Le Touquet Golf Resort and sister venue Golf d’Hardelot, are among the four venues on France’s northern coast celebrating 25 years of Continental Europe’s largest Pro-Am tournament, The International Opal Coast Pro-Am, which takes from 24-27 April.
The tournament, which has hosted 10,000 players since its inception in 1994, has been contested at Le Touquet Golf Resort and Golf d’Hardelot for the length of its history.
While Le Touquet’s La Mer (The Sea) has been on the rota every year, the event has been hosted by both of Golf d’Hardelot’s courses, Les Pins (The Pines) and Les Dunes (The Dunes), with the latter receiving a leg of the Pro-Am for the second time this year.
Christophe Cantegrel, Founder of Golf First, organisers the event, said: “The upgrades and restoration work at both Le Touquet Golf Resort and Golf d’Hardelot over recent years have been very effective, and have only made the tournament more exciting and challenging.
“La Mer at Le Touquet Golf Resort is the longest and most demanding course in the event. A true championship layout. Restoring the four lost holes and bringing the layout back so closely to Harry Colt and Charles Alison’s original design has been an incredible achievement.
“The work carried out at Golf d’Hardelot has also been well-received by the Pro-Am players. Les Pins’ architectural mastery now shines through, while Les Dunes’ recent modifications have made it probably the most pleasurable to play – like a mini Augusta.
”The format of The International Opal Coast Pro-Am, which is also France’s oldest Pro-Am tournament, has remained unchanged throughout its 25 years, taking place across four days, on four golf courses, and hosting around 400 players each year.Professionals and amateurs travel from France, the UK, Belgium, Luxemburg and the Netherlands to compete for a prize purse of 73,000 €, working their way down the Opal Coast as they play courses at Le Touquet Golf Resort, Golf d’Hardelot, Belle Dune Golf Course and Wimereux Golf Club.
Cantegrel added: “The event is just such a pleasure to organise, and I think that pleasure is passed on to the golfers and spectators. The players get together every night to socialise, and there is such a genial and friendly atmosphere around the whole tournament, I believe this is what makes it so unique and popular.”