Vidauban Golf Club ☆ Follow

Located in the Var department of France, Vidauban Golf Club is an 800-hectare course designed by the legendary architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. Situated within the Massif des Maures, the layout is embedded in a natural park that serves as a reserve for wildlife, characterized by parasol pines, cork trees, and Mediterranean scrubland. The club operates strictly for its members and their guests, maintaining a commitment to preserving the wild beauty of the surrounding environment. The course is situated in the Plaine des Maures, a biodiversity hotspot and nature reserve in the Var département. The landscape features a mosaic of oak forests, maritime and umbrella pine woodlands, maquis scrubland, temporary ponds, and sandstone outcrops. This setting provides an ideal environment for endemic species, with the area home to approximately 10% of France’s entire floral and faunal heritage. The club’s design integrates with this unique terrain, offering views of the diverse natural habitats that define the region. Robert Trent Jones Sr. developed the course in the late 1980s, risking his own fortune to create what he intended to be the most beautiful golf course in the world. His vision extended beyond the course's beauty to include the sculpting of each green and the establishment of a private club that would redefine standards of excellence. The club is appraised as one of the best courses in Continental Europe, reflecting the architect's vast experience and bold approach to design. Vidauban Golf Club has established a strong environmental commitment through the Vidauban Golf Corporate Foundation for the Environment, founded in 2007. The foundation integrates the biodiversity of the Plaine des Maures into the life of the golf course, with core missions to understand, preserve, and share this natural heritage. The club was the first in France to enter a ten-year partnership with the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, which led to the discovery of species previously unrecorded in the region and some still unknown to science. The course offers a green speed of 10.7 feet, and both electric and manual trolleys are allowed on the layout. The club maintains an open course policy for members and guests, with a clubhouse and pro shop available for services. The foundation also supports educational platforms for club staff and local schoolchildren, while hosting international dialogues that bring together ecologists, government authorities, and golf institutions.