Opio Valbonne

Opio Valbonne sits in the Bois d'Opio between Cannes, Nice and Grasse, a lovely stretch of rolling countryside where century-old trees frame the holes and a Gallo-Roman aqueduct adds a bit of real Provençal character. If you like parkland golf with proper shape and strategy, this is a cracking shout on the French Riviera.

How it plays

It's not brutally long, but it asks good questions. The tree-lined corridors put a premium on finding fairways, and once you're in position you'll need to pick the right side of the greens to leave yourself a makeable putt. I'd say it suits golfers who enjoy plotting their way round rather than simply hitting driver as often as possible.

The slopes are more influential than they first look, so take a moment on the tees to spot the natural fall of the land and how it'll feed a ball in the fairway. Miss in the right places and you'll keep momentum. Get it wrong and you'll be scrambling. The greens are well protected by strategic bunkering and natural contours, so course management matters more than raw distance.

Opio Valbonne is also part of the Côte d'Azur Golf Pass, a handy option if you're building a multi-course break in the area. Have a word with our team and we'll help you work out whether the pass makes sense for your itinerary.

Who is this for? Golfers who want a scenic, strategic parkland round within easy reach of Cannes and Nice, especially groups mixing mid-handicappers and better players.

Who is it best for? Players who prefer accuracy and course management to all-out power and anyone planning a multi-course Côte d'Azur itinerary using the Golf Pass.