Golf
Six courses within an hour, in two countries, and no two of them alike: a links on the Mediterranean shore, nine holes among the vineyards of the Empordà, a championship course ranked among the very best in Spain, and two mountain courses, one of them founded in 1928. You can play here in February as well as in August. You just change altitude.
Within an hour, on the French side
Saint-Cyprien Golf Resort
35 minThe local benchmark: 27 holes opened in 1976, designed by Scottish architects Ben Wright and Barry Tomlinson, about ten kilometres from Perpignan and a few hundred metres from the beach. The eighteen-hole L'Étang is links in style and is played inside a bird sanctuary; the nine-hole La Forêt runs through the pines. Mount Canigou stands behind you for much of the round.
Golf Club de Montescot
Nine holes, par 36, over 3,000 metres, ten minutes south of Perpignan on gently rolling ground. The club advertises a 360-degree panorama: the Canigou, the Albères range, the Madeloc and Massane towers, Fort Saint-Elme, Cap Béar and Elne cathedral. The right format when you do not want to give up the whole day.
Across the border
Club de Golf Peralada
30 minEighteen holes, par 71, 6,039 metres, among the oaks, pines and vineyards of the Empordà. Both nines start and finish at the clubhouse. The course belongs to the Peralada Resort, alongside the castle, the winery and the casino, and several holes are played with vines lining the fairway.
Camiral Golf & Wellness, Stadium Course
1 hrThe championship course of the region, at Caldes de Malavella: eighteen holes opened in 1999, shaped under Neil Coles and Ángel Gallardo, 7,333 yards from the back tees, a little over 6,700 metres. The resort presents it as Spain's number one on the top100golfcourses.com ranking from 2012 to 2019. One thing to know when booking: it was called PGA Catalunya, and many guides and booking engines still use the old name. The Stadium Course itself has not changed.
The two mountain courses
What I honestly think: I do not play golf, I do not like it, so I am not going to talk you through the greens. But if you only keep one, keep Falgos. A course above a thousand metres, set on a 650-hectare estate at the far end of the Vallespir, with the view running all the way to the bay of Roses. It has nothing in common with a seaside course, and I doubt there are many equivalents.
Golf du Domaine de Falgos
1 hrAt Saint-Laurent-de-Cerdans, above 1,100 metres on a 650-hectare estate: eighteen holes, par 70, 5,117 metres, opened in 1993, with six par 3s, eight par 4s and four par 5s. A technical, steep course, slope 137, where the elevation change matters as much as the tee shot. The estate claims the southernmost eighteen-hole course in France, and the view reaches as far as the Bay of Roses. Hotel, restaurant and spa on site, which makes it more of a two-day trip than a day out.
Golf de Font-Romeu
1 hr 30Founded in 1928 by the Compagnie des chemins de fer du Midi, back when you reached the Cerdagne by train, and inaugurated that September. The commune presents it as the first eight-hole mountain course in France, and the French golf heritage association as the oldest course in Languedoc-Roussillon. It is played in the forest above the resort. At that altitude the ball carries noticeably further, which pleasantly distorts every distance in your bag.
Good to know
- The season is not the same everywhere. On the coast and in the plain, Saint-Cyprien and Montescot play year round. Falgos also advertises year-round play, at 1,100 metres. Font-Romeu, between 1,750 and 1,840 metres, is a summer course: check before driving up out of season.
- We do not publish green fees, as they change with the season and the day of the week. Rates are on the official websites above, and booking is direct with the clubs.
- Peralada and Camiral are in Spain, about thirty minutes' drive for the former. No formalities at the border. Just check that your insurance covers your equipment abroad.
- Parking at the villa is private, shaded and behind an electric gate. Tell us when you book if you are travelling with the bags and we will sort the arrangements.
Book your stay
Book directly online: real-time availability, secure payment, calendar synced across all platforms. On-site welcome is handled by Sud Séjour, our local concierge service, reachable for any question.