Golf de Frejus
The golf at Frejus is Golf de l'Esterel, set just over the boundary in the leafy Valescure quarter of Saint-Raphael. The main 18 holes are a Robert Trent Jones Senior design opened in 1989, a par 70 of about 5,585 meters that winds through umbrella pines and mimosa at the foot of the red Esterel massif, with a 9 hole academy course making 27 holes in all on the French Riviera.
Photo: Golf de l'Esterel via Google.
The verdict
Ask for golf at Frejus and you are pointed to Golf de l'Esterel, the parkland course in the pine wooded Valescure district that straddles the line between Frejus and neighboring Saint-Raphael. The main 18 holes carry one of the great names in golf architecture, Robert Trent Jones Senior, and opened in 1989 as a par 70 of about 5,585 meters. A 9 hole academy course designed by Jeremy Pern rounds the property out to 27 holes, so there is a full game and a quick loop both on offer a few minutes from the Riviera coast.
This is a course you play as much for the setting as the scorecard. The fairways thread between stands of umbrella pine and mimosa with the red rock of the Esterel massif rising behind, a backdrop few Riviera courses can match. Trent Jones routed it with his usual eye for strategy rather than brute length, so accuracy and a clear plan off the tee matter more than raw power. For a traveling golfer basing a trip on the eastern Var coast, it is a scenic, characterful round that pairs naturally with the bigger names a little further along the Riviera.
Golf de Frejus at a glance
- Opened
- 1989
- Designer
- Robert Trent Jones Sr
- Type
- Pine parkland
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- About 5,585 m
- Green fee
- Seasonal, confirm with club
Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from leading course databases and the operator. The 18 hole course at Frejus, Golf de l'Esterel in the Valescure quarter of Saint-Raphael, opened in 1989 to a Robert Trent Jones Senior design and plays to a par 70 of about 5,585 meters, with a 9 hole academy course by Jeremy Pern for 27 holes in total. A few databases list the main course as a par 72; the operator and most sources give par 70. The course welcomes visitors and is bookable year round. Riviera green fees are seasonal and on the higher side in summer, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
L'Esterel is classic Trent Jones in miniature: a course that rewards thought over swagger. The umbrella pines crowd the corridors so the premium is on finding the fairway and leaving the right angle into greens that are generally well defended by bunkers and the occasional water hazard. At about 5,585 meters off the back it is not long, which makes it a fair test for the holiday golfer and the mid handicapper, but the trees and the tight, tree framed driving lines mean a wayward ball is quickly punished and a steady, positional game scores well.
The setting is the constant pleasure. Holes open up here and there to reveal the red volcanic rock of the Esterel rising beyond the treeline, and in spring the mimosa adds a wash of yellow to the pine green. The greens are honest and the conditioning dependable, and the rolling, wooded ground gives the round a pleasant variety of stances and shot shapes. The 9 hole academy course is a useful warm up or a relaxed evening loop when time is short.
Golf de l'Esterel suits the golfer who wants Riviera scenery and a strategic, walkable parkland round without the championship length. It pairs well with the dramatic mountain golf at Golf de Saint-Endreol and the heathland of Golf de Barbaroux a short drive inland for a varied eastern Var itinerary.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to visitors; tee times bookable year round, online and through tour operators; 18 hole course plus a 9 hole academy loop |
| Green fee | Riviera pricing is seasonal and higher in summer; shoulder season and weekdays are the best value; confirm the current rate at booking |
| Booking | Reserve ahead in summer and over holidays when the coast is busy; combine with the bigger Riviera names nearby |
| On the day | Rolling, wooded parkland that is walkable; buggies available; tree lined corridors reward a straight, positional game |
| Getting there | In the Valescure quarter of Saint-Raphael next to Frejus, about an hour from Nice airport and minutes from the A8 autoroute |
| Best months | Spring and autumn for ideal conditions; summer is hot and busy; mild winters keep year round play realistic |
Access and fee guidance verified June 2026. Pricing moves with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. See our best golf courses on the French Riviera for the wider picture.
Where to stay nearby
Saint-Raphael and Frejus offer a wide range of hotels and resorts along the coast, from beachfront properties to quieter inland options, all within easy reach of the course. Golfers who want a bigger Riviera base can stay toward Cannes or Sainte-Maxime and play l'Esterel as part of a wider tour of the eastern Var.
Golf de l'Esterel is best built into a French Riviera golf trip. Pair it with the mountain golf at Golf de Saint-Endreol, the heathland at Golf de Barbaroux and the luxury of Terre Blanche Le Chateau. See our golf on the French Riviera hub and our best Riviera courses ranking, or browse France golf holidays.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Saint-Raphael and Frejus.
Build a French Riviera golf trip
We book the l'Esterel tee times, pair the pine wood golf at Frejus with the best of the eastern Var and arrange the coastal lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Golf de Frejus questions
Which course is Golf de Frejus and who designed it?
The golf at Frejus is Golf de l'Esterel, in the Valescure quarter of neighboring Saint-Raphael. The main 18 hole course is a Robert Trent Jones Senior design opened in 1989, with a 9 hole academy course added by Jeremy Pern.
What is the par and length of Golf de l'Esterel?
The main 18 hole course plays to a par 70 of about 5,585 meters. A few databases list it as a par 72; the operator and most sources give par 70. There is also a 9 hole academy course, making 27 holes in total.
What is Golf de l'Esterel known for?
Its setting. The course winds through umbrella pines and mimosa at the foot of the red Esterel massif, a scenic, strategic Robert Trent Jones layout a short drive from the Riviera beaches of Saint-Raphael and Frejus.
Can visitors play Golf de l'Esterel?
Yes. The course welcomes visitors and is bookable year round. Riviera green fees are seasonal and on the higher side in summer; always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026; green fee guidance verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.