Golf Tips From the 11th Hole: Golf at Le Château Golf Course
A golf expert shares what you need to know about this Le Château course par-5 hole. The wind, or lack of it, has everything to do with how you set up.
Course: Le Château, Four Seasons Resort Provence at Terre Blanche
Signature Hole: 11, par 5
Why It Is Unique: Scenery is one of the biggest attractions that draws travellers to Provence, and the 11th hole does not disappoint: The most spectacular on the Château Course, it offers stunning views of three exquisite medieval villages and the mountains beyond. The hole itself is quite scenic too, and while it’s not long for a par-5 at 510 yards from the white tees, the difficulty lies in the river on the left side—right at the typical driving distance. The same beautiful but penal river then crosses the fairway, making the second shot quite stressful. As if this were not enough, two large bunkers are directly in the path of approach shots, 110 yards out from the green, and a third, deep bunker lurks just in front of the putting surface.
Tip: Wind is all-important when playing this hole—if it is blowing, it is usually blowing towards the tee and “driver becomes compulsory, to a narrow fairway with water left and woods on the right,” says Alain Alberti, co-director at the Resort’s David Leadbetter Golf Academy. If successful, a rescue club or wood is the right option for the second shot to clear the river and hopefully not reach a bunker. The approach shot, from around 110 to 120 yards out, needs to be precise, as you want to place the ball on the right half of the green—putts from the left are very tricky.”
“While a par in the wind is quite the challenge, with no wind, 11 can be a birdie opportunity,” Alberti says. “You can hit driver or a 3-wood to avoid the river. Then good players can go for the green in two with a 3- or 5-wood to have a fair chance for birdie. Average golfers can play over the river with a 5-iron, keeping it left of the large fairway bunker.” From here it is the same approach shot, trying for the right half of the green and par.
Don’t Be Distracted By: From three different centuries, three old hill towns—Fayence, Tourettes and Seillans—overlook the wooded valley in which the golf courses lie, and from nearly every hole you can be mesmerized by their stone walls and crenellated skylines. You can visit them after your round is complete.
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