Sultans of Swing rock up for golfing fun at Pont Royal

Sultans of Swing rock up for golfing fun at Pont Royal

12 June 2018

Three members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame were Brothers in Arms at Golf International Pont Royal recently as Goodwood GC competed in a friendly annual contest against the host club in Provence.

Dire Straits’ keyboardist Guy Fletcher, and John Illsley, who was a co-founder and bass player of the legendary band, were joined by world-renowned record producer and former Pont Royal member Glyn Johns, author of the best-selling Sound Man – a memoir of his time working with some of the world’s top artists, including the Eagles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, Eric Clapton, Johnny Cash, Led Zeppelin, the Clash, and the Beatles.

But the trio failed to hit the right notes on the day as bragging rights went to the team from Pont Royal and Goodwood were forced to return home with the rather-less-than highly prized Golden Boot … at least until the return match in West Sussex in October.

The Golden Boot contest between Pont Royal and Goodwood – a venue world-renowned for its Festival of Speed, racecourse and now as the location for the Rolls-Royce headquarters – was inaugurated by Johns and his friend and former club-mate in France David Payne, now Pont Royal’s vice-president.

The teams play annually, at Pont Royal in the spring and at Goodwood in October, with the loser forced to take possession of the old, battered boot in-between times.

Payne said: “It’s always a pleasure to welcome Glyn – who captains the visitors – and the rest of the team to Pont Royal. And, this year, we aging rockers were determined to get a picture of the three hall-of-famers with the golden boot, particularly as we won’t get to see it again until at least October.

“I suppose you could say on this occasion they paid their money for nothing … but their drinks were free,” he smiled.
Many holes at Pont Royal are blessed with a plateau setting, offering stunning views to the Luberon and Alpilles mountain ranges. Technical shaping of shots is required to reach the true, slick greens, and visitors enjoy an interesting, wide variety of holes that form a smooth and seamless experience. It contains some tough holes – none more so than the 11th, where players face a 215-yard test across a steep rocky valley to a raised green.

Accommodation at the resort is offered in the four-star, 102-room Moulin de Vernègues, part of the Châteaux & Hôtels Collection, or in apartments, villas and houses within the pedestrianised Pierre & Vacances village.

ENDS

About Golf International Pont Royal
The 18-hole corse at Pont Royal is the only Seve Ballesteros-designed course in France.

The club’s 37-acre Durance Training Centre – the only one of its kind in the region – is just five minutes from the course and comprises a two-storey driving range, large putting green, a short-game practice area, and a 1,039-yard, six-hole course, featuring five par-three holes and one par-four. It also features a David Leadbetter Academy.

The golf club at Pont Royal is located within the domaine of the same name, which also includes a pretty Provencal-style village, wooded areas, lakes, pools, bars, restaurants, and a tourist information office.

Accommodation is offered in the four-star, 102-room Moulin de Vernègues, part of the Châteaux & Hôtels Collection, or in apartments, villas and houses within the pedestrianised Pierre & Vacances village.

Pont Royal is ideally situated in the Commune of Mallemort, between Aix and Avignon, 30 minutes from the TGV stations and the Marseille-Provence and Avignon-Caumont airports, 90 minutes from Montpellier-Méditerranée Airport and a little more than two hours from Nice Airport.

The region is well served for accommodation with excellent, competitively priced hotels and gîtes, while there are six Michelin-starred restaurants within 45 minutes of Pont Royal, and a wide selection of other eateries offering a wonderful variety of regional cuisine, from the Luberon down to the Mediterranean.

Wine is an everyday part of live in Provence and there is a wide variety from which to choose, with Provence Rose and rich red wines from the Southern Rhone, such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, all easily accessible.

The region is steeped in history and culture – as well as sunshine. Provence was the first Roman provincia beyond the Alps; 600 years later it was under Spanish rule and was not willed to the king of France until the 16th century – all influenced the region in ways which may still be seen today.

Provence is renowned for its association with some of the world’s greatest artists: Paul Cézanne – arguably the most famous resident of Aix en Provence, and who has his own ‘trail’; Vincent Van Gogh, who moved from Paris to Arles in an effort to cure his manic depression (indeed, it was in this very city that he cut off his ear after fighting with fellow artist Paul Gaughin); Pablo Picasso, a fan of Cézanne, moved to Provence and purchased a 17th-century castle in Vauvenargues; and Henri Matisse resided in Nice for nearly 40 years.

From the world-renowned white horses to the stunning flamingos and impressive back bulls, the Camargue – one of Europe’s most cherished wetlands – is a breathtaking reminder of Provence’s natural heritage.

The attached picture shows Guy Fletcher, left, John Illsley, centre, and Glyn Johns posing with the golden boot at Pont Royal’s Seve Ballesteros memorial.

High-resolution imagery of Pont Royal can be downloaded from here.


Contact:

Dave Bowers – Editorial Manager

Golf International Pont Royal c/o The Azalea Group

Tel: +44 1730 711 920

Email: dave@theazaleagroup.com

Website: www.golf-pontroyal.com

Fonte: IAGTO