Opengolfclub.com own both the Hardelot courses - the Pines and Dunes and both Le Touquet courses - La Mer and La Foret plus the lovely little 9 hole course called Le Manoir. Residents receive substantial discounts off both Hardelot and both Le Touquet courses.
One of Europe's grandest golf links built to test the best golfers, it is a monster course if the wind blows and harder than Turnberry's Ailsa, but benign if it is calm. Most holes thread their way through mountainous sand dunes which are flanked by wild bushes or pine trees in places. There are many elevated tee shots from high tee and some superb classic links holes designed by Scotsman Tom Simpson.
La Foret is a softer course to La Mer - the sister of the family not the hard nosed brother! It combines parkland forest tree lined golf with links, an enchanting mixture. It is more sheltered and less exposed and has less changes of elevation than La Mer. You should be able to play to your handicap here.
Hardelot Pines is the oldest of the two courses and has been twinned for many years in the past with Wentworth West course and is on a par in levels of quality to the Burmah Road course. Unusually one starts with two shortish par 5s and then one plays in the depths of Hardelot forest land, with a delightful mixture of pines and deciduous forest. There are some great par 4 holes and many with great angled dog leg tee shots, which encourage one to take risk and reward strategies. The par 3s are delightful here and the last hole has to be the toughest climax in this part of France, a long 4 through pines downhill but normally against the wind.
This course opened in the early 90s and was designed by a Belgian architect, it is set on much higher land than the Pines and has more elevation changes and more dog legs and some incredibly spectacular holes throughout the 18. There is no doubt that this is one of France's most scenic courses and the lovely par 5 double dog leg down hill roller coaster is one of the best holes I have played, with water lurking in front of the green also!