I knew the trip to Meribel was going to be something special when I was offered a quick tour of the valley after breakfast - by plane. Just under 40 minutes later I was back on the ground having seen the sights, perhaps a little closer than I would have liked, but Sebastien, the pilot of the little two-seater aircraft, was determined that I see everything including the new nine holes of the Meribel course. Meribel, which is in the French Alps - a couple of hours from Geneva and just south of Annecy and close to Moutiers - is better known as a ski resort very popular with the Brits, but it also has a stunning golf course, recently re-modeled. The new nine holes of the par 71 course were officially opened with a skins game involving Barry Lane, Nicolas Colsaerts, Jean-Francois Remesy and Costantino Rocca followed by a pro-am invoving a mix of European and British pros and the big four. It proved a good two days for Lane, who finished top man in the skins and also led the winning pro-am team. It's a bit of drive to get to Meribel from Geneva (you can fly direct from Newcastle) but with Meribel having it's own small airstrip and fleet of light aircraft right next to the Altiport Hotel, getting there is not a problem. Meribel nestles in the heart of the renowned Valley des Allues, part of the Three Valleys skiing country with 14 villages in the Meribel area alone there are plenty of restaurants, bars and hotels to sample all in easy reach including the Altiport Hotel - a superb hotel with fine rooms, restaurant and swimming pool - and the Blanchot, a splendid restaurant - both within walking distance of the golf course. The quartet of pros provided the first day's entertainment with a clinic and skins game watched by a big enthusiastic crowd who were out again the next day to watch those of us lucky enough to play in the pro-am on a course that is a mixture of short par fours, tempting par fives and excellent par threes. Driving is at a premium on the tree-lined fairways, which are wide enough, but a three wood or long iron off the tee is often a good choice to get into position to attack the raised greens which will test your ability to read the line and pace. In short an excellent golf course, ideal for husband and wife and all the family, although buggies are essential for all but the really fit. What Meribel also has is an absolutely stunning backdrop of the French Alps but it is considered very much a "British" resort, which was born when Peter Lindsay, a Scottish colonel, set up a company to build it. The values and standards that were in evidence in 1945 when work started are still very much alive both in Meribel and the nearby Le Mottaret. The Brits still come to Meribel in their droves for the skiing and now, for the golf as well as walking, horseriding, mountain biking and parascending or simply chilling out in the glorious mountain air and sunshine. There is a free resort bus, which connects most of the villages, and taxis are available but it is wise to book them in advance as they tend to be scarce later in the evening. Prices in the restaurants and bars are surprisingly good compared to other parts of France and the food superb and there is plenty of choice in the nearby villages of Mirabel-Mottaret, Les Allues and Meribel Village while the green fees at the golf course are competitive at 55 euros for 18 holes (35 for nine holes) in low season and 65 (40) in the high season and there are discounts for couples and juniors and senior citizens as well as season tickets - prices at the time of writing - and there is also club and buggy hire available. The golf course has it's own driving range and clubhouse close to the Altiport hotel and nearby apartments and chalets. Work on revamping the top nine holes of the course started in 2004 designed by Hugues Lambert to iron out some of severe slopes and make more use of water features and the scenary ... and he has succeeded well with the course also being extended to 6,056 yards. Probably the pick of the new nine is from the 11th to the 13th with several lakes and water features clustered around the greens at 11 and 13 and short of the green at 12. The ninth, par four, is probably to most beautiful hole on the golf course but the short 11th rivals it and 16 is a cracking par five while 18 is a classic finishing hole which is reachable off the tee but it is dangerous. All in all, a lovely golf course and a fine test. --------------------------------------------------------- Address: Golf de Meribel, BP 54 - 73550 Meribel
Telephone: 0033 04 79005267.
Fax 0033 04 79003885.
Email: info@golf-meribel.com.
Website: www.golf-meribel.com Hotel Altiport: 73550 Meribel, 0033 04 79005232, fax 0033 04 79085707.
Le Blanchot Restaurant: Route de l'Altiport, 73550 Meribel, 0033 04 79005578.
Tourist office: Office de Tourisme de Meribel, B.P./F-73550 Meribel. 0033 04 79086001,
Fax: 0033 04 79005961.
Website: www.meribel.net | 
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