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Chantaco in St-Jean-de-Luz hosted the Lacoste Ladies Open de France from October 4-7. This historic club with a unique sporting heritage, is set in the heart of the Basque country, at the foothills of the Pyrennees.
On November 1, 1928 the Golf de Chantaco was inaugurated with more than 300 spectators following a great match: Arnaud Massy, the club’s first professional and the only French major winner, Jean Gassiat, Aubrey and Percy Boomer. Chantaco was the realization of a man’s vision: René Thion de la Chaume. He discovered Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the Golf de la Nivelle in 1922, and soon after purchased nearby land. The great golf course architect Harry Colt designed the layout for the 18 holes. The Clubhouse was designed by Jean Walter and construction was supervised by Emile Picot.
Many celebrities soon came to Chantaco such as the Prince of Wales, Charlie Chaplin, the Prince of Bourbon, Jeacques Thibaud. Mrs Simone Thion de la Chaume, British Ladies champion in 1927 and French champion on 13 occasions, took over the club’s presidency from her father in 1930. Her husband, the tennis champion René Lacoste, enabled the course management team to avoid mandatory work deportation during the war by having over 40,000 additional trees planted.
Catherine Lacoste became President in 1974 and, assisted by her brother François Lacoste who also used to be a scratch golfer, preserved her parent’s legacy until 2009 when her niece Camille Lacoste became the club’s fourth President.
Chantaco remains today one of the most recognized clubs in France thanks to its support to competitive golf, both through its teams and by hosting championships such as the Lacoste Ladies French Open, to the quality of its course and to its welcoming atmosphere. Available material includes an edited package in streaming quality.
