European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 12, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The sporting life a View of the 11th Hole at Sainte Maxime Golf course with the Village of Sainte Maxime and the Bay of Saint trope in the background. Links a la Francaise 1 & a True golfer s Paradise lurks in the Cote d Azur Bymark Kinkade staff writer there Are monsters in the tall grass and Sand in Sainte Maxime France the kind that eat Golf balls and probably a few golfers As Well. The monsters Are the tight fairways bordered by enormous chasms Rocky stretches of dirt and iraqi Sand pit like hazards that suck in errant Golf balls and golfers. And it s one of the Tamer Golf courses in the area. These Aren t courses for the Guy who Hacks around the holes said Mark Wallace who manages the course. You must be patient to play these courses or you la find yourself in one of the drop offs looking for your  while Scotland has the title As the Birthplace of the game and England attracts thousands of link sters every year to play the game a group of golfers and businessmen in the South of France is conspiring to make the coast the newest Haven for golfers in Europe. We have some of the most challenging and difficult courses in the world Here said Golf promoter Bill Lomas. But they Are fun courses and the Beauty can t be  with 14 courses scattered in the Hills Between Cannes and Saint Tropez the Var Region of France is on its Way to becoming a major Golf Mecca Lomas said. Along with former Golf pro Wallace Lomas is trying to bring More golfers to Southern France. This area is an undiscovered Golf Paradise Lomas said a lot of people know about the courses near Monaco and in Northern France but these courses Are some of the Best i be seen in All my years in  Lomas talked about the Golf courses while driving through the Sainte Maxime course. The course is Laid out on Hills overlooking the beaches of the Mediterranean. The first nine holes of the Hilly course drop Down through a deep Valley then climb Back to the huge clubhouse and hotel. The Back nine continues climbing through the Hills up to a magnificent Vista above the Valley then Back to the clubhouse. It is almost a desert course with heavy Brush Bony Trees and sparse patches of Cactus. But the fairways Are Green and carpet thick and the greens Are Marble smooth. Most of the holes Are either dropping holes where the tee shot is elevated High above the Fairway or rising holes where golfers tee off into the Side of a Hill and Hope of Rise above it. Sainte Maxime is a Good example of most of the Var courses Lomas said. All of the courses Are designed for tactical golfers not Long hitters. The people who come out and look at the Hole and say i can hit it in 1 or 2 Are usually the ones who lose their Ball he said. The courses  through the Hills. High i cages form boundaries for Many fairways. At one Hole at Sainte Maxime the entire Fairway is a Pond. The Only Safe Landing area is the Green. There Are courses for every level of player in the Var Wallace said but most Are aimed at players who Are willing to play a cautious game. The Valiros Golf course near Saint Tropez for example requires a High degree of technical skill with Irons to place the Ball in the extremely narrow fairways. Long Drivers and bruisers who like to rocket the Ball toward the Green will usually find themselves in water deep rough or Down a deep chasm bordering the Fairway. Most of the courses in the Var Are new Lomas said. The Sainte Maxime course for example opened in 1991. Because they Are new and Golf in t the passion in France like it is in the United states or the United kingdom the courses Are in outstanding condition and Long Waits Are almost nonexistent. In most cases a person can play alone if he or she wants Wallace said. You can t say that in Germany. They la team you up because so Many people Are waiting to play the  Golf in France is a growing Industry but still not As popular As it is in other european countries Wallace said. I can t understand Why Wallace said. It s a natural for France. It s a slow paced game quiet and relaxing. Continued on Page 14 August 12, 1993 stripes Magazine 13