THE GREEN AND THE BLUE
Golf and the French Riviera — the best of both worlds
by Karen Guthry
 With it’s warm Mediterranean climate, the French Riviera offers golf enthusiasts the luxury of being able to play all year round. Add to this an infrastructure that caters for some of the world’s most exclusive clientele, and it’s easily understood why any devoted golfer would spend his time on the greens of the Côte d’Azur.
The destination of wealthy tourists form around the world, especially affluent visitors from northern Europe, the French Riviera’s tourist board was quick to identify golf tourism as a growth industry. Since the early 90s, money has been invested to develop first-rate golfing facilities as well as a marketing strategy to entice a slice of the world’s estimated 55 million golfers.
Thanks to the support of France Golf International, the tourist board of the Côte d’Azur was able to successfully promote the Maritime Alps as a holiday destination for golf enthusiast. Although golf is most widely played in the U.S. and Japan, the European market is not to be underestimated. Countries such as Germany, Holland and Spain have tripled their members in the last decade.
With the Riviera’s golf clubs filled to the brim, the tourist board’s efforts have been rewarded. The majority of members are foreigners, Germans, Scandinavians, Belgians and Italians being the most numerous, followed by the British and the Swiss.
Of the various golf tournaments on the Riviera, the French Riviera Martinez Golf Cup is the most prominent event. Organized by Promogolf, it takes place in September on the St Donat, St Endréol and Cannes Mandelieu golf courses. The latter was established in 1991 with the assistance of Robert Trent Jones. It borders the Esterel massif and offers some splendid coastal views. Since 1998 it is managed by Francis Camerini and his son.
GOLF COURSES IN THE AREA:
GOLF OF BIOT, La Bastide du Roy
Tel. 04 93 65 08 48 - Fax 04 93 65 05 63
GOLF OF CANNES MANDELIEU, Route du Golf
Tel. 04 93 49 55 39 - Fax 04 93 49 92 90
GOLF OF CANNES MOUGINS, 175 route d'Antibes
Tel. 04 93 75 79 13 - Fax 04 93 75 27 60
GOLF OF GRANDE BASTIDE, Chemin des Picholines
Tel. 04 93 77 70 08 - Fax 04 93 77 72 36
GRASSE COUNTRY CLUB, 1 route des Trois Ponts
Tel. 04 93 60 55 44 - Fax 04 93 60 55 19
GOLF OF OPIO-VALBONNE, Château de la Begude
Tel. 04 93 12 00 08 - Fax 04 93 12 26 00
RIVIERA GOLF CLUB, Avenue des Amazones - Mandelieu
Tel. 04 92 97 67 67 - Fax 04 92 97 66 57
ROYAL MOUGINS GOLF CLUB, 1470 avenue de Pibonson
Tel. 04 92 92 49 69 - Fax 04 92 92 49 70
GOLF COUNTRY CLUB OF ST DONAT, 270 route de Cannes
Tel. 04 93 09 76 60 - Fax 04 93 09 76 63
VICTORIA GOLF CLUB, Domaine du Val Martin - Valbonne
Tel. 04 93 12 23 26 - Fax 04 93 12 35 50
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