Andy Kenyon (19.3)

Essex, United Kingdom

France 2008

By Andy Kenyon on 28-Jun-2008

The short version..!

2008 trip with Surrey Uni mates Steve, Matt and Martin. Sun 22nd to Wed 25th June.

Booked thru www.golfbreaks.com and very efficient as usual (3rd trip with them). Stayed at The Windsor Hotel, le Touquet. 2 Star. Frayed around the edges small twin room with adequate bathroom. Nice lounge and good breakfast. Didn't spend much time there!

Early morning Eurotunnel crossing in two cars then 18 holes at Nampont St Martin on the Belvedere Course (par 70 SSS 68). Straightforward and forgiving course - a good warm-up track. Won stableford with 33 points. Happy with performance. Matchplay Steve and Me against matt and Martin ended in draw (my final putt on 18th to draw the match). Hot and sunny all day.

Monday early start for 18 holes at Belle Dune - a fantastic and challenging course (par 71 SSS 73). Martin managed to excavate a monster divot on the 1st tee whilst being watched by starter and following group! Won stableford with 31 points. Very happy with performance on a tough course - felt I played better than score suggests. matchplay Martin and me won 2-0 against Steve and Matt. Very hot and sunny. A few penalties and missed opportunities on what could have been a cracking round. Dropped the ball within 8' on the 140 yd par 3 3rd.

Tuesday late morning start for 18 holes at Hardelot Les Pines. Not played this course before. A really nice course with interesting and challenging holes (par 73 SSS 70). Played well once more to claim clean sweep of stableford wins with another 31 points. Again very hapopy with performance. Started badly with two 8's but otherwise quite steady - even manged a couple of decent tee off's with the driver. managed an excellent 5 Iron draw around a clump of trees on the back 9 which was very satisfying. Matchplay was Steve and I against Martin and Matt which we snatched a draw on the 18th to leave Martin and I in tied first place. Another hot and sunny day.

All three eveings spent in Le Touquet between the fish restaurant oppostite the red Fox, Jean's Bar, the Leffe Bar and Le Globe trotter bar. Also ate in Le Matisse which was good. Lots of pool played int e backroom ofLe Globe Trotter.

Contemplated playing Hardelot again on the wednesday but stuck with plan of visiting the Somme battlefireld sites as originally planned. Visited a couple of cemeteries at Poziers and Serre and spent a fair while at the Memorial to the Missing at Thiepval. All very moving and really worth doing.

Retuned via Sainsbury's Calis late afternoon to end another excellent trip to Northern France. I'd recommend the area, the courses and www.golfbreaks.com.

Comments

	John Standing- 2008-06-30 19:16:07 Sounds like a good trip Andy. Off to Le Tourquet over August Bank Holiday on a trip Smiffy's organising. I think we are playing Belle Dune, not sure about the others. Cheers for the tips of bars and restaurants:-) Good to hear it's a great place.
	Andy Kenyon- 2008-06-30 21:46:39 It was a good trip John. This is the third year weve been their and it is always good. Belle Dune is a terrific course - Par 71 SSS 73 - one of the best in the area. The Hardelot course was also superb. The first year we played the Pines course at Le Touquet which was nice but not exceptional. We have not played Le Mer course at Le Touquet which is supposed to be very good. Beer and food is quite pricey in Le Touquet, but convinient!. The seafood restaurant opposite the Red Fox hotel is very good. The Leffe bar is pricey for drinks - we found Le Globe Trotter to be best value and the best atmosphere - it is just across the crossroads from the Red Fox. It has pool tables in the back room too. Have a good trip in August.
	Wayne Santorini- 2008-07-01 13:57:59 What was the cost guys???
	Andy Kenyon- 2008-07-01 20:56:47 This year £255 inc VAT per person based on 4 golfers in 2 cars in twin rooms for 3 nights.
	Andy Kenyon- 2008-07-01 21:14:03 Golfbreaks must get a decent discount on the golf. The full price at Hardelot for 18 holes is 88 Euro at weekends ~£70 and Belle Dune will be the similar but less on weekday say £55. Nampont would be less at say £40 weekday. Eurostar booked early is probably about £120 per car = £60 per person. Hotel Windsor is 70 Euro per night per room ~£84 per person 3 nights total of £309 per person and we were charged £255 - You couldn't arrange it privately for the same money. And note that Le Touquet and the courses are swarming with Brits. When we played Hardelot, we were followed by a group of 20 golfers from Essex who had their own coach.