Golf de Sainte-Maxime
In the hills above the resort of Sainte-Maxime, looking across the bay toward Saint-Tropez, this Harradine designed course opened in 1991 as a par 72 of about 5,200 meters. Compact and steeply undulating, it trades championship length for some of the widest sea and bay views on the French Riviera, a scenic, walkable round on the eastern Var coast.
Photo: Golf Bluegreen Sainte-Maxime via Google.
The verdict
Golf de Sainte-Maxime, run today under the Bluegreen banner, is the golf of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez: a hillside course carved into the slopes behind the resort with views that few golfers forget. It opened in 1991 to a design by Peter and Don Harradine, the family of architects who shaped courses across Europe and the Mediterranean, beginning with nine holes on former military land and later completing the second nine. The result is a par 72 of about 5,200 meters, short by modern standards but full of movement and demanding far more in judgement than in raw distance.
The appeal is scenery and character. This is undulating, up and down golf where blind shots, sloping lies and tumbling fairways are part of the fun, and the reward at the top of each climb is a sweep of Mediterranean coast across the bay toward Saint-Tropez. A buggy is sensible given the terrain, and the round suits a relaxed holiday pace rather than a grinding card. For a traveling golfer basing a trip on the eastern Var, it is a memorable, view rich complement to the bigger names nearby.
Golf de Sainte-Maxime at a glance
- Opened
- 1991
- Designers
- Peter & Don Harradine
- Type
- Hillside parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 5,200 m
- Green fee
- Seasonal, confirm with club
Designers, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from leading course databases and the operator. Golf de Sainte-Maxime, also branded Golf Bluegreen Sainte-Maxime, opened in 1991 to a Peter and Don Harradine design and plays to a par 72 of about 5,200 meters, roughly 5,700 yards, in the hills above the Gulf of Saint-Tropez; a few sources give the opening year as 1992. The course welcomes visitors and is bookable year round. Riviera green fees are seasonal and on the higher side in summer, and a buggy is recommended given the slopes, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Sainte-Maxime is all about the land. The Harradines worked with steep, broken hillside rather than against it, so the course rises and falls through pine and cork oak with elevated tees, dropping approaches and the occasional blind shot that locals know and visitors quickly learn. At about 5,200 meters it is short on paper, but the slopes, the tight driving lines and the need to flight the ball into firm, well placed greens make it play longer and trickier than the yardage suggests. Course management and a cool head score far better here than aggression.
The views are the signature. Several holes crest the ridge to reveal the bay below, with Saint-Tropez shimmering across the water on a clear day, and the combination of golf and panorama is the reason the course stays in the memory. Conditioning is dependable and the greens are honest, and while the walk is strenuous, the buggy ride between holes is a pleasure in its own right. This is not a course to chase a personal best on, but it is one of the most enjoyable, scenic rounds on this stretch of coast.
Golf de Sainte-Maxime suits the golfer who values setting and character over length and wants a relaxed, view rich round on a Riviera trip. It pairs naturally with the mountain golf at Golf de Saint-Endreol and the pine wood layout at Golf de Frejus a short drive along the coast.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to visitors; tee times bookable year round, online and through tour operators |
| 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 other eastern Var courses |
| On the day | Steeply undulating hillside course; a buggy is strongly recommended; expect blind shots and sloping lies |
| Getting there | In the hills above Sainte-Maxime on the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Nice airport |
| 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
Sainte-Maxime is a lively resort with hotels and apartments along the seafront and in the hills behind, and the chic harbor of Saint-Tropez is a short drive or ferry hop across the bay for a grander base. Golfers touring the coast can stay anywhere between Saint-Raphael and the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and reach the course easily.
Golf de Sainte-Maxime is best built into a French Riviera golf trip. Pair it with the mountain golf at Golf de Saint-Endreol, the pine wood round at Golf de Frejus and the heathland of Golf de Barbaroux. 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 the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.
Build a French Riviera golf trip
We book the Sainte-Maxime tee times, pair the view rich hillside golf 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 Sainte-Maxime questions
When did Golf de Sainte-Maxime open and who designed it?
Golf de Sainte-Maxime, also known as Golf Bluegreen Sainte-Maxime, opened in 1991 to a design by Peter and Don Harradine. It was laid out in stages on hillside ground above the Gulf of Saint-Tropez; a few sources give 1992.
What is the par and length of Golf de Sainte-Maxime?
The course is a par 72 measuring about 5,200 meters, roughly 5,700 yards. It is a compact, hilly layout where placement and judgement of the slopes matter more than raw length.
What is Golf de Sainte-Maxime known for?
The views and the terrain. The Harradine layout climbs and falls through the hills behind Sainte-Maxime with sweeping views over the bay toward Saint-Tropez, an undulating, scenic Riviera round.
Can visitors play Golf de Sainte-Maxime?
Yes. The course welcomes visitors and is bookable year round. Riviera green fees are seasonal and higher in summer; a buggy is recommended given the hills. Always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designers, opening year, par and length verified June 2026; green fee guidance verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.