Nampont Saint Martin Golf Club

Featuring two 18-hole courses, Nampont-Saint-Martin Golf Club, between the Somme Bay and the Authie Bay, offers a comprehensive golfing experience that will meet with the satisfaction of any golfer… and of nature lovers, too!
When first confronted with the "Les Cygnes" course, those who suffer from "hydrophobia" may initially experience a moment of recoil since water is everywhere to bee seen. The practice green itself is on water: a 12,000-square-metre lake!  The reason is simple: in this charming green valley of the river Authie -which traverses the grounds, lying on the border between Pas-de-Calais and the Somme- the marshland is king and often imposes itself as an obstacle for the peaceful golfer. The 14th hole, a par 3, is famous for its green, which sits at the end of a peninsula. The par-4 15th diagonally crosses a pond, a small canal, but one cannot afford to deviate off course, neither to the left nor to the right: water is omnipresent. The 12th hole is the longest par 5 hole in France (595 m from the tee). Once the first stroke has been played, the water is left behind and one can attempt to demonstrate the full extent of one's power. While "Les Cygnes" is intended for the more experience golfer, the second course, "Le Belvédère", is perfectly suited to all other players. First opened in 1997, it includes some of the holes of the largest course in Picardy -before "Les Cygnes was extended into Pas-de-Calais- and several new holes, also designed by Thomas Chatterton. It does require a certain degree of technical skill but is not too intolerant of the average player.  As its name suggests, it looks out over the Authie valley, of which the 7th and 13th holes afford a magnificent bird's-eye view. It alternates between wooded and flat sections. Another source of pleasure at Nampont-Saint-Martin is its 14th-century chateau, "La Maison Forte", which was once occupied by François I and which, obviously, is surrounded by water. Like this gem of a chateau, the surrounding natural environment -a veritable nature reserve- has been carefully preserved. Already a paradise for birds, it can quickly become one for golfers.