The 45-hole complex of Le Touquet is part of the successful golf and hotel operator Open Golf Club which also has Hardelot within its portfolio. La Mer is the No.1 at the former and Les Pins the premier course at 36-hole Hardelot. In our Continental European ranking, Les Pins is three places above its stablemate. Both have been refurbished by Dutch-French combination of Frank Pont and Patrice Boissonnas, whose family owns Open Golf Club. Both have risen in our estimation considerably during that time.
Les Pins is closer to the end of its refurbishment than La Mer, hence its higher billing at this point. But when La Mer is complete, it will reverse roles and be an exceptionally strong candidate for the top 20 of the continental list.
That is the potential of La Mer, which opened in 1931 when the Cote d’Opale’s Le Touquet was the most fashionable resort in Europe.
La Mer was seriously damaged and then repaired after the war and some of the Colt touches disappear during that time – most obviously in the loss of four of his original holes.
Originally designed by the estimable Harry Colt, as its name suggests it is a seaside course and the traits of fast-running sandy golf that a British golfer would expect of such a course are what Pont and Boissonnas have been restoring.
La Mer was seriously damaged and then repaired after the war and some of the Colt touches disappear during that time – most obviously in the loss of four of his original holes. In addition, bushes and trees proliferated on the dunes that La Mer plays between.
The overhaul has seen both maladies rectified. The designers’ forensic ability to track down old aerial photography and plans have helped them reinvigorate assiduously yet sensitively, and the transformation between our visits – the first being pre-renovation in 2014 – was stark.
The first visit was underwhelming, with La Mer having the feel of a parkland-woodland lifted and placed by the sea, which was barely see.
If further sympathetic tree management can take place to open up La Mer further in order to widen the playing corridor and improve the firmness of the turf, this will edge into the ‘outstanding’ category from the ‘very, very good’ one.
Now, space and views abound, which is evident as early as the majestic short 2nd, now opened up totally to be the short hole Colt envisaged.
If further sympathetic tree management can take place to open up La Mer further in order to widen the playing corridor and improve the firmness of the turf, this will edge into the ‘outstanding’ category from the ‘very, very good’ one.
Highlights include a stellar two-shotter at the 4th and a sporty par 4 at the 6th and then the back nine begins with a gorgeous par 3 whose elevated tee is connected to its elevated green by a bridge.
The far end of the course has seen the most dramatic revisions: the 14th has a new green, the 15th (formerly a par 3 and a short 4) is back to the reachable par 5 Colt (and Tom Simpson) loved, and there is a new brilliant short 16th.
The 17th, incorporating a steep slope before the green, is the next priority and together with more tree clearance, one of the Continent’s very finest courses might soon be less than an hour’s drive south of Calais. La Mer is the premium offering at Le Touquet but is supported by La Foret and nine-hole Le Manoir.
Chris Bertram
+33 3 21 06 28 00
