The Internet's Most Comprehensive Guide

Hyères - Costebelle Golf Club, Var (83). (1907 - 1930s)

The club was founded in 1907.

The Hyères Les Palmiers course was very attractive and a pleasant one to play but it did not reach the international standard of courses being developed at the time.

The need for a second club was clear to Mr Peyron, proprietor of the Costebelle Hotels, who decided to create an eighteen-hole course close to his main hotel. During the summer of 1907 Covington, the Nice professional, laid out the course which opened in November the same year. In 1908 it was significantly improved by Willie Park. The course measured 6,200 yards which included several “long holes”. The course was very flat and open and it would have been of little interest playing wise. But the genius, Willie Park, placed the bunkers - not less than 52 – in the most strategic places thus providing a good test of golf.

It's reported in the early 1920s that Costebelle moved to a new course following WW1. 

Report on the opening of the course in November 1907.

Daily Telegraph & Courier (London) Monday 11 November 1907. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Tenth hole on the Costebelle Links

The Golf Hotel restaurant.

Harry Vardon on the sixth tee at Costebelle.

Arnaud Massy driving.

Taylor putting at Costebelle.

Report on the formal opening of the course in February 1908

Globe Wednesday 26 February 1908. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In March 1908 the Tatler Magazine organised a tournament which was to be called “The Tatler Riviera Cup” (in France la Coupe de la Riviera) and it was to be played on the Costebelle course. The first prize was to be a 25 guinea silver trophy. The total prize money would certainly have exceeded 1,200 francs.

After the Nice tournament (played in March 1908 – see Nice article), on their way to Costebelle, the triumvirate plus Massy moved to the old course in Hyères for a two day tournament. Taylor won the competition with a score of 139 (72 + 67), Braid was second with 142 (71 + 71), Vardon was third 144 (71 + 73), Massy, playing badly, finished fourth with 150 (76 + 74). Gassiat, Macdonald, Freemantle and Bomboudiac scored 153, 160, 166 and 167 respectively.

The following day the Tatler Riviera Cup was played over the Costebelle course. Bomboudiac was initially supposed to play in the competition but he was suffering from a cold and his place was given to R G Macdonald, the local professional, who was originally from Dornoch.

Vardon won the cup with a score of 151 (76 + 75), Massy was runner-up with 155 (78 + 77), Braid third 158 (83 + 75) and Taylor was fourth 162 (83 + 79). Macdonald finished with 170 and Gassiat 171.

It was reported in 1909 that Willie Park had made improvements to the layout and bunkering.

The following text accompanies the picture below - "The young course at Costebelle is attracting much attention. Willie Park has been at work upon its design and bunkering system; and some good players who have been there lately have not hesitated to say that it is at least as good as any other course on the Riviera." 

The Sketch Wednesday 19 January. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

Thanks to Roy Mackenzie for the images of the medals below.

Hyères Golf Club medal Hallmark 1912.

From The Bystander 2 November 1910. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

From The Sketch Wednesday 18 February 1914. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

Clubhouse and course.

Driving off the ninth tee on the Costebelle course. (John Llewellyn Collection.)

Extracts from reports on a new course at Costebelle in the early 1920s.

The Sketch Wednesday 15 December 1920. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

The Sketch Wednesday 26 January 1921. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

Competition played in 1925. 

From the Bystander Wednesday 8 April 1925. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Advert for the course in 1928.

The Sketch Wednesday 7 March 1928. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

Entry from the 1933 Golfer's Handbook -  Costebelle Golf Club; Membership 200; Hon. secretary, Major C A Booth; Professional, W Freemantle; 18-holes; Station at Hyères (one mile), Visitors - Gents, 30 francs per day, 125  francs per week, 325 francs per month, 550 francs per season; Ladies, 30, 100, 300, 500 francs respectively; Sunday play with caddies.

Costebelle Golf Club is not listed in the 1937 Golfer's Handbook.