Precision golf at Golf du Claux Amic
In the deep tranquillity of the forest, precision golf is the name of the game at this beautiful forest course near Grasse between the sea and the mountains.

Take a deep breath
From the moment you arrive at the club, you can sense the silence, the calm atmosphere and the fresh mountain air. Located at an altitude of just 600 meters above sea level, calling Claux Amic a mountain course is probably an exaggeration, and it turns out to be less hilly than feared.

Although the course was played on an early morning in June, the temperature quickly reaches around 30 degrees and a buggy would probably be preferable for most golfers who want to have enough air and energy to enjoy all 18 holes on the beautifully landscaped course. The area used to be a private hunting district from the 17th century, until golf became popular and the forest animals were left alone.

Magnificent sea and mountain views
The course is gently laid out on a hillside plateau in a former forest with plenty of oak and pine trees.

Some golfers would argue that the chainsaw hasn’t been used enough, as you often stand on the tee shaking your head and hands as you try to visualize your drive into the narrow opening between the 20 meter high and dense trees on both sides.

It’s on a course like this that you shouldn’t be used to aiming 50 meters to the side to make room to slice the ball back onto the fairway; there’s simply no room for that.

Instead, the focus is on short and precise iron shots, which fits well with the fact that the course is only 5,375 meters long from the yellow tee, and many holes are therefore playable in pairs for even the more short-handed players.

Tongue in cheek
The 18 holes are played in par with 72 strokes, and with a precise drive there are good opportunities for a reasonable start with two par-4 holes at a manageable 275 meters, after which you are already at the southeastern tip of the facility.

Here you’ll find the course’s breathtaking signature hole, which is an uncomplicated par-3 hole in terms of play, but you must remember to enjoy the view to the fullest.

From the tee, you look down over the green and your gaze then disappears in the heat haze into a magnificent panorama down the mountainside of the Maritime Pre-Alps and ends 15 kilometers away on the Mediterranean coast with the outline of the Lérins Islands in the Bay of Cannes.

A visit to the fortifications on the largest of the islands, Sainte-Marguerite, is highly recommended, but that’s a whole other story.

Back on the golf course and confident after a successful hole 3, you now move on to the first par-5 hole of the day.

At 395 meters, it’s another exceptionally short hole where course management and the balance between length and accuracy are crucial for a good score and a reasonable pace of play.

If the ball is caught by the trees, which in many places almost lean over the fairway, the risk of a lost ball is high, as the forest floor often grows high up around the legs under the trees.

Halfway turn at the clubhouse
After the first handful of holes, you get used to the layout of the course, and the rest of the way into the for-9 goes back and forth through the woods on manicured fariways before turning around at the back of the clubhouse.

Everywhere we find nice tee locations and greens that receive the balls well, so the biggest challenge is definitely to get the ball in play from the tee.

Remember to bring plenty of drinks or fill up at halfway before aiming for hole 10, where the driving range on the right side follows the fairway in a soft right dogleg up to a well-protected green with 4 sand bunkers that take all sliced approach shots well.

At hole 13 comes the course’s first serious wet challenge. The green on this 153 meter par-3 hole is well protected by a small lake, which must be passed in the air if the ball is to stay dry and you want to take points with you towards the last 5 holes of the course. Most holes are characterized by a straight course, but on hole 16, a very sharp left-dogleg awaits, and you must be careful not to drive the ball too far off the tee so that it runs out at the bottom of the bend.

From here, you have a short shot to the green, which by all means should not be topped, so the ball rolls over the green and into the lake behind it. A manageable hole that can easily go wrong. Golf at its best.

Relaxing ending in the club restaurant
Golf-wise, the course ends a little tame on holes 17 and 18, where the green hides at the back of the clubhouse. But hole 19 is still worth taking the time to enjoy. The Le Club restaurant serves affordable daily specials and you can also buy a course sandwich and drinks to take out onto the course.

The clubhouse is also where you pay green fees, practice balls and any equipment and buggy rental upon arrival.

Remember to bring a course guide “Carnet de Parcours”, because although there are also nice hole overview maps at each tee, the local rules are explained in the booklet. There is a special rule for relaxation without penalty if the ball comes to rest behind smaller rocks in the direction of play. The protruding rocks are non-movable obstacles that you can and should drop clear of.

The restaurant, on the other hand, should be enjoyed at the end of another great day on the golf course. There are plenty of them waiting for you at Claux Amic.

By Mikael Mortensen / 2021