France By The Golf Planet Holidays Team · Golf-travel specialists since 1981 · Updated 12 June 2026 There is a version of a French golf trip where nobody weighs your bag. Clubs in the boot, trolley on top, dog on the back seat, and 35 minutes after leaving Folkestone you are driving off the train […]
Why golf breaks in France by car beat flying
Most airlines charge to carry a golf bag, and the fee applies each way, per person. Drive instead and the problem disappears. The boot takes two sets, two trolleys and the spare shoes, and packages start from
There are quieter advantages too. No transfer minibus idling outside arrivals. No waiting for the fourth member of the group to clear security. You leave when you want, stop where you want, and if the forecast turns you can reshuffle the rounds from the front seat. The dog can come, which no airline has ever managed.
Driving also buys you range. The same car that does a weekend on the Opal Coast will, with another day on the autoroute, do Champagne, Burgundy or the Mediterranean. The rest of this page works outward from Calais in that order.
Golf near Calais: six bases within easy reach
Le Touquet is the obvious first trip. La Mer threads through dunes and maritime pines and is widely rated the best course in northern France, and Le Manoir sits on the resort itself, so you park once and walk to the tee for three days. See the
| Venue | From | Nights / rounds | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le Manoir, Le Touquet | 2 nights, 3 rounds | Sleep on the resort, walk to the tee | |
| Hotel l’Univers, Arras | 3 nights, 2 rounds | Handsome town base, war memorials nearby | |
| Hotel du Parc, Hardelot | 3 nights, 2 rounds | Pines, dunes and two fine courses | |
| Mercure Lille Centre Grand Place | 3 nights, 2 rounds | City weekend with golf attached | |
| Hotel du Centre, Wimereux | 3 nights, 2 rounds | Seafront town, 30 minutes from Calais | |
| Saint Omer Golf Hotel | 3 nights, 3 rounds | Closest tee to the tunnel, golf on site |
Hardelot deserves a word of its own. Les Pins is a Tom Simpson design through tall pines and sandy heath, sympathetically restored, and plenty of golfers now rate it above its better known neighbour. Wimereux gives you a seafront town with proper fish restaurants, while Arras and Lille swap sea air for grand squares and better dinners. On most of these you can leave Kent after breakfast and be on a tee by mid afternoon. Airports cannot compete.
Where our specialists would stay in France
Eurotunnel golf breaks that become tours: Champagne and Burgundy
About 3.5 hours from Calais the autoroute drops you into Champagne, where golf shares the diary with cellar visits. Epernay makes the natural base. See the
Burgundy sits roughly two hours further on. Chateau de Gilly from
The full run south: the Riviera by car
Be honest about the distance first. Calais to the Var is around 1,100 km, a two day drive at a civilised pace with a night in Burgundy or Lyon, or one very long day with two drivers. It is far. Plenty of customers fly to Nice instead and hire a car for the golf; flights are an ATOL protected add-on we quote separately.
The reward is golf in the months when frost and mud close courses at home. See the
Belgium golf breaks: the same trick on a different motorway
Point the car at Brussels instead of Paris and the formula repeats, with one difference: our Belgian packages include the LeShuttle return crossing in the price. See the
How a self drive golf holiday in France works with us
You get one named specialist who builds the whole trip, hotel, tee times and route advice included, and who replies personally when plans change. We have been arranging golf travel since 1981 and hold a 4.9 rating from 98 Google reviews. That part matters. A driving holiday has more moving parts than a package flight, and it helps to deal with someone who has driven these routes and played these courses.
All prices are per person sharing, so single rooms cost more; ask for the exact figure when you enquire. Tell us your dates, your crossing preference and how far you fancy driving, and we will put real numbers against it. Start with the
Our specialists’ favourite stays in France
What our golfers say
4.997 reviews
Thanks Talia, glad we could finally get you back to Le Touquet! We look forward to arranging your next holiday. Simon and the team.
Golf Planet Holidays organised a fantastic golf trip to France for us. Everything was perfectly arranged, and the communication was excellent. Simon and Heather were incredibly helpful throughout. Highly recommended!
Frequently asked questions
How far is the nearest golf from Calais?
Saint Omer is about 40 minutes from the Eurotunnel terminal, and Le Touquet and Hardelot are both under an hour. You can leave Kent in the morning and be playing the same afternoon.
Do Eurotunnel or the ferries charge extra for golf clubs?
No. LeShuttle and the ferries price by vehicle, so clubs, trolleys and luggage travel at no extra cost. Pack the boot however you like; nobody weighs it.
Is the Channel crossing included in your French golf packages?
On our Belgian packages the LeShuttle return crossing is included in the price. French packages are priced as ground packages, so the crossing is booked separately, and your specialist will advise on the timing that suits your itinerary.
How long does it take to drive to Champagne for golf?
About 3.5 hours from Calais to Epernay or Reims, almost all of it on autoroute. Most golfers cross early, stop for lunch on the way and play their first round the next morning. Burgundy adds roughly two hours more.
Can I bring my dog on a self drive golf holiday in France?
Yes, and it is one of the best arguments for driving. Many French hotels accept dogs for a small nightly charge, but policies vary, so tell your specialist when you enquire and we will confirm each hotel’s rules before anything is booked.
Come and play with us
Wherever you're travelling from, you're welcome on a Golf Planet hosted tour — a small group, a host with you from the first tee to the last, and every round, transfer and dinner taken care of. You just bring the clubs.
