Where to Play Golf on the French Riviera

The corner of rare beauty overlooking the Mediterranean between Menton and Saint-Tropez is not only… blue.

The rich vegetation with its thousand colors creates a palette of endless shades. Among these, green stands out: we will talk about it here as a metaphor for the many golf courses that enrich this region. We dedicate these notes to the memory of Franco Chimenti, President of the Italian Golf Federation, who recently passed away.

In Monte Carlo

The Monte Carlo Golf Club is an 18-hole golf course located at about 900 meters above sea level, with a members’ club, bar, restaurant, and practice areas. Its location offers exceptional views of the sea and mountains. The clientele is very exclusive. The climate is often humid and windy, which, on the other hand, enhances the quality of the turf, further ensured by excellent year-round maintenance. The related services are excellent. At the clubhouse, the bar is always open, while the restaurant is closed on Mondays. The prices are inevitably high but in line with the quality offered.

in Nice

Even more prestigious is the Golf Cannes-Mougins. Just minutes from Nice, its international airport, and the Croisette, it is a private club founded in 1923 and is one of the most famous golf courses in France. Set in the middle of a forest and as close as possible to the Mediterranean, it is a jewel of the Riviera. The 18 holes of the course are renowned for the quality of their fairways and the speed of their greens, worthy of the greatest European courses. To access it, you must be a member of a club and affiliated with a golf federation. The maximum handicap allowed is 36. Equipped with a restaurant/bar, ProShop, and training area.

In Cannes

The Riviera Golf de Barbossi is located on the heights of the bay of Cannes; it is an 18-hole course that offers superb views of the Estérel massif and the Domaine vineyards. Combining technique and strategic choices, fairways dotted with a collection of contemporary sculptures, and remarkably defended greens, the Riviera Golf Barbossi offers a unique golfing and cultural experience, as it is a true open-air museum. It is the only golf course on the Riviera to feature a permanent collection of contemporary sculptures, with twenty-two original creations scattered along the course. Spanning 5,461 meters, the Riviera Golf combines technical difficulty, strategic challenges, and tactical choices, while preserving the enjoyment of the game and the walk from start to finish. The restaurant “L’Arbre Jaune” offers a moment of serenity: facing the golf course and the majestic red rocks of the Estérel, “L’Arbre Jaune” welcomes both golfers and visitors to relax or enjoy a gourmet moment in an exclusive environment.

In Châteauneuf de Grasse

The Golf de la Grande Bastide and the “Victoire” Restaurant are located in Châteauneuf de Grasse, on the French Riviera, just 20 minutes by car from Nice and Cannes. The golf course offers breathtaking views of the Nice countryside and has an unrivaled reputation among regulars in the region. Located in the heart of the perfume region, the Golf de la Grande Bastide offers an 18-hole course that will appeal to both beginners and experienced golfers. Set in a sublime natural environment, it offers stunning views of Grasse, Opio, and Châteauneuf de Grasse that overlook it. Golfers enjoy wide fairways and greens well protected by numerous bunkers and water features. You can extend this golfing itinerary with a golf holiday on the Riviera, thanks to its proximity to the Opio Valbonne Golf Course and Château de la Bégude.

Others on the French Riviera

The Roquebrune Golf Club is located between Cannes and Saint-Tropez. This magnificent 18-hole course winds through sensational landscapes between the bay of Fréjus–Saint Raphaël and the Maures Massif. A true jewel of the French Riviera, this golf course and its 5-star resort are open and functional all year round. A real technical challenge with its winding and narrow fairways, the Roquebrune Golf Course is one of the most charming on the French Riviera.

The Bluegreen Sainte-Maxime golf course also offers one of the most beautiful views of the bay of Saint-Tropez during a wonderful walk through the scrubland. The 18-hole course is dominated by the Maures Massif, and its symbol is the maritime pine, which towers over most of the holes. The facility offers courses for beginners and has two practice areas, a ProShop, and a restaurant with a magnificent terrace overlooking the golf course, providing a unique view of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.

In Grimaud, near Sainte-Maxime and about 10 kilometers from Saint-Tropez, the Beauvallon Golf Club stretches its greens and fairways over more than 40 hectares. It offers a varied, natural, and extraordinarily well-maintained 18-hole course. Between sea and hills, you can enjoy magnificent panoramic views of the entire Gulf of Saint-Tropez. The course is lined with magnificent villas.