The 2024 tour, otherwise known as 'Justin's year', will be taking place in Jersey and northern France, from 12 to 15 September 2023.

 

We have at least four full days of golf organised, with an option to play an additional round at 11:00 Royal Guernsey Golf Club on the Wednesday for the early birds (currently just a cosy two ball of Andy Martin (this year's tour leader) and Baz McBazballs). With only two par-fives, the rustic links - which dates back to 1890 - is full of quality, quirks and fun. It is located on a peninsula with optimal views across attractive bays on two sides which undoubtedly enhances the overall golfing experience. The war damaged links was reconstructed by Philip Mackenzie Ross in 1949, two years before he went on the resurrect the Ailsa at Turnberry. Mackenzie Ross was also responsible for BJs favourite, Castletown in the Isle of Man (I can see your Gilo...).

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After a short flight from Guernsey to Jersey, Wednesday's golfers will be joined for supper by M. et Mme Beaumont, fresh off the plane from Heathrow, followed by Ricardo and Sam for post-dinner shenanigans. Accommodation on both Wednesday and Thursday night will be at the Beachcombers Hotel, Grouville, Jersey.​

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The customary 'international' match will take place on the Thursday afternoon (first tee time 14:30) at Royal Jersey Golf Club - a short 10 minute walk from the hotel - with a sandwich lunch at the club beforehand. In 1878, F. W. Brewster and several others were given permission by the parish constable to lay out a links on Grouville Common and, within 12 months, Queen Victoria approved the club’s use of the royal prefix. The club is situated on the eastern flank of the island, alongside Grouville Bay. Harry Vardon and Ted Ray started out as caddies at the club, learning the game and playing once a week on a Sunday afternoon. Vardon would eventually claim six Open titles and Ray would win the Open in 1912 and the US Open in 1920. Today’s 18-hole layout begins with a taxing tee shot along the bay on the narrow first fairway, where the opening drive is aimed between the stone walls of Fort Henry on the left and a WWII German gun bunker on the right, positioned above the water’s edge. It’s a uniquely engaging start to a round that will keep golfers captivated all the way until they hole out on the 18th green.

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We will remain at Royal Jersey for dinner on Thursday, enjoying the hospitality that the club is famous for. 

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Friday morning sees an early 7am departure from the hotel in order to catch the ferry from St Helier across the balmy waters of the English Channel to Brittany's historic walled port of Saint-Malo. From the ferry terminal, we will head straight to the French beach town of Dinard, a short 30 minute drive away.

 

The Open Championship will take place at Golf de Dinard (first tee time 13:50). Ranked the 23rd best course in France, it was originally established by a group of British servicemen in the 1880s who had the course laid out by North Berwick professional, Tom Dunn.  It wasn't long before Dinard became one of the most fashionable places to play golf in France, attracting even aristocracy like the Grand Duke of Russia.  More of a clifftop course than true links (think Thurlestone in Devon), Dinard winds around the Brittany coast, offering breath-taking views of La Manche. 

 

​After golf, we return to Saint-Malo. Dinner (plus the weigh-in and auction) will be at the highly-rated Monsieur Madame Brasserie in Saint-Malo. We have been asked to pre-order, so please get your menu choices to Ian asap (check the WhatsApp group chat for the menu; the 'whatever' pudding comes highly recommended by Gilo).

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After a refreshing swim in the tidal pool on Saint-Malo's grande plage on Saturday morning, our mighty 2023 champions, Kerri and Big Bad Baz, will defend the Masters over the traditional links at Golf de Granville (first tee time 13:30). Established in 1912 and now ranked the 19th best golf course in France, Granville was certainly the first (and many say still the only) true links golf course in France. The course was requisitioned by the military during the Great War, before Harry Colt was brought in to carry out remedial work shortly after hostilities had ended. World War II also brought about closure of the course and it took some time for it to recover once enmities had ceased.

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We will return to Saint-Malo after golf before dining at Le Berbère (no pre-ordering required).

 

​Taking advantage of the hour gained by sailing from France back to Jersey, Sunday morning will be a relatively leisurely start, leaving the hotel on foot for the ferry terminal at 10:30. We set sail for Jersey at 12:15 (FR) and arrive in Jersey at 12:35 (UK). We then head by taxi to La Moye Golf Club for a sandwich lunch (and to meet DB!). Roughly half of the tour are catching flights back to England after lunch, with the other half teeing off from 14:00 (and catching later flights). La Moye Golf Club is the highest-ranked golf course in the Channel Islands and the long-time host of many Jersey Opens on the European Tour and more recently on the Seniors Tour.

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The broad tour itinerary is as follows (although a more detailed itinerary with everything you could possible want or need to know about the tour - including handicaps, past weigh-in results and menus - can be found here):

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Wednesday 11 September

• The first tourists to arrive will be Andy and Baz

• Golf at Royal Guernsey Golf Club - tee booked from 11:00

• Short flight to Jersey

• Beaumonts arrive

• Dinner in Grouville, Jersey

• Ricardo and Sam arrive late Wednesday

• Accommodation at The Beachcombers Hotel in Grouville

 

Thursday 12 September

• Gareth and Duckers arrive 08:45 (taxi to hotel), others arrive 13:25 (taxi to golf club)

• 'International' match at Royal Jersey Golf Club - arrive 12:30 for warm-up and lunch, tee booked from 14:30

• Beers and dinner in clubhouse, walk back to hotel afterwards

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Friday 13 September​

• 7am depart from hotel to St Helier ferry terminal (15 minutes, taxis booked)

• Ferry departs 09:10, breakfast at sea

• Arrive Saint-Malo at 11:35 (FR) and meet remaining tourists

• Drive to Golf de Dinard (30 mins)

• Sandwich lunch at Dinard at 12:30

• Open at Dinard - tee booked from 13:50

• Return to Saint-Malo after golf

• Dinner at Monsieur Madame in Saint-Malo at 20:30, followed by weigh-in and auction

 

Saturday 14 September

• 08:00 swim, followed by breakfast

• Depart at 11:00, 90 minute drive to Golf de Granville

• 12:30 sandwich lunch at Granville

• Masters at Granville - tee booked from 13:30

• Return journey to Saint-Malo

• Dinner at Le Berbère at 20:30

 

Sunday 15 September​

• Swim, breakfast & check-out

• Depart hotel at 10:30, short walk to ferry terminal

• 12:15 (FR) ferry from Saint-Malo to St Helier, arriving 12:35 (UK)

• Taxis to La Moye Golf Club for sandwich lunch at 13:00

• Golf at La Moye for those who want - tee booked from 14:00

• Head home from Jersey