Terre Blanche: The Ultimate Resort?

By: Barry Ward, www.posh-golf-travel.com

There’s a spa acclaimed as “the finest in the world”; there’s Michelin starred cuisine; there are two superb golf courses and a David Leadbetter golf academy; there’s impeccable service and sumptuous accommodation that may be unique in its style. Terre Blanche wants for nothing and it is spread over 665 acres of wooded hills in the Pays de Fayence, a location guaranteed to soothe all the senses and awaken a few you weren’t aware of. Life here assumes a different hue, almost a golden glow, although that could be a by-product of the unique Provencal light.

THE ACCOMMODATION
Terre Blanche has 110 guest rooms in all: a number of them are in the five star hotel but the majority are scattered around the property in 43 villas divided into luxurious apartments of one to three bed rooms. It’s a rambling village in a garden, set between the hotel on the high ground and the golf clubhouse in the valley below. Reflecting the distinctive light, ochre colour dominates, in the exterior of the villas and the dry-stone walling that edges the beds of flowering shrubbery and exotic plants. There’s a landscape waiting to be painted around every corner. Artists and photographers have been known to go quite potty!

The resort was three years in construction and the first guests were welcomed in April 2004. Awards began cascading in almost immediately, for the first golf course, then the restaurant and then the resort itself, via the Gault Millaut guide and M. Michelin, who promptly awarded a star to "Faventia", the principal restaurant in the hotel. There’s a second restaurant on the hotel terrace and a third, also al fresco and giving views of the golf course, on the clubhouse terrace. Lunch here, in between a round on each of the two courses, would be part of a memorable day and there’s a golf package which makes this possible.

THE SPA
The latest addition, and the piece de resistance, is the spa. Celebrated as the most beautiful in all Europe, it reclines within a magnificent hillside villa. Described as grand in scale yet intimate in atmosphere and covering some 3,200 square metres over two floors, it has a fitness centre, a 20 metre pool, 12 treatment rooms -- four with private terraces – offering all the facilities one would expect, not least two VIP suites for couples with double whirlpool bath, steam shower and large outdoor terrace with private cabana.

THE GOLF
THE first course to open was Le Chateau, which might best be described as a wolf in sheep's clothing. Designed by David Thomas, it has wide fairways, equally expansive greens and a series of lakes that influence several holes and add to the wow factor. Le Chateau has great variety and movement that demands sound course management. You’ll have to stop and think on every shot but that will simply give you an extra few seconds to admire the eye-popping scenery! Play it and you’ll appreciate why it was voted Best New Course in France on its opening in 2004.

The other course, also by David Thomas and named Le Riou, opened a year after its neighbour and is quite different in style and character. It is even more visually distracting, with waterfalls, gurgling streams and swathes of flowering shrubbery enhanced by the unique light. Set on the heavily undulating higher ground, it has a series of elevated tees and greens winding between what must be a million trees in a thousand shades of green. It’s rather like playing in a vast garden.

Take a moment or two to savour the unfolding scenery; stop and smell the flowers and admire a masterpiece of golf architecture. Play both courses with lunch in between and you’ll never know a finer day’s golf. Heaven may be like this but the greens won’t be so good, nor the scenery!

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GETTING THERE Nice is the closest airport, 35 minutes by road from Terre Blanche. Limousine transfers are available upon request. WHEN TO GO Peak season is July and August; low season is November 1st to March 30th. Spring and Autumn are the shoulder seasons and considered best for golf but play is possible year-round. THE PACKAGES Various packages include several designed for non-golfers of which the principal involves the spa. Further details and availability: www.posh-golf-travel.

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