Saint-Tropez has been seducing artists, aristocrats, and the international jet set since the 1960s, but beyond the yacht-lined Old Port and Pampelonne’s beach clubs lies a quieter, equally seductive pleasure: golf framed by umbrella pines, cork oaks, and views across the Mediterranean. A golf trip here isn’t about ticking off championship layouts in isolation; it’s about weaving a round of golf into days built around sunshine, market mornings, and long lunches on a terrace overlooking the bay. Here’s how to plan a golf escape to this corner of the Côte d’Azur, and what makes it worth the detour from the beach towel.
Golf Club Saint-Tropez: A Gary Player Design with the Best View on the Riviera
Tucked into the hills above Gassin, just minutes from the Port of Saint-Tropez and the beaches of Pampelonne, Golf Club Saint-Tropez is a prestigious real estate golf development offering a private club of privileged members a high level of service. The course itself was shaped by Gary Player, and he sculpted a layout that fully challenges golfers of all abilities, with significant elevation changes giving rise to many elevated tees and greens. Two holes stand out for very different reasons: the plunging par-3 17th and the dramatic, for some drivable, downhill par-4 18th rank among the most memorable holes on the course, while the short, tight par-4 13th offers a stunning view out across the Bay of Saint-Tropez.
This is a private club, so visiting golfers need to plan ahead. It’s a private club that offers a limited number of tee times for outside visitors and requires advance booking, with a maximum handicap of 28 for men and 36 for women, plus proof of handicap. A small, exclusive development of luxury homes sits near the impressive Provençal-style clubhouse, and the club also offers stay-and-play packages with luxury on-site accommodation for those who want to wake up within walking distance of the first tee.
Beauvallon: A Centenary Course with Sea Views Over the Whole Gulf
For golfers based around Grimaud or Sainte-Maxime, Golf Club de Beauvallon is the local institution. Built in 1923 and designed by architect Stuart Hallett, the par-69 course measures 5,229 yards, and it sits between Saint-Tropez and Sainte-Maxime with a southern exposure facing the sea, enjoying unique views over Saint-Tropez, Gassin, and Port-Grimaud, all set within cork oak, mimosa, and umbrella pine. The 18-hole course stretches over 40 hectares and is nestled between the sea and the hills, with magnificent panoramic views over the whole Gulf of Saint-Tropez.
2026 happens to be a landmark year here. To mark its centenary, Golf de Beauvallon has launched a new 2026 membership designed to offer members greater flexibility, comfort, and exclusive benefits, including privileged access to the entire course, extended playing hours, preferential guest rates, and priority registration for competitions and centenary events. Reviews note the course is genuinely scenic and well maintained, though a handful of holes are fenced in ways some visitors find unusual, so it’s worth playing the full 18 rather than the front nine alone, since the layout’s best views come later in the round.
Day-Trip Worthy: Royal Mougins and the Estérel Coastline
If you’re happy to range a little further afield for a change of scenery, two courses near Cannes reward the drive. Royal Mougins Golf Club, founded in 1993 and designed by the late American architect Robert von Hagge, is a par-71, 18-hole course extending 6,004 metres through a lush, wooded vale, located just a 10-minute drive from Cannes within the Royal Mougins Resort & Hotel, complete with a golf academy and a well-regarded pro shop.
Closer to the coast, Cannes Mougins Golf Country Club sits within the Valmasque National Park, an 18-hole course with a history dating back to the 1920s that has hosted prestigious events, including the Cannes Open. Meanwhile, the broader region pairs fairways framed by maquis scrub and umbrella pines with elevated greens designed to catch the sea breeze, and views that stretch across the Gulf of Saint-Tropez toward the Massif des Maures or over terraced vineyards — the kind of scenery that makes even a modest scorecard feel like a win.
Terre Blanche: The Five-Star Golf Resort Worth the Drive from Saint-Tropez
For golfers who want their entire stay built around the game, Terre Blanche Hôtel Spa Golf Resort in Tourrettes is the region’s marquee address, roughly 80 minutes from Saint-Tropez itself. Set on 750 acres in the heart of Provence, the five-star resort combines posh suites and private villas, four restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Le Faventia, an infinity pool, a two-story luxury spa, competition-level tennis courts, two 18-hole championship golf courses, and a state-of-the-art golf academy.
The property has a serious pedigree: it was formerly run by Four Seasons and was once owned by Sean Connery, who began the initial work of plotting the golf links, before the resort became independent in 2012 and joined The Leading Hotels of the World as a European Tour Destination, a designation reserved for the continent’s finest golf resorts. For years, it has ranked among the top three golf resorts in Continental Europe in Golf World’s (UK) Top 100 Golf Resorts. Families are well catered for too, with a well-run kids’ club for ages two to twelve, located near the tennis courts and driving range, with its own heated pool and a healthy buffet at lunch.
A New Address on the Water: COMO Le Beauvallon
Golf travellers wanting a beach-club finish to their day should keep an eye on COMO Le Beauvallon, opening on the Gulf of Saint-Tropez in April 2026. The seaside Beauvallon Sur Mer beach club, designed by French interior designer Dorothée Delaye, debuts alongside the hotel’s opening, with its culinary direction led by Yannick Alléno, the most decorated chef in the Michelin Guide. The exclusive beachfront retreat features a stylish poolside and sandy area with sunbeds and a seasonal menu — an ideal way to unwind after a morning on the Beauvallon fairways just up the hill.
Planning Your Trip: Practical Notes
Saint-Tropez golf is best approached as part of a broader Côte d’Azur loop rather than a single-course pilgrimage. The area is accessible to NiceCôte d’Azur airport within 45 minutes, while Terre Blanche is about 80 minutes from Saint-Tropez and 35 minutes from Cannes, making it realistic to base yourself near the coast and play inland courses on alternating days. The region’s appeal stretches beyond yardages and scorecards, with days shaped as much by sunshine, local markets, and long, late lunches on a terrace as by the golf itself — and that, more than any single course, is the real reason a Saint-Tropez golf vacation stands apart.
