Biarritz Golf Club, Le Phare

Inaugurated on March 13th, 1888, the Biarritz Golf du Phare is the oldest of the 11 golf courses on the Basque coast. Founded on the initiative of the English colony present in Biarritz, the course was redesigned the following year by the brothers Tom and Willie Dunn, renowned English architects. The course took on its current appearance in the 1960s. 

Hole #3, par 5 (easy)

Hole #16, par 5 (difficult)

Hole #17, Par 3 (easy)

The Golf du Phare is a relatively short par 69. With urban development, the course is in the city center and is divided into two parts: the clubhouse and holes 1 to 3 and 10 to 18 straddle Anglet and Biarritz while holes 4 to 9 are more centered towards the city center of Biarritz, near the very beautiful Hôtel Régina and the Golf, a few steps from the lighthouse. The route is straightforward and flat and has no water obstacles. However, 70 bunkers "punish" the inattentive golfer.

The Putting-Green

Hole #18, par 4 (easy)

After starting out as cadets, many professional players or golf teachers hit their first balls on the fairways of Biarritz golf: Arnaud Massy, Jean Gassiat, Eugène Laffitte, Pierre Hirigoyen, Henri Mourgiart and won the biggest international golf tournaments. their time. Over a period from 1907 to 1929, the three “Musketeers” A. Massy, J. Gassiat and E. Lafitte won: 1 British Open, 5 French Opens, 8 French Championships, 3 Belgian Opens, 5 European Opens. Spain, thus constituting one of the finest golf records for a French golf course. Prize list which was further enriched with the victories of Marie-Laure de Lorenzi and Roger Sabarros, students of Pierre Hirigoyen.

The Club-House, before and today

I started playing at Golf de Biarritz, le Phare in the early 1970s. At that time, when you were a kid, after passing a golf player certificate, you could play for free on all the golf courses in the region. This certificate, beyond being an aptitude test for playing golf, was a way of teaching you the rules and etiquette, which should be compulsory today for everyone wishing to become a member in a golf club. 

Pierre Hirigoyen

I can't talk about the Golf de Biarritz without mentioning two of my teachers, Pierre Hirigoyen, nicknamed "Le Sorcier" who hit me on the head with a stick to teach me how to play better and René Darrieumerlou, who taught me modern golf and who both taught me to love golf.

Roger Sabarros

Faldo, Rodriguez and Manuel Ballesteros, Open Timex 1983 

I also have in this Golf some unforgettable memories; having seen Nick Faldo or Sam Torrance at the Timex Open in 1983 and 84 or José Maria Olazàbal in 1983 at the Biarritz Cup, without forgetting, the one and only, Roger Sabarros who won the Bulles Laurent Perrier, a Challenge Tour event in 1991 and of course having a drink at the Brochot family's restaurant La Chaumière.

I also take advantage of this post on the Golf of Biarritz to pay tribute to a few people I had the chance to know or with whom I had the chance to play. Albert Bomboudiac, emblematic Director of the Golf de Biarritz for years, Ned Peckett, very good player and Golf Starter, Denis Lalanne, Pierre Andrieu, Hubert Chalmeton and his cigar, without forgetting José and Robert.