Best golf courses in Normandy

Set along chalk cliffs near Le Havre, Golf Club d’Étretat provides some superb holes dangerously close to the cliff's edge. When the wind is up Etretat is a stern challenge, and with beautiful views over the English Channel, this course is an absolute cracker.

With 27-holes to choose from, Golf Barriere de Saint-Julien offers more golf than most of the other courses in the area. The front 9 is relatively straightforward, but it is when you reach the back 9 that this stunning parkland really kicks in. We recommend eating in the clubhouse to get the full St Julien experience.

Golf de Dieppe-Pourville was created in 1897 and thus the second oldest course in France. Although a short course by modern standards, Dieppe is hilly, scattered with thick pines lining the fairways, and even has a sea breeze which tends to come into play. A great location to enjoy the history of golf in France…

A consistently brilliant layout from start to finish, Champ de Bataille’s woodland course is carved out of large mature trees with the occasional water hazard. The greens and fairways are always in good nick, providing what is considered to be one of the region’s top 3 courses.

Golf d’Omaha Beach offers 36 beautiful holes overlooking one of the famous D-day beaches. The La Mer and Le Bocage are considered to be more prominent loops of 9 - La Mer the more scenic and Le Bocage the more difficult. Enjoy three exceptional closing holes and the signature 6th, a stunning hole which overlooks the English Channel.

One of the closest courses to the charming town of Deauville, Golf de l’Amirauté is a tricky track with a Florida marshland type layout – an interesting contrast to some of the other golf courses in Normandy. The many strategic water hazards and bunkering provides a good, solid challenge which you’ll be sure to enjoy.

The charm of St Saens lies in its natural beauty and diversity. There are three distinct elements to this course - the valley (crossed by the river "la Varenne"), the forest (narrow fairways and enclosed greens surrounded by trees) and the high plateau (hilly, bunkers, wind). All of this is idyllically situated within a 200-acre estate next to Eawy Forest, and surrounding “Le Chateau du Vaudichon”, which offers great accommodation and fine dining experience.

Designed by the great Tom Simpson in 1929, Golf Barrière de Deauville is one of our favourites. 27 beautiful holes can be found at this golf club, with plenty of luxury hotels, such as the Hotel du Golf Barrière which is on-site, and charming Deauville in close proximity. Barrière Deauville comprises tree-lined and open parkland holes, with plenty of undulating terrains to complicate things even further.

Golf de Deauville Saint-Gatien shares its 27-holes between a lower valley and higher ground which overlooks the estuary of River Seine. This is a thinking man’s course, with natural water, forest and other obstacles to deal with. One of the exciting components of this course is that each 9-hole loop is different from the first, with the visiting golfer never likely to get bored.