144 - Arcachon

Location: La Teste-de-Buch, France

Rating: 7.7

Archacon was an interesting experience as a golf course. Sadly there was a lot of maintenance on the first hole so we had to play it as a shortened par 3 from the fairway but otherwise it’s a daunting first tee hot with houses on the right and a thick line of trees on the left. The second hole offers no respite with an extremely elevated par 3 from the top of the hill down to a green way below but with danger to the right and thick bush putting you off on the left. The next few holes are good fun, weaving through the forest with a mixture of elevated greens and twisting fairways.

The front 9 is quite different to the back, more undulations and no water where the back 9 flattens out with the introduction of water hazards around several greens. It’s a pretty fun and challenging round of golf. I think the maintenance could be a lot better, the fairways had some very good areas and then some pretty bad patches and similar theme with the greens as well but in fairness they were fairly even rolling. The tee boxes though weren’t in good condition.

The course has some good practice facilities with a driving range, putting green, chipping green and also a bunker to hit out of.

For €65 I think the design is worth the money although if it was in better condition this could be a much more highly rated course. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area!