Terre Blanche Le Riou
Dave Thomas laid out both courses at Terre Blanche in 2004, and Le Riou is the gentler twin to the championship Chateau. A par 72 of about 6,005 metres set among the pines, olives and dramatic ravines of the Var hinterland, it is reserved for members and guests of the five star resort, which keeps the fairways quiet and immaculate.
Photo: Terre Blanche Golf via Google.
The verdict
Terre Blanche sits in the hills above Tourrettes, between Cannes and the Gorges du Verdon, and the golf is only part of a resort that also runs a Michelin kitchen and one of the largest spas in Europe. Dave Thomas designed the two courses here in 2004, and where Le Chateau is the long championship test, Le Riou is the more playable of the pair, shorter at about 6,005 metres but every bit as scenic.
What you remember is the setting. Holes tumble through stone terraces, umbrella pines and olive groves, with water and ravines framing several greens and the perched village of Tourrettes on the skyline. It is a resort course in the best sense, beautifully conditioned, walkable with care, and a fine warm up or alternative to its tougher sibling. Access runs through the hotel, so a stay is the surest way on.
Terre Blanche Le Riou at a glance
- Opened
- 2004
- Designer
- Dave Thomas
- Type
- Resort, wooded hills
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,005 m
- Green fee
- Members and hotel guests
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Terre Blanche and leading course databases. Le Riou is a Dave Thomas design from 2004, a par 72 of about 6,005 metres, the more forgiving of the resort's two courses. Le Riou is reserved for members of Terre Blanche Golf Club, their guests and guests of the hotel, so there is no general public green fee. Always confirm access and any rate directly before planning.
The holes worth the trip
Le Riou plays through the same wooded Provencal terrain as its championship sibling but asks fewer heroics, the corridors a touch wider and the carries a touch shorter. The reward for the everyday golfer is a round you can actually score on, where good position off the tee leaves a sensible approach rather than a forced carry over a ravine.
The course still has teeth. Thomas routed several holes around the natural watercourses and rocky gullies that give the resort its drama, and the greens are large, quick and full of subtle movement, so the premium is on the right tier rather than simply finding the surface. Elevation changes mean club selection is rarely obvious, and the Provence breeze can stiffen an uphill approach.
It is the scenery that lingers, the olive terraces, the umbrella pines and the medieval village of Tourrettes hanging above the closing holes. Le Riou is the kind of course you finish wanting to play again the same afternoon, and paired with Le Chateau it makes Terre Blanche one of the most complete golf stays on the Cote d'Azur.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Reserved for members, their guests and guests of Terre Blanche Hotel; not open to general public green fee play |
| Green fee | Arranged through the resort as part of a stay or membership (indicative, 2026); no published public rate |
| Booking | Book through the Terre Blanche golf reception or as part of a hotel package; tee times are managed by the resort |
| On the day | Buggies, carts and a full practice campus available; smart resort dress and pace expected |
| Getting there | Tourrettes in the Var, about 45 minutes from Nice airport and 35 minutes from Cannes |
| Best months | April to June and September to October for warm, settled Provence weather |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Le Riou is reserved for members and hotel guests and policies change, so always confirm directly with the resort or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious base is Terre Blanche itself, a five star hotel of suites and villas wrapped around the two courses, with the spa, kitchens and golf academy on site. Staying there is also the cleanest route onto Le Riou, since the course is reserved for resort guests and members.
Beyond the gates, the wider Cote d'Azur is on the doorstep, with Cannes, Nice and the perched villages of the arriere pays all within an easy drive. It is ideal country for a golf and Riviera trip, pairing Terre Blanche with the coast and a day in the hills above Grasse.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Terre Blanche Le Riou.
Build a Provence golf trip
We arrange the Terre Blanche stay and tee times, pair Le Riou with Le Chateau and the best of the Cote d'Azur, and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Terre Blanche Le Riou questions
Who designed Terre Blanche Le Riou and when did it open?
Le Riou was designed by Dave Thomas and opened in 2004, one of two courses he laid out at the Terre Blanche resort alongside the championship Le Chateau.
What is the par and length of Le Riou?
Le Riou is a par 72 measuring about 6,005 metres from the back tees, the shorter and more forgiving of the two Terre Blanche courses.
Can visitors play Le Riou?
Le Riou is reserved for members of Terre Blanche Golf Club, their guests and guests of the hotel, so the surest way to play is to stay at the resort. Always confirm access directly before travelling.
Where is Terre Blanche?
Terre Blanche sits above Tourrettes in the Var, in the hills between Cannes and the Gorges du Verdon, about 45 minutes from Nice airport.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.