Golf de Biarritz Le Phare
Willie Dunn laid out Le Phare in 1888 on the open plateau beside the Biarritz lighthouse, and it stands today as the second oldest course in France. Harry Colt reworked it a generation later. A walkable par 69 of about 5,400 metres, ringed by some 70 bunkers and minutes from the Atlantic surf, it is the historic heart of golf on the Basque coast.
Photo: Golf de Biarritz Le Phare via Google.
The verdict
Golf de Biarritz Le Phare opened in 1888, the work of the pioneering Scottish professional Willie Dunn, and only the course at Pau is older on French soil. It sits on a flat, breezy plateau in the middle of town, a short walk from the lighthouse that gives it its name and from the long Atlantic beaches that made Biarritz a resort for European royalty.
This is not a long course and it does not need to be. The challenge is the wind off the ocean, the tight framing of roughly 70 bunkers and a set of greens that Harry Colt sharpened when he remodeled the layout in the early twentieth century. Play it for the history, the location and the easy charm of a town course you can walk to from your hotel, then build the rest of a Basque trip around the bigger tests at Chiberta and Seignosse.
Golf de Biarritz Le Phare at a glance
- Opened
- 1888
- Designer
- Willie Dunn, Colt remodel
- Type
- Town parkland by the sea
- Par
- 69
- Yardage
- About 5,400 m
- Green fee
- Seasonal, indicative
Designer, opening year and par verified June 2026 from Golf de Biarritz Le Phare and leading course databases. The course was laid out by Willie Dunn in 1888 and later remodeled by Harry Colt, a par 69 of about 5,400 metres, widely cited as the second oldest course in France after Pau. Green fees are published seasonally and vary by month and time of day; figures are indicative for 2026, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Le Phare plays across an open, level plateau, so the defining force is the Atlantic wind rather than elevation or length. The fairways are generous in width, but the bunkering pinches the landing zones and the right angle into each green matters far more than raw distance.
The greens carry the Colt influence, well contoured and quick, and they reward an approach flighted under the breeze. With par at 69 the card invites a good score on a calm morning, yet the same holes can bare their teeth when the sea wind gets up in the afternoon.
It is a course to enjoy at a brisk walking pace, finishing back in the centre of Biarritz within strolling distance of the beach, the casino and the seafood. Few courses anywhere pair a round of golf with a great resort town quite so neatly.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to visitors with a tee time; an established members club that welcomes green fee play subject to availability |
| Green fee | Published seasonally; rates vary by month and time of day (indicative, 2026), always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve ahead in summer when the Basque coast is busy; the trip team can secure tee times alongside nearby courses |
| On the day | An easily walkable plateau; a handicap certificate may be requested |
| Getting there | In central Biarritz, a few minutes from the lighthouse and beaches and about 10 minutes from Biarritz Airport |
| Best months | May to October for warm, settled coastal weather, with spring and early autumn the most comfortable for walking |
Access and pricing verified June 2026; this is a town course with seasonal rates that change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit with the golf shop or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers stay in Biarritz itself, where grand seafront hotels, design led boutiques and superb Basque dining sit within walking distance of the first tee. Staying in town lets you play Le Phare in the morning and be on the beach or at a pintxos bar by lunch.
For a wider Basque golf trip, Biarritz is the natural base from which to reach Chiberta at Anglet, the dunes courses around Hossegor and Seignosse to the north, and the storied links culture across the border in Spain. It is one of the great corners of Europe to combine golf, food and the coast.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Biarritz.
Build a Basque coast golf trip
We secure tee times at Le Phare and pair them with Chiberta, Seignosse and the best of the Basque coast, then book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Golf de Biarritz Le Phare questions
Who designed Golf de Biarritz Le Phare and when did it open?
Golf de Biarritz Le Phare was laid out by the Scottish professional Willie Dunn and opened in 1888, with Harry Colt remodeling the course a generation later. It is widely cited as the second oldest golf course in France after Pau.
What is the par and length of Le Phare?
Le Phare is a par 69 of about 5,400 metres, a walkable town course set on a flat plateau and defended chiefly by the Atlantic wind and around 70 bunkers.
Can visitors play Golf de Biarritz Le Phare?
Yes. Le Phare is an established members club that welcomes visitors with a tee time, subject to availability. Book ahead in the busy summer season and confirm any green fee directly before arriving.
Why is Biarritz Le Phare historically important?
It is one of the cradles of French golf, opened in 1888 when Biarritz was a fashionable resort for European royalty, and only the course at Pau predates it in France.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year and par verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.