With less than four weeks to go until the Challenge Tour's inaugural Hopps Open de Provence, officials at the host venue, Golf International Pont Royal, are confident the venue will allow the Tour to live up to its name.
The Hopps Open de Provence takes place from September 20-23 - just a little more than a week before the Ryder Cup, in Paris - and the pros are running out of events to secure the necessary points to claim a top-15 place in the Road to Ras Al Khaimah to guarantee full playing rights to the 2019 European Tour international schedule
Officials at Pont Royal are also under pressure as they look to ensure the Severiano Ballesteros-designed course - France's only Ballesteros design - will provide as tough a challenge as any on the Tour this season.
A club spokesman said: "The greens-staff are working overtime to ensure the course does not suffer in the heat we've been experiencing. But they're not just watering heavily, they're also fine tuning the course to provide a good test for the pros and to ensure a good spectacle for those who come along to watch."
The ‘fine tuning' includes ensuring the first cut of rough, and then the rough itself, is of a consistent length and also refilling all bunkers on the course with a striking yellow sand. In addition, a new bunker has been constructed on the eighth fairway to catch out attempts to pre-empt the dog-leg.
What's more the intention is for the greens to be running at a lightning-quick 13-14 on the stimpmeter by the time the tournament tees off - the same sort of speed as the greens at Augusta National, when the Masters hits town.
More than 100 volunteers from golf clubs across Provence will take on marshalling duties for the duration of the event, as the anticipation for the visit of the Challenge Tour grows.
The spokesman added: "It's been some time since Provence hosted a professional golf event of this standing, so people are increasingly excited about it. And, as we're heading towards the end of the Road to Ras Al Khaimah we're hopeful there might be one or two well-known names in the field, as well."
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.
Entry to the Hopps Open de Provence is free for spectators. Visit www.golf-pontroyal.com for further details.
ENDS
About Golf International Pont Royal
The 18-hole course 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.
High-resolution imagery of Pont Royal can be downloaded from here.