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Hyères - Les Palmiers Golf Club, Var (83). (1890 - 1930s)
The club first appeared in 1890 on a nine-hole course at Mauvanne/Les Salines.
Extract from a report in The Scotsman Monday 29 December 1890 - "A few days ago I mentioned that the delights of the Riviera, with Monte Carlo thrown in, had been found to want rounding off, and that this was to be done by laying-out a nine-hole course at Hyeres."
Letter to the Field in April 1891.
From the Field Saturday 18 April 1891. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Competition result from December 1892.
Field Saturday 17 December 1892. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
In 1894 British visitors decided to rent a large but marshy portion of land called le Pré Durandel from the Count David Beauregard to lay out a small practice course. The Hyères Golf Club was born. This initial course was short lived and was abandoned after just one year. A more suitable location was found in a pretty valley and a six-hole parkland course was laid out. In 1899 the course was extended to 12-holes, it reached its full complement of 18-holes in 1906, thanks mainly to Mr Zick, owner of the Golf Hotel, and Mr Logan, an expert in grass cultivation – who later helped at Nice Golf Club.
One of the most characteristic peculiarities of the Les Palmiers course was the erection of hurdles, replacing the usual bunkers. The landlord kept horses on the course during the summer season and he was fearful that they could break a leg if trapped in a bunker. When the course was extended modern bunkers were constructed.
Competition result from February 1894.
Golf Friday 2 March 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Club officials in September 1894.
Golf Friday 28 September 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Result of the Corporation of Hyères Challenge Cup played on Saturday 6 February 1895; Prince R de Rohan, 99-16-83; F J Patton, 84 scratch; J F E Bowring, 86-2-84; J Roberts, 94-9-85; M E Collett, 96-11-85; G R Corbett, 104-16-88; R H Caird, 91-2-89; S Peel, 99-7-92; Rev. H I Bellasis, 109-12-97; J R Corbett, 107-18-99.
The medal below marked “Ladies Doubles – Hyères Golf Club” was played for in 1895.
Above images courtesy of Dave Bridgman.
Below is the result of the Ladies’ foursome competition played on March 20 1895.
Ladies’ foursome competition result from March 1895.
Above images from The Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News Saturday 10th June 1899. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The information below is from December 1901. It makes reference to the Costebelle Hotel (the course there was founded in 1907.) Therefore the report and picture must refer to the course at Les Palmiers.
Above images are from The Tatler December 1901. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Entry from the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Hon. secretary - E E H Green, Golf Club, Hyères; captain, M E Collet; entrance fee - permanent members, 50 frs; subs, 125 frs per season, 60 frs per month, 17 frs 50 per week; ladies, 100 frs per season; 45 frs per month; 12 frs 50 per wee; 18-holes; professional, W Freemantle (Open Champion of Lucerne, 1904); professional course record - W Freemantle, 71; amateur course record - Sir Westby Percival, 74; Fixtures - four challenge cups and other presentation prizes are open for competition for permanent members. Other presentation prizes and club prizes open to ordinary members; season - November to May. The course is about a mile from the town, is thickly wooded and is surrounded on three sides by high hills, which afford shelter from the Mistral. The lies through the green are excellent, and although there are many players, the course is never unpleasantly crowded owing to omnibuses arriving from the various hotels at half-hour intervals.
In 1905 and possibly until WW1, W Freemantle was the local professional (spending his summer time in Engadine, Switzerland).
In March 1907, after the Grand Match in Cannes – and Massy’s victories – and before returning to Great Britain, a tournament was organised in Hyères. The Scotsman newspaper reported; “Alex Herd and James Braid the Scots regained some of their prestige lost in Cannes. Jones was again well to the front, and so, too, was (Ted) Ray, who, with the wooden clubs seems to be as powerful as ever”.
Report on the course in December 1907.
Globe Monday 2 December 1907. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The following year another tournament was played at the Hyères Golf Club as a prelude to the Tatler Cup (see Costebelle entry). It must be noted that this club was often referred to as “Hyères Les Palmiers” in order to avoid any confusion with the other club in Hyères; Costebelle.
The above picture of the Hyère-les-Palmiers course shows A Massy suggesting a putting line to Gassiat, probably in 1908.
According to A H Crosfield, writing in the Horton & Smith – The Royal and Ancient Game of Golf (1909) – “One of the best holes is the seventh, a two shot hole well guarded part of the way by woodland, and requiring a fine second shot to achieve a par 4. Another noticeable hole is the eighth, which is much the shape of a bottle, the tee being in place of the cork, and fifty yards of the tee shot travelling down a narrow opening with woods on either side – as it were the neck of the bottle. Then the hole opens out, and the putting green, which can be reached by a full driving-iron shot, is located on the end of a narrow bit of tableland”
Following the appointment of Geo H Logan as secretary the course was re-designed, the new 18-holes measured about 4,700 yards. The course was considered as “not particularly difficult” there were no bunkers and fences were the only notable hazards. In 1910 the club had a membership of 200.
The following is taken from Arnaud Massy's 1911 book "Le Golf" - "It was in 1894 that the golf course was created by a group of English visitors, forming a committee which rented from Count David-Beauregard a vast piece of land called Pré-Durandel. In 1906 the club passed into the hands of a sole owner who brought some fortunate modifications to the course. At the beginning the course had only 9-holes because of the cramped size of the land but it now has 18-holes. In addition, the course was revised in order to avoid the old cross-overs, many of which were really dangerous. The links are situated in a valley, protected by wooded hills from winds from the north, east and west. The two longest holes are of 450 and 500 metres and each hole has its well-recognisable appearance. W Freemantle is the professional at Hyères and has been there for several years.
The links are 5 minutes from the Hyéres Hotel and about 10 minutes from the town itself. Cars also provide a service between the golf course and the town.
The Committee comprises; Hon. President, the Préfet of Var; Honorary Members - the Mayor of Hyéres, Colonel Chenagon. Lieutenant-Colonel Cortial, Dr Vidal, M Paget (notaire); President, Count David-Beauregard; Vice-President, Pierre Deschamps (Paris); Captain, P L Waterlow; Committee - Colonel Downie, Colonel Langdon, H A E Scott, Dr R Stanley Taylor, H W Vardon, F B Watson."
Competition results from Christmas 1911; Ladies' bogey; Mrs H Stevenson (5) 4 down; Mrs W S Brow (9) and Miss N M Croft (10) 6 down; Hyères Challenge Cup; J Elston, 88-18-70; J H Wolton, 90-18-72; A T Drysdale, 82-9-73; A Stables, 93-18-75; D C Wingate, 84-8-76; G Gwynn, 94-18-76; S G Fildes, 81-4-77; J Verity Watson, 80-1-79; P L Waterlow, 89-10-79; W S Brown, 84-4-80; A W Darley, 99-18-81.
After WW1 the course was again redesigned with bunkers being added. Bernard Darwin, who played the course in the 1920s, considered the ninth hole as one of the most difficult two shot holes in the world.
Article on the Hyères course in March 1924.
The Bystander Wednesday 19 March 1924. Images © Illustrated London News Group.
Course layout 1930.
Entry from the 1933 Golfer's Handbook; Hyères Golf Club; Membership 200; Secretary, Com. M T B Fowler, R.N. (retired); Professional W Armour; Green-keeper, W H Hockey; Amateur course record - Capt. C D Smyth, 74; 18-holes; Station, Hyères (two and half miles); Entrance fee (permanent members) 1,250 francs; Visitors - Gents, 50 francs per day, 200 francs per week, 475 francs per month, 850 francs per season; Ladies - 50 francs, 175 francs, 450 francs, 750 francs respectively; Sunday play with caddies.
Entry from the 1937 Golfer's Handbook; Hyères Golf Club; Membership 200; Professional, J Severan; Course records; Amateur - Capt. F Francis, 73; Professional - P Alliss and R Golias, 68; 18-holes, SSS, 72; Station, Hyères (two and half miles); Entrance fee (permanent member), 300 francs; Visitors - Gents, 40 francs per day, 175 francs per week, 375 francs per month, 700 francs per season; Ladies - 50 francs, 150 francs, 350 francs, 600 francs respectively; Sunday play with caddies.
Hyères-les-Palmiers – Le Golf-Hotel card posted in the 1920s. John Llewellyn Collection.
A view from the course showing the Hotel and golf clubhouse.
The Les Palmiers club was the only one on the Riviera were golf was played all year round, all other courses closed during the summer season.
The Google Map below shows the location of the first course at Mauvanne.