Northern France is the great golfing secret that hides in plain sight, barely an hour from the Channel and worlds away from the predictable. This is a coast of grand seaside resorts and quiet medieval towns, of pine-backed links and clifftop fairways above the sea. At its heart sits Le Touquet, the elegant Belle Epoque resort whose two contrasting courses — the wooded La Foret and the wind-shaped La Mer — have drawn golfers across the water for generations. North toward Lille lie the parkland clubs of the great industrial city; south, the cliffs of Normandy frame Deauville and Etretat.
We have arranged French golf since 1981. Every itinerary is hand-built and hand-priced around your dates, your group and the courses you want to play.
Why play golf in Northern France
A true links-and-pine coast. Le Touquet La Mer and Hardelot Les Dunes give you genuine seaside golf, while La Foret and Hardelot Les Pins offer sheltered woodland play — variety within a few miles.
Astonishingly close. Reached by a short Channel crossing, Northern France suits a long weekend as easily as a full week.
A spread of distinct clusters. The Le Touquet and Hardelot resorts, the Lille parkland circuit, and the Normandy cliffs each have their own character.
Grand resort comfort. From the Barriere hotels of Le Touquet to Deauville and Dormy House at Etretat, the lodging matches the golf.
Quietly uncrowded. Outside the British golfing mainstream, these are courses you can play in unhurried calm.
The courses you’ll play
The marquee names sit on the Cote d'Opale. Le Touquet La Mer Golf Club is the celebrated links — humped fairways and sea breezes — while its sister La Foret weaves through pinewoods for a gentler, sheltered round. A short drive south, Hardelot Les Dunes and Hardelot Les Pins Golf Club repeat that links-and-woodland pairing beautifully. Further along the coast you'll find Wimereux Golf Club, Belle Dune Golf Club at Fort Mahon in its dunes, and the parkland charm of Nampont Saint Martin and Saint Omer Golf Club, plus historic Arras Golf Club.
Around Lille sit the parkland clubs: Golf de Brigode, Bondues, Le Sart and Merignies Golf Country Club. In Normandy, the clifftop Etretat Golf Club and the classic New Golf Deauville complete the picture.
Where you’ll stay
Le Touquet is the natural base, and we hand-pick across its range — the grand Hotel Barriere Le Westminster, Le Grand Hotel, Le Bristol, the boutique Red Fox, and Le Manoir Hotel within Le Touquet Golf Resort itself for golf on the doorstep. Just inland, the Best Western Hermitage sits in the lovely fortified town of Montreuil sur Mer.
For the Lille parkland circuit, the Mercure Lille Centre Grand Place puts you in the heart of the city. Saint Omer pairs naturally with the Saint Omer Golf Hotel, and on the Normandy coast the Hotel du Golf Barriere at Deauville and the clifftop Dormy House at Etretat anchor a stay among the cliffs. We match the hotel to the courses you want and the pace you prefer.
Best time to play golf in Northern France
Northern France is a summer game. The season runs roughly from May to September, when the days are long, the coast is at its best and the seaside courses around Le Touquet and Hardelot are in prime condition. June and July are the sweet spot for warm, settled weather; the shoulder weeks of May and September are quieter and often very rewarding, with firm turf and fewer players.
Winter here is cool and frequently wet, with short days and the real chance of waterlogged ground — closer in feel to a British winter than a Mediterranean one. We generally steer trips toward the late-spring-to-early-autumn window and build your dates around the most reliable conditions.
A sense of Northern France
History & heritage
This is a region layered with history. Le Touquet itself — Le Touquet-Paris-Plage — was conceived as an elegant Channel resort, and its Belle Epoque villas and broad promenade still set the tone. Inland, Montreuil sur Mer is a jewel of ramparts and cobbled streets, immortalised in Victor Hugo's writing. The wider Cote d'Opale and the plains around Arras carry the deep imprint of the World Wars, with memorials and remembrance sites woven through the landscape. Lille brings a different note entirely: a handsome Flemish-French city of grand squares, its Grand Place a fine base for the parkland courses nearby.
Food & wine
You are, of course, in France, and the table rewards you. The coast around Le Touquet and Boulogne is built on the sea — expect superb fresh fish and shellfish, served simply and well. Inland and toward Lille, the cooking turns to the hearty Flemish-influenced fare of the north: rich, warming and generous. The grand hotels of Le Touquet and Deauville carry their own dining rooms of real ambition, while Montreuil sur Mer has long punched above its size at the table. A long, unhurried lunch between rounds is part of the pleasure here, and we are happy to point you toward the rooms worth booking.
Beyond the fairways
There is plenty to fill the non-golf hours. Le Touquet offers a wide sandy beach, smart shopping and the gentle rhythm of a classic resort, while neighbouring towns reward an afternoon's wandering. Montreuil sur Mer invites a walk along its ramparts; Lille is a full city break in itself, with museums, markets and that magnificent Grand Place. In Normandy, the dramatic cliffs and arches of Etretat are among the most photographed in France, with Deauville's boardwalk and elegance close at hand. The war heritage around Arras and the Cote d'Opale offers a moving day for those who wish to explore it.
Getting around & exploring
A car is the natural way to travel here, and most of our guests bring one over on the crossing or hire on arrival. The clusters are compact: the Le Touquet and Hardelot courses sit close together on the coast, the Lille clubs ring the city, and the Normandy courses group around Deauville and Etretat. Distances between regions are very manageable on good French roads, so it is straightforward to combine, say, a few days at Le Touquet with the Lille parkland circuit. We plan the routing around your courses and hotels so the driving stays short and the golf stays the focus.
Getting there
Northern France is among the easiest of all golf destinations to reach. The short Channel crossing by ferry or tunnel lands you within an easy drive of Le Touquet, Hardelot and the Lille courses, which is why so many guests bring their own car. If you prefer to fly, flights are arranged as a separate, ATOL-protected add-on rather than part of the ground package, and we are glad to advise on the best routing. As a ground-only specialist, we focus on building the hotels, golf and transfers around your dates; the travel-to-France element we tailor to how you wish to make the journey.
Good to know
Ground-only specialists. We arrange your hotels, golf and transfers. Flights, where you want them, are a separate ATOL-protected add-on — never bundled in.
Bring the car. The short Channel crossing makes driving over the simplest option for most groups.
Plan for summer. Roughly May to September is the season; winter is cool and wet, so we build dates accordingly.
Combine the clusters. Le Touquet, Lille and Normandy each have their own feel and pair well over a longer trip.
Hand-built, hand-priced. Every itinerary is curated around your group and the courses you most want to play.
Established 1981. Four decades of relationships across the region sit behind every booking.
Golf holidays in Northern France — answers to the questions our golfers ask most.
How long is LeShuttle crossing time to France
The Eurotunnel Le Shuttle crossing from Folkestone to Calais takes approximately 35 minutes — one of the quickest ways to reach continental Europe. This makes Northern France, and Le Touquet in particular, one of the most convenient golf destinations from the UK. The total journey from London to Le Touquet is under 2.5 hours door to door. Trains run frequently and you can take your car, making it a seamless experience for golfers who prefer driving to their destination.
Where should I play golf in France?
There are more than 700 golf courses in France. As first steps we would recommend Northern France. There are ten great courses here. Chat with us about the various choices if you wish to venture further afield.
Is it easy to get around in France?
Getting around France is straightforward. Self-driving is the most popular option — if you've come via Le Shuttle, you already have your car. Trains are excellent for city-to-city travel, particularly from Paris to Bordeaux (2 hours on the TGV). Within golf regions like the Algarve or Brittany, a hire car gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace. We include all airport or station transfers in our packages and can arrange inter-course transfers, so you're never left without options.
Is France good for golf groups?
France is a superb destination for golf groups and societies. The variety of courses — from links at Le Touquet to parkland in the Loire Valley to clifftop courses in Brittany — gives you genuine choice. French resorts are experienced hosting golf groups, and the combination of excellent golf, great food and fine wine makes for an outstanding social trip. We specialise in French golf tours for groups of all sizes and can design a multi-course itinerary with accommodation, transfers and tee times arranged end to end.
Do all the golf courses in France have buggies?
Most good golf courses in France have buggies available, though it varies by venue. Le Touquet's championship courses offer buggies; in Brittany and Normandy, availability depends on the specific course. We always check buggy availability when booking your tee times and confirm in advance. If buggy access is essential for your group — whether for accessibility reasons or preference — just let us know and we'll ensure your selected courses can accommodate you. France's gentler courses can often be walked comfortably.
Is France expensive for golf?
France offers excellent value for golf, particularly compared to the UK. Green fees at top courses like Le Touquet range from €70–130, while many excellent regional courses charge €40–80. Accommodation, food and wine are generally very good value by British standards — particularly outside Paris. A short break combining two to three rounds of golf, quality accommodation and wonderful food typically costs less in France than equivalent quality in Southern England. Northern France is especially competitive on price given its proximity to the UK.
