye on the prize by always staying short. If you reach the green in three, position yourself at a distance you like – the narrow green is tricky.
A birdie par 5, but there’s a small bunker in the middle of the fairway waiting to welcome the best drives.
Play it like two successive par 3s by placing your first shot to the right of the bunker at your preferred distance from the green.
Remember to attack the back of the green by bringing the right-hand route into play, as it’s at an angle.
A long par 5! After hitting your best drive, play your second shot towards the small fairway bunker on the right, or if you’re a big hitter, attack the green from the left to protect yourself from the penalty area on the right.
Don’t be greedy when the flags are left or right. Protect yourself from the bunkers by playing your shot onto the top plateau.
Short and attractive, this is Hardelot’s former signature dogleg. Play its original line by keeping left of the copse or slice it straight without worrying about the bunkers (they’re harmless when they’re hard). Take care when you attack the green and stay left to protect yourself from the dangerous bunker on the right.
A former par 5 that will give you a hard time. Play long and left when you attack the green if you don’t want your ball to roll all the way back down again.
Although the left of the green looks intimidating, it offers quite an easy uphill approach if you’re not too greedy. The right of the green is easier at first glance, but this downhill shot may require a putter because of the sandy lie.
A superb finish on this former par 5. Big hitters should beware of the fairway bunkers on the rare occasions there is no headwind. Don’t worry if you miss the short green – its slight elevation offers an open approach.