Golf Etretat

Golf Etretat sits on the Normandy coast near the famous white chalk cliffs that have drawn painters and travelers to this seaside town for centuries. The course was originally designed by Arnaud Massy, the French professional who won the 1907 Open Championship at Hoylake and remains the only Frenchman to claim that title. Massy's work in course architecture extended across France in the early twentieth century, and Etretat represents one of his coastal designs. The layout has been modified over the decades, with more recent work by Didier Fruchet and Julien Chantepie updating and refining the routing. The course occupies clifftop terrain above the English Channel, where the rolling topography and coastal winds shape the playing conditions. Holes move through a landscape of fairways bordered by rough grasses and gorse, with views extending over the water and the distinctive rock formations that define this stretch of coastline. The setting provides natural drama without requiring artificial embellishment—the chalk cliffs of Etretat, including the famous arches and needle formations, form a backdrop that connects the golf to the region's geological character. Etretat serves both local members and visiting golfers drawn to the Normandy coast. The club maintains a regional profile rather than international tournament status, offering a seaside round in a historically and scenically significant location. The combination of Massy's architectural legacy and the coastal Normandy setting gives the course its particular identity within French golf.