Golf de Chantaco
In the green hills above Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Golf de Chantaco is one of the most charming courses on the French Basque coast. Harry Colt laid it out and it opened in 1928, and the Lacoste family has been at its heart ever since. A par 70 of about 5,833 meters, it is a course of period character rather than modern muscle.
Photo: Golf de Chantaco via Google.
The verdict
Chantaco is the Basque coast's golfing grande dame, a course you play as much for its history and atmosphere as for the test itself. Harry Colt designed it and it was inaugurated on November 1, 1928, routing the first nine through hilly woodland and the second over flatter ground guarded by water. A par 70 of about 5,833 meters, it is short by modern standards but full of the strategy and craft that made Colt's name.
Its soul is the Lacoste connection. The champion golfer Simone Thion de la Chaume married the tennis great and brand founder Rene Lacoste in 1930, and their descendants run the club to this day, which gives Chantaco a continuity and elegance few courses can match. In its heyday it drew the likes of the Prince of Wales and Hollywood names, and that air of stylish leisure still hangs over the place. See our best of France ranking and the golf in France guide.
Chantaco at a glance
- Course inaugurated
- 1928
- Designer
- Harry Colt
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 70
- Holes
- 18
- Length
- About 5,833 m
Designer, date and history verified June 2026 from the club, Saint-Jean-de-Luz tourisme and GolfPass. Chantaco, designed by Harry Colt, was inaugurated on November 1, 1928, as a par 70 of about 5,833 meters, with a hilly wooded front nine and a flatter back nine defended by water; it remains run by the Lacoste family. Green fees are an indicative guide from around 60 euros to 95 euros depending on season and day. Always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The two nines at Chantaco play like two different rounds, and that contrast is its charm. The front climbs and falls through mature woodland, the fairways tumbling between the trees and the elevation changes asking for careful club selection and a sure short game. It is intimate, shaded and quietly demanding, the kind of golf that rewards a player who keeps the ball in play and thinks his way around.
The back nine opens out onto flatter ground where water comes into the reckoning on several holes, adding a different sort of pressure to the closing stretch. The greens throughout are true to Colt's instincts, modest in size but firmly defended, so the approach must be precise rather than merely close.
None of it is long, and that is the point. Chantaco is a course to savor, a walk through Basque countryside steeped in golfing history where the test is honest and the surroundings are a delight. For a golf trip to this corner of France it is an essential, characterful round.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A welcoming members club open to visiting golfers; tee times are easy to arrange in advance |
| Green fee | An indicative guide from around 60 euros to 95 euros depending on season and day |
| Booking | Reserve through the club or your trip planner; summer is busy on the Basque coast, so book ahead |
| On the day | A short, characterful parkland test with a hilly front nine; standard golf dress code with collared shirts |
| Walking | Walkable but hilly on the front nine; buggies are available and worth considering in the heat |
| Getting there | At Saint-Jean-de-Luz in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques, about 20 km southwest of Biarritz |
Fees and access verified June 2026; the indicative green fees vary by season, so always confirm the current rate and tee availability directly before booking. Book a tee time through our trip desk.
Where to stay nearby
Saint-Jean-de-Luz is one of the prettiest resort towns on the Atlantic coast, a working fishing port turned elegant seaside escape with fine hotels, Basque restaurants and a sheltered swimming bay. It is an ideal base for a golf trip that blends rounds with beach days and very good food.
Chantaco sits naturally on a Basque coast golf tour alongside Biarritz le Phare and the links at Chiberta just up the coast. See our golf in France guide for how to string them together.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Biarritz.
Build a Basque coast golf trip
We book the tee times at Chantaco and build a French Basque coast golf break around it, from the links at Biarritz and Chiberta to the food and beaches of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Chantaco questions
Who designed Golf de Chantaco and when did it open?
Golf de Chantaco was designed by the English architect Harry Colt and inaugurated on November 1, 1928, at Saint-Jean-de-Luz on the French Basque coast.
What is the Lacoste connection at Chantaco?
Chantaco has long been associated with the Lacoste family. The champion golfer Simone Thion de la Chaume married tennis great and brand founder Rene Lacoste in 1930, and the club is still run today by the family's descendants.
What is Golf de Chantaco like to play?
It is a par 70 of about 5,833 meters with a hilly, wooded front nine and a flatter back nine defended by several water hazards. It is a charming, walkable parkland course rather than a long modern test, full of period character.
What are green fees at Golf de Chantaco?
Green fees are an indicative guide from around 60 euros to 95 euros depending on season and day. Always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, date and history verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.