Terre Blanche (Le Riou)

Overview: Le Riou is the more technical of Terre Blanche’s two 18-hole courses, climbing through the hills above the Pays de Fayence in Provence. Designed by Dave Thomas, it measures about 6,005 metres and uses rolling fairways, winding contours, and subtly shaped greens to demand precision rather than brute force. The course looks across wooded valleys and hilltop villages, while the changing lies make distance control and thoughtful club selection important throughout the round. Its parkland setting is peaceful, but the golf is exacting.

History: Le Riou was created as part of the Terre Blanche resort’s two-course development in 2004, with Dave Thomas responsible for both Le Riou and Le Château. The pair were built into the natural valleys, lakes, woodland, and slopes of the 301-hectare property rather than imposed as identical resort layouts. Le Riou’s identity has remained that of a private, strategic course, distinct from the more visitor-oriented Château course and reserved for the club community and resort guests.

Did You Know? Le Riou hosts the Terre Blanche Ladies Open, a tournament on the LETAS calendar. That event places the course’s demanding greens and sloping fairways in a professional competition setting, while the surrounding Provençal villages provide a visual backdrop that is as recognisable as any feature of the layout. The course’s 6,005-metre length does not tell the whole story, because the changing lies make many holes play with added complexity.