Golf in the Sologne: three courses within 50 min of Romorantin

Romorantin-Lanthenay has no course in town, but three lie around it, 33, 36 and 47 min away by car. Two 18-hole courses and one 9-hole, in three different directions: enough for a course a day over a long weekend.

Which courses can you play from Romorantin?

Three, all less than 50 min from the cottage. Cheverny is the nearest, Nançay the furthest.

• Golf du Château de Cheverny: 18 holes, 33 min away (30 km), to the north-west.
• Golf de la Picardière, in Vierzon: 18 holes, par 72, 5,879 m, 36 min away (41 km), to the south-east.
• Golf des Étoiles, in Nançay: 9 holes, 47 min away (43 km), to the east.

Green fees vary with the season and the day of the week: check each club's website, and book your tee time ahead, especially at weekends. French courses give distances in metres, not yards. To round off the day, Sologne Tourisme suggests visits and outings near the courses.

What is Golf du Château de Cheverny like?

It is the nearest course and the easiest to combine with sightseeing. Golf du Château de Cheverny is an 18-hole course designed by architect Olivier Van Der Vynckt around the Rousselière lake, on the historic lands of the château.

The setting is typical Sologne: woodland, open ground and water. The club has its own restaurant, La Rousselière, for lunch on site. The Château de Cheverny is a few minutes from the course (31 min from the cottage, 29 km), so non-golfers can visit while the others play. More ideas are in our guide to the Loire châteaux from Romorantin.

What about Golf de la Picardière?

A full-length 18 holes on the edge of the Sologne. Golf de la Picardière, in Vierzon, is a par 72 of 5,879 m laid out among small ponds.

We give more figures for this course simply because they are the only ones we could confirm. The club has a driving range and a restaurant.

Is Golf des Étoiles suitable for beginners?

Yes. Golf des Étoiles, in Nançay, is a 9-hole course the club describes as open to players of all levels and ages. The course is open all year.

The club calls itself « le golf par nature »: a layout deep in the Sologne where you play among local wildlife and plants. Nine holes fit into half a day, which makes it a good choice for the morning you leave or for someone getting back into the game. The clubhouse and restaurant do not open every day, so check the official website first.

How do you plan a golf trip for 4 or 6 friends?

Play one course a day and come back to the house for dinner. Over 3 nights, the plan runs without rushing:

• Day 1: arrive from 5 pm, settle in, barbecue on the terrace.
• Day 2: 18 holes at Cheverny (33 min), lunch at the club, château visit for the non-players.
• Day 3: 18 holes at la Picardière (36 min), back by late afternoon.
• Day 4: check out before 10 am, then 9 holes at Nançay (47 min) on the way home.

Four of you make a full fourball and fit in one car with the bags if the boot is big; with six, take two cars and book two consecutive tee times. To find out where to keep bags and trolleys in the house, ask us.

Why stay in Romorantin for a golf break in the Sologne?

Because the town sits in the middle of the triangle formed by the three courses: Cheverny to the north-west, Vierzon to the south-east, Nançay to the east. From Romorantin, no course is more than 47 min away, and you keep the same base between rounds.

The house sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms (2 double beds, 2 singles), with one bathroom: worth planning in the morning if everyone has the same tee time. Private parking means no unloading bags in the street. In the evening, the terrace with its barbecue, the fireplace and the table football stand in for the 19th hole. Allow €130 a night for 4 guests, taxes and fees included, for the whole house: see rates and availability.