ANear a first edition welcomed both by the players and by the public, the Lacanau Alps open returns from May 19 to 24 on the course of the Domaine de l’Ardilouse. This male professional competition of 3e European division, the only step in new Aquitaine, completes a schedule of sporting events already well expanded on the Girondin station.
Last year, there were 144 players, from 17 countries, to start on the Fairways of the Canais Golf Golf, nestled in the state forest. “It was a first for Lacanau, and yet, many had the impression that we had organized this kind of event for a long time,” said Alexis Marchive, director of the site managed by Ugolf. The company had put the package for this first edition to be a success: from the perfectly held route despite a rainy weather, to the personalized reception of players, via a well -oiled logistics with the support of public and private partners, and other staff from the Ugolf house, who came to reinforce its specialized gardeners.
The first winner, a Landais
The Lacanau Alps Open is much more than a simple tournament. He brought the 18 -hole 18 -hole golf course into a European professional circuit with 16 stages. “This is the image of the station that emerges from it,” emphasizes Alexis Marchive. We have had positive feedback even in other regions. The impact is also economical. For a week, accommodation, restaurants and local businesses benefited from the presence of 144 players, plus supervision, followers and organizers. On the golf side, the event is a springboard to the second European division. The level is noted, the players of the rising generation (aged 18 to 30) come to seek points to access the very high level. In 2024, it was the Landais Antoine Aubouin who had won with a -16 score on three laps. At the end of the season, the first five in the ranking rose in 2e European Division (the Planner Tour hotel).
J. L.
The route of the Ardilouse, drawn in 1980 by the English architect John Harris, is known for his requirement. Narrow, winding, surrounded by pines, it requires precision and strategy. “We are on ” Target Golf ”: we have to place the ball. If you play too loud and too long, you find yourself in the woods, ”explains the director of the Ardilouse. For this second edition, the route was slightly modified to satisfy the standards of the circuit, with departures extended to holes 8 and 17. Greens, small and rolling, still promise show.
An opening to the general public
In addition to the competition, the programming is expanding this year. A day dedicated to businesses is scheduled for Tuesday with two conferences: one on corporate social responsibility (CSR), led by Ecocert, and the other on performance, provided by the former Olympic swimmer Fabien Gilot. In the afternoon, Canais college students will come to discover the golf alongside professionals. An evening-concert open to the public will take place on Friday evening, with food trucks and entertainment on the site. On Sunday, the tournament will give way to a large amateur competition, bringing together local volunteers and golfers.
Archives J. T.
Despite a large budget – between 120,000 and 130,000 euros – and a tense economic context, the organizers have managed to maintain a solid base of partners, mixing local businesses and golf players. The visibility offered by the event, in particular via a broadcast on Golf +, has already made it possible to attract new players to the course. With nearly 50,000 annual passages, the Ardilouse golf course, which has around 750 subscribers, confirms its attractiveness. Classified among the five best courses in New Aquitaine by “Fairways Magazine”, he hopes to capitalize on this competition and register for a long time in the landscape of professional golf. Finally, on the side of Ugolf, the ambition would be to evolve towards a professional competition making it possible to also welcome women’s players.
Lacanau Alps Open. From May 19 to 24 on the Ardilouse golf course.
