Imagine combining your love of golf with a leisurely cruise aboard Renaissance, a fully-crewed luxury hotel barge, drifting along tranquil waterways past some of the most beautiful scenery in the Upper Loire valley in France.

Your floating hotel is furnished with every modern comfort. The finest gourmet cuisine is prepared by your on-board master chef, complemented by a wide array of fine regional wines and an open bar, and of course, the experienced and knowledgeable crew are there to attend to your slightest need.

The Renaissance is pleased to offer our suggested golf charter itinerary below. Each of the golf courses has been chosen for its location (traveling time from the barge has been kept to the shortest possible) as well as the quality of the course itself.

All of the courses have been played by previous guests who reported favorably on their quality, variety and condition. Each season the courses are visited again before the start of the cruise season to ensure they still meet the expected standards and to check any specific arrangements.

Non-golfing partners of golfing guests need not worry about having nothing to do as we have researched specific additional excursions and visits which are completely compatible with a golf charter.

Each day we will organize tee-times for either the morning or afternoon leaving us free to cruise for the other half of the day. Guests will be delivered to and collected from each course by private mini-bus with a member of our crew to help them through the registration process at each course and ensure a trouble-free start to their game.

The courses have been selected to provide a suitable challenge for experienced golfers. Some courses have facilities for less experienced players and we will happily enquire about course suitability for specific groups. Handicap certificates are not usually required to play in France although it is a good idea to carry them if possible.

Rented equipment is not at all reliable in France and often unavailable or very limited so we strongly advise guests to bring their own clubs. There is room onboard Renaissance and we can easily carry them in the mini-bus.


Below is a sample golf itinerary that includes recommended golf courses. We include alternative, non-golfing visits that are available close to the courses each day.

Sunday, Day 1: Paris to Montargis
Guests are met at the meeting hotel in Paris at 1.30 pm and transferred to the spacious Renaissance where a Champagne Welcome awaits you.  We enjoy an evening cruise through Little Venice, past flower-bedecked bridges and medieval watercourses joining France’s oldest canal, the Briare. Dinner aboard.

Monday, Day 2: Montargis to Montbouy
This morning we drive to Chateau Cely Golf Club. Situated very close to our first overnight mooring, this recently refurbished course is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the foremost courses in the Parisian region. Set in the grounds of a former private Chateau, the course has received great reviews from former Renaissance guests. Our mooring tonight is in the town Montbouy. Afternoon cruise through the Loiret countryside with towpath cycling. Dinner aboard. (18 holes, par 72, 6000m)

Tuesday, Day 3: Montbouy to Rogny les-Sept-Ecluses
After breakfast we drive to Les Bordes Golf Club, rated amongst the top 5 championship courses in France, the picturesque course offers a strong challenge to even the most experienced player. The evergreen fairways feature densely wooded boundaries and large natural water features.  Afternoon gentle cruise to historic Rogny and its 350 year old floodlit 7 lock-flight. Dinner ashore at Auberge des Templiers in Les Bezards. (18 holes, par 72, 6256m)

Wednesday, Day 4: Rogny les-Sept-Ecluses to Ouzouer-Trezee
After a leisurely breakfast of fresh croissants, baguettes and assorted pastries we visit Chateau de la Bussiere. This moat-encircled 18th century family owned chateau has a freshwater fishing museum full of antique rods, reels and fishing memorabilia, working gardens and interesting brick architecture. Originally built in the 11th century it was extensively modernised 600 years later and represents an interesting glimpse of Chateau lifestyle. In the afternoon we climb the locks to reach the summit of the canal and arrive in Ouzouer-Trezee Dinner aboard.

Thursday, Day 5: Ouzouer-Trezee to Briare
Morning cruise to Briare and Gustave Eiffel's magical aqueduct across the River Loire with walking and biking for those that wish to do so. We preview Friday's crossing of this amazing 10,000 ton, 662 metre Pont Canal which was completed in September 1896. After lunch we drive for 30 minutes for golf at Roncemay Golf & Country Club. This international standard course, designed by Jean GARAIALDE in 1991 has hosted many of France's famous competitions. Overlooked by the Chateau in whose grounds the course has been developed, the length and technical nature of the course offer a challenge to even the most advanced player. Dinner aboard (18 holes, par 72, 6401m)

Friday, Day 6: Briare to Chatillon-sur-Loire
Morning wander around fruit and vegetable, seafood, cheese and French fashion stalls in the market in Briare. After lunch, we drive to Golf du Sanserrois. Located on the banks of the river Loire with Sancerre hills in the background, this course, in the midst of century-old trees, ornamented by natural water hazards is considered as one of the most attractive golf courses in the centre of France. The quality of the greens, the friendly atmosphere and the famous Sancerre vineyard around it: everything invites you to discover this splendid course. Evening cruise across the River Loire on Eiffel's aqueduct and Captain's Farewell Dinner aboard. (18 hole, par 71, 5820m)

Saturday, Day 7: Chatillon-sur-Loire to Paris
After breakfast we return you to the meeting point in Paris.

NOTE: Since we cruise in the opposite direction on alternate weeks, the golf charter schedule will be reversed on those weeks.