Djerba (La Mer and Les Palmiers)

Djerba lies just off the Tunisian coast in the Gulf of Gabes and it’s reached either by ferry or via an ancient Roman causeway that links the island to the mainland. Of course, the vast majority of golfing holiday makers will arrive and depart through the international airport near the old main town of Houmt Souk.

The 27-hole Djerba Golf Club complex is conveniently located within a substantial hotel strip that lies along the north east coast of the island and the Hawtree design company laid out its three 9-hole circuits in the mid 1990s.

The nine named “La Mer” play to a par of 36 with a total yardage of 3,437 yards. “Les Palmiers” measure 3,348 yards with par set at 37 and the shorter “Les Acacias” loop has a par rating of 36 for its 2,953-yard length.

Les Acacias is the least challenging of the three nines so it’s an ideal layout for beginners, leaving La Mer and Palmiers for the more serious golfers. This 18-hole course offers plenty of variety as holes wind between salt water lagoons and low sand dunes beside the Mediterranean sea.

Hole 8 is one of the feature holes on the more inland Les Palmiers loop as water comes into play on either side of its fairway. On the La Mer circuit, holes 5 to 7 border the beach so expect sea breezes to protect par on these seaside holes.