Biarritz Le Phare

British expatriates created the original sporting facilities at Golf de Biarritz Le Phare in 1888, establishing an 18-hole golf course for gentlemen, a 9-holer for ladies as well as a croquet lawn, cricket pitch and a number of tennis courts.

The following year, Tom and Willie Dunn were asked to modify the golf courses and their improved design lasted just over thirty years, until Harry Colt was called in to add bunkers and extend the length of a number of holes.

A large portion of the Colt layout was lost during World War II so, unfortunately, the present day course bears little resemblance to the one that was once in play. Measuring a modest 5,400 metres in length, Le Phare is now rated as a par 69 track.

Tree-lined fairways occupy two separate tracts of land, with holes 4 to 9 located on a separate parcel from the remainder of the property and it’s on this slightly detached acreage that you’ll find one of the toughest holes on the card at the 203-metre par three 8th.

The template hole “Biarritz” originated here in France before the ravages of war destroyed it. Known as the “chasm”, the green came into play at the original long par three 3rd hole where a menacing swale dissected the putting surface. Charles Blair Macdonald coined the name Biarritz and the first template copy was built at Piping Rock and replicated in various guises at a number of courses in America, including Yale and Fishers Island.