With more than 500 courses to choose from – and dozens of them in the European Top 100 – choosing an area in France for your next golf holiday is not always easy. visited Biarritz which offers a great value golfing challenge, fine food and an ambiance to match.MIKE REES

Biarritz, the picturesque coastal town part of the Aquitaine region in south west France, will be familiar to rugby fans but is also home to top quality golf courses.

It was in the mid-19th century that French poet and novelist Victor Hugo discovered Biarritz, then no more than a charming fishing harbour in the Basque country.

He was charmed by a "white village with red roofs and green shutters, set among grassy hills." Since then it has constantly developed but remains one of the most welcoming and popular towns in France.

It is one of the most glamorous resorts on the French coast, with kilometres of golden sandy beaches. During the last 50 years the resort has become something of a Mecca for surfers, who flock to ride the Basque coastal waves.

In summer, holidaymakers might struggle to find their own patch of golden sand on the main Grande Plage beach, as this is the place to see and be seen but rest assured, there will be room on the courses.

It is twinned with Augusta, Georgia, home of the US Masters and how’s that for a golf credential?

Biarrtiz truly has something for everyone that will satisfy the needs of the golfer looking for something that little bit different. The region has more than 50 courses to choose from and a choice of six airports offering easy access from the UK.

Stéphane Thierry, in charge of golf marketing for the Comite Regional de Tourisme Aquitaine, said: "The access to our region is under-estimated from the UK. From southern England it takes just over an hour to get here and the choice of courses to play is superb.

"Add to that the wonderful cuisine and wines and you have a great golfing break available."

The two oldest courses in mainland Europe can also be found in Aquitaine.

Designed in 1888, Le Phare golf course is situated in the centre of Biarritz and is the second oldest course on the continent after Pau, 100km east of Biarritz and created in 1856.

Thierry added: "We have a marvellous standard of courses and are determined to get more players out to enjoy what we have to offer."
Seignosse is a must on any golfer’s list and has been voted the best golf course in France by the Association of British Tour Operators to France.
Created by architect Robert von Hagge, Seignosse winds through majestic pines and oak trees and unfolds over hilly terrain. It is often spectacular – and intimidating – and if you play well here, you will play well anywhere.

Similar to the south coast of England, the region has many towns varying in size situated all along the coastline. Moliets is a small beachside resort town which offers an abundance of sporting activities.

The town’s Robert Trent Jones designed-course is laid out in the pine forests of Les Landes (for 13 holes) and along the Atlantic coast (for five holes).

The course is not tiring but distances between holes are sometimes a little on the long side and a buggy is certainly recommended.

The setting at Arcangues Golf Course provides beautiful views over the Basque countryside and the Pyrenees and there is a nice balance between woodland holes and holes through open country.

A lot of earth was moved to make this once rugged landscape into a playable course but inevitable slopes and hills still remain and can lead to some tricky shots.

The club’s catchphrase is ‘precision play… with perhaps a bit of luck thrown in’ and it is perfectly apt.

At Makila Bassussary, Rocky Roquemore has produced an American-style layout set beneath the Pyrenees. Makila is a recent creation five miles south east of Biarritz, with a variety of holes and hazards ranging from mountainside holes to holes edged with water hazards.

It is easy to run away with superlatives when describing a town like Biarritz. But this really is a town which is stylish and yet laid back. A place where you can just sit back and relax – of course, after you have played 18 holes!

For more information about Golf in Aquitaine and the variety of golf packages that are available, go to www.golf-in-aquitaine.co.uk

The Grand Tonic is located in just 200m from the Grand Plage beach.www.tonichotel.com