Tee followed by Michelin Starred tea in Alsace

Alsace is renowned for its food (it has more Michelin starred restaurants than any other region of France), wine, stunning landscapes and welcoming people but there is one thing that the Alsatians would have rather kept to themselves - golf! As well as having the second best and the third most difficult golfing destinations in France, Alsace has a variety of attractive, uncrowded and value for money courses ready to welcome golfers of all standards from the UK.

The 18-hole, championship standard, par 72 Kempferhof course (Golf-kempferhof.com) is situated in Plobsheim, 15 km from Strasbourg and was designed by the famous course architect Robert Von Hagge. Set in over 200 acres it is listed amongst the thirty most outstanding courses of continental Europe and the Peugeot Golf Guide ranks it as the second best in France. Adjoining the course is the 29 room Kempferhof Hotel, located in a 17th Century stately home. The accommodation includes five suites, each one being dedicated to a famous movie star.

The Ammerschwihr Trois-Epis course (Golf-ammerschwihr.com) is only 10 km from Colmar and is situated in a beautiful setting, surrounded by vineyards and forests. The undulating 18-hole par 72 course is 5,386 yards in length and offers a range of different challenges. There is also a 9-hole compact course plus driving range and a Pro Shop and restaurant. The four-star Domaine du Golf Ammerschwihr Trois Epis hotel is next to the course.

The 6,650 yard par 72 course at Bitche (Golf-bitche.com) in the north of Alsace was designed by Fromanger and Adam. Set amongst beautiful woodland, the hilly terrain provides wonderful views and a significant golfing challenge. The nearby Relais de Châteaux Forts hotel provides comfortable rooms and delicious locally sourced cuisine.

The Golf de Rouffach course (Alsacegolfclub.com) has a links feel and beautiful panoramic views of the Vosges Mountains and the stunning Alsatian wine route. The par 72 18-hole course has a practice area with three practice holes and a driving range and the clubhouse is set in a historic water mill complex.

A favourite family orientated course is Golf des Bouleaux (Golf-bouleaux.asso.fr) at Wittelsheim close to Mulhouse. The par 72, 18-hole course has an academy which runs lessons for both adults and children. It was built in 1984 and claims to be the cheapest golf course in Alsace! The course has over 90 acres of breathtaking countryside and a delicious restaurant offering a wide variety of dishes and Alsatian specialities.

Another course just 30 km from Mulhouse is the Golf de la Largue (Golf-lalargue.com) which was built in 1988. It has an 18-hole par 72 course and a 9-hole practice course, plus a driving range and restaurant. Le Petit Cohlberg hotel is a short drive from the course.

Golf de la Wantzenau (Golf-wantzenau.fr) close to Strasbourg, is an 18-hole course which offers free lessons on Sundays and has a specially designed training school for under 18’s. The course has a clubhouse with a restaurant and bar plus a pro shop selling all the necessary gear. For beginners there is a compact four hole course and synthetic and grass practice areas.

Golfers who like a challenge should head for the Golf de Soufflenheim course (Golfclub-soufflenheim.com) designed by Bernhard Langer. The course, within easy reach of Karlsruhe, Strasbourg and Baden-Baden, has 18 lakes and is set in 270 acres of peaceful, undulating countryside. However bring extra balls as Soufflenheim has the reputation of being the third most difficult course in France! The course hotel has 15 rooms and there is a club house restaurant and bar. Golf coaching is available for children aged 8-18.

For more information on golfing in Alsace visit Golfsinalsace.com or to discover all that the region of Alsace has to offer visit Tourism-alsace.com.

Tour operator French Golf Holidays (Yourgolfholidays.com) offers golfing breaks to the courses at Kempferhof, Bitche, Soufflenheim and Wantenau.

On June 10th the TGV East high speed train line officially opened, reducing rail journey times from London to Strasbourg, Colmar and Mulhouse by almost half. It used to take 8 hours to get to Alsace by train but, by using the TGV East, a journey from London to Strasbourg takes only four hours and twenty minutes (Tgvesteuropeen.com).