New Provence course set to open later this year

The iconic French region of Provence is the idyllic setting for an exciting new 18 hole golf course opening this Summer that observes and preserves all the traditional and historical values of design.

The new course (pictured), part of the Domaine de Manville country “Palace” hotel which also includes 30 rooms and suites is just a short drive from Avignon and forty-five minutes from Marseille with its international connections.

It is the creation of renowned course architect Thierry Sprecher who has produced more than 50 courses in 12 countries during his 30-year career.

The entire concept of Domaine de Manville was devised by Patrick Saut who grew up in the region before pursuing an immensely successful career as head of a major corporation with 9,000 employees.

Leading British architect Martin Hawtree originally laid down nine holes on the site in 1989 although the new Sprecher course replaces that design.

The outstanding features of the new design include raised teeing grounds which offer commanding and panoramic views of the holes with their narrow fairways which also emphasise the need for accuracy.

As if to underline the traditional nature of the course, the fairways will evolve with each season of the year and the olive trees and streams will provide natural obstacles.

The course opens in September 2014 and hotel guests will have exclusive access to the course from June 2014. The Maisons de Domaine are nine superb homes surrounding the golf course to be sold as shared ownership.

This is a course that looks as though it has existed for many years as an intrinsic part of the landscape. As Patrick Saut says: “We knew this was the place. Everything was here. The architecture, the local produce, the food. All we had to do was work with it. This is our home and we want our guests to feel it is their home too”.