Barbaroux Golf, Hotel & Spa

Barbaroux Golf, Hotel & Spa: European golf courses designed by legendary architect Pete Dye are rare; you can count them on the fingers of one hand. Barbaroux is among this elite group, a collaborative design by Pete Dye and his son P.B. Dye. The layout is recognised as one of the best in the south of France, but one that lays down many tough challenges.

The par-4 1st is your scene-setter. It doglegs to the right over water, possibly played with the wind in your face. An equally tough par-4 follows, this time requiring a tight, blind drive and then a difficult approach to an elevated green. The third also demands a blind drive, leading to an approach shot into a plunging canyon. A tough start on a fiercely testing layout. If you can quickly find you A-game, and take advantage of the many risk-reward opportunities on offer, you may actually be able to build a good score; although that's unlikely on a first visit.

The Dye's appear to have drawn on influences from a variety of different courses around the world. The short par-4 7th could be a hole on the King's course, Gleneagles, while the short par-4 11th is not unlike a hole on Pete Dye's Kiawah Island Ocean course. At the par-4 9th, the 60-metre green brings a Scottish links to mind. The pudding bowl green at the par-4 13th reminds one of Pinehurst No.2, and a dune-like fairway bunker at the short par-4 14th can be found on many a British links course.

The more undulating front-nine and easier-going back-nine offer wonderful views out across the surrounding woodland and rural countryside. On the early holes of each nine-hole loop, the proximity of the A8 highway creates a bit of traffic noise, but is generally not too distracting. Barbaroux is not one to miss when in the south of France - but it will test your nerve and golf game to the full, and then some!

Stay&Play at Barbaroux: luxury onsite accommodation available, see Where2Stay section below.