There are certain landmarks during a golf odyssey that all other events revolve around. Sometimes those events are golf courses, sometimes they are epic breakdowns and sometimes they are tidal islands. For The RGV Tour de France it was the tidal island of Mont St Michel that stole the show for the second leg of the tour. Like a well routed golf course, we will build up to our apex at Mont St Michel. Then instead of cooling down, the RGV Tour de France steps on the gas. You are going to need your set belts on this recreational golf vehicle ride.
Back in 2017, I played Omaha Beach in the pouring down rain. I would return nearly 7 years later and find the golf course in another early morning downpour. Fortunately the rain would lift and there would be tiny bursts of sunlight throughout the day. On one hole it would pour down rain and then 5 minutes later on the next hole, the sun would shine. It was a roller coaster of golf and photography emotions.
During my first visit to Omaha Beach Golf Club, I only had the opportunity to experience the La Mer course. During this visit I added the La Manoir course and had myself a spirited day of 36 holes. Both courses are routed through the French countryside and just one golf hole reaches out to the sea.
I found a golf hole named after a Koenig today. Koenigs rejoice!! @GolfOmahaBeach pic.twitter.com/KY6aXMobxl
— Patrick Koenig (@patrickjkoenig) September 30, 2024
100% of the time I am turning left here.
The highlight of Omaha Beach comes on the 6th hole of the La Mer course when the course reaches the infamous beaches of Normandy. There is a memorial to commemorate all of those that gave their lives in 1944 to liberate France. The victory here would be a critical point in the war against Nazi Germany and was a major victory for freedom everywhere. It is a special feeling to stand on a spot where so many gave their lives so I could play copious amounts of French golf. May god bless their souls.
The excitement levels are building as we head down the road towards the granite rock of Mont St-Michel. Along that road we found the glorious little golf resort of Saint Malo. This would be our first time out of the RGV and into the confines of the Saint Malo Hotel which is conveniently located right on the golf course. The resort has a cozy and welcoming feel to it and we were excited to be out of the rain and into Saint Malo.
We arrived at the golf course on the tail end of a rain soaked day and when we woke up the next morning, the fog was up early and out to greet us. The results were some fantastic foggy drone shots of the golf course and surrounding French countryside.
There are two golf courses at Saint Malo Golf Resort. There is the full championship experience on the Surcourf course and then there is a shorter nine hole course named The Old Course. The Surcourf course reaches its culmination when you play both ways across a fantastic suspension bridge.
My favorite of the hole on the Old Course was the finishing hole. This short little par 3 through the trees reminded me of my time at Northwood Golf Club. That short little shot into the green symbolized our experience at the resort… cozy, friendly and fun.
We have arrived at the climax of this blog post at Mont St Michel. Outside of Paris, this is the most popular tourist destination in France. The visual aspect of the commune is striking and the boldness of the location makes this place something special to visit. The sheep were out to greet us as we walked the 30 minutes from the parking lot and onto the “Bastille of the Seas.”
Once we reached our destination, the interior of Mont St Michel is somehow just as stunning as the exterior. However, I may have been blinded by my co-pilot Rachel Alcone’s striking beauty.
We paid the 13 Euro to visit the abbey and it was well worth the price of admission. The shops and restaurants on the lower levels of the commune are very busy and you get a slight break from the crowds once you pass through the gates and into the abbey. If you ever have the chance to visit this stunning architectural achievement, I would highly suggest that you push back that tee time in order to visit.
As we headed away from Mt St Michel and the excitement began to wear off, a different type of excitement entered the French recreational golf vehicle. This was pure links golf excitement. Granville is the only pure links experience in France and I was very excited to get my feet on the ancient turf. Granville did not disappoint.
Practice to the left and Le Links to the right. I will be turning right here every single day of the year.
The iconic Granville clubhouse behind the 9th green.
There are many spectacular holes at Granville and for the point of brevity, I am only going to highlight my two favorites. The first and perhaps my favorite par 4 on the golf course is the 7th hole. After brushing up against the sea on the 6th hole, the golfer plays away from the clubhouse and into a punch bowl green with a spectacular bunker guarding the right hand side of the green.
The 16th hole is a short par 3 that features a volcano formation with a plateau green. The wise golfer will use the slope at the back end of the green that butts up to the 3rd tee box to bring the ball back onto the green. It is a tremendously fun golf shot. I executed the shot perfectly in what I would later describe to Rachel as my SOD (shot of day) in vivid detail. She was not nearly as excited as I was.
The finishing hole at Granville in the early morning light.
While there are many fantastic and highly decorated links courses in the world, I do not believe that Granville receives the attention that it deserves. If you have the chance, this is certainly a very nice follow to Mont St Michel.
Wrapping up the second leg of the RGV Tour de France is Dinard Golf. The closing act should always send folks home smiling and Dinard Golf is well suited to this task. The golf course is often referred to as the Pebble Beach of France and after a few of the photographs below you will see why. These were some of my favorite photographs so far on the RGV Tour de France.
There are views of the sea from every golf hole at Dinard and the land feels as if it has been untouched for centuries. The naturally rippled fairways of the seaside turf sparkled spectacularly in the morning light and my camera shutter fired furiously to capture the scene. To add to the excitement I was joined by the reigning French Amateur champion, Max.
The 6th hole at Dinard is all but a lock for an entry into the “Best Par 4” category at the tour ending awards ceremony. This short par 4 plays directly along the coast and tempts the long hitter to carry the beach on the lower right and go for the green. It is a spectacular looking tee shot and an early thrill to the round. Max put his drive green-side and I duck hooked mine into the left rough.
When we reached the 18th green, Max poured in a long bomb for birdie like the champion that he is. I even managed to get up and down for a sexy little par. It was a fitting end to the spectacular second leg of The RGV Tour de France. We packed our bags and departed from our luxurious and splendid accommodations at the Le Nessay hotel and followed the French roads out of town for more adventure.
Le Nessay is located in one of the most beautiful bays in Brittany on the Emerald Coast and is walking distance to Dinard Golf.