GOLF D’HARDELOT LES PINS
After Saint-Germain, we headed up to the Pas-de Calais, about a two hour drive. First on the agenda was Golf d’Hardelot Les Pins. Fellow GCA posters Frank Pont and Patrice Boissonnas have been busy restoring this Simpson gem, so I was eager to see it. When someone wrote “it is only the mad masterpieces that remain in the memory,” it’s worth seeking out as many of his courses as you can.
Frank posted a good photo thread from Hardelot, and I won’t try to compete with that. Additionally, Scott Warren started a good discussion of it (though his pics are gone), and Frank posted some fascinating historical photos. Both Frank & Patrice discuss there work there, and it’s worth a review. Some of Frank & Patrice’s work was finished after my visiting in summer 2014 (yes, it took me a while to get around to posting), so I have a good reason to get back there.
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,58548.0.htmlhttp://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?topic=46034.25 On Frank’s website, he describes the work they did. Frank & Patrice were primarily focused on green extensions, where possible the widening of the fairways, rebuilding tees and restoring the original sand faces, rough edges and scale of the bunkers.
http://www.infinitevarietygolf.com/projects-hardelot-1.html Even though the course is set in a pine forest, it does not feel constrained. The expansion of playing corridors brings out the flair of the design, and you feel free to play away from the center of the fairway, just as Simpson would have wanted! Hardelot feels like it should play linksy, and being only a mile from sea, that’s what we want. The turf is unfortunately dominated by poa, and was a bit soft when we visited.
As you might expect, Hardelot has great green sites, and our appreciation of those starts early with the 1
st. This medium length par 5 has three interesting shots thanks to use of the terrain and well-placed bunkers. I think it’s also easy to see here how much the Simpson style bunkering enhances the look of the hole.
Looking at the 4
th from behind, note how avoiding the bunker front right can bring the small green “tongue” into play. The runoff there may be a worse result than hitting in the bunker, especially given the tilt of the green. Green expansion like this doesn’t seem like a major change, but has a significant impact on the playing of the hole.
The 5
th (shown from behind) is a gorgeous par 3. Note how much different this hole looked before Frank and Patrice took over (near the end of page 1 of this thread).
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,46034.0.html
At the 8
th, Simpson shows that restraint also works rather nicely. This is one of the smallest greens, and short grass combined with the slopes makes the hole rather more difficult than it looks. A good example of Simpson wanting to make a hole look easier than it plays.
You can just make out the flag in the middle left of this photo from the 9
th. The green is mostly in a straight line from the tee, but the hole plays almost as a double dogleg par 4! About 450 yards, it’s one tough par 4 that can be made easier by taking on more of the bunkering. This one takes a few plays to feel even slightly comfortable from the tee.
From behind the 9
th. The forest effectively guards this green from approaches made from the wrong part of the fairway.
The short par 4 11
th might temp longer hitters to have a go at the green, but results could be frustrating.
The par 3 12
th is, like its siblings, gorgeous. The homeowner on the left had large lights in their yard to illuminate the green. Who could blame them? Art on a very large canvas.
The 14
th green was completely rebuilt as it was not a Simpson original. I think this could pass nicely for one.
The wild green on the par 3 15
th benefitted greatly from expansion. The runoff areas front and back don’t necessarily make the hole play easier, but do make it a lot more interesting.
Some exposed dune on the par 3 17
th. My eye was more drawn to the drop off on the left. The safe play is not appealing.
Frank and Patrice have done wonderful work at Hardelot les Pins, and I think firmer conditions also make it a candidate for best on the Continent. The bunkers become even more relevant hazards, and the player gets many more options. This course, too, would feel right at home in the UK. I am already looking forward to a return visit, and hope the leadership at Royal Spa in Belgium can accomplish the same type of turnaround.