How to put the tee in Tunisia!

The new Robert Trent Jones Jr golf course at Gammarth

It's a mystery to me why British golfers are as low down the league table of visitors to Tunisia as they are and it's is a cause of both consternation and sadness to the Tunisian tourist authorities, too. For reasons both lingual and geographical, the French and Italians are always likely to outnumber us in this North African country, but why we languish some way behind the Scandinavians and the Germans is not as easy to understand.

The Foret course at The Citrus Golf club

In these difficult economical times and when fear of terrorism is also a legitimate factor to be taken into account alongside more traditional preoccupations such as the quality of the beaches and the strength of the beer, Tunisia almost certainly suffers from being an Arab country. Understandable perhaps, but this lumping together of much of North Africa and the Middle East into one homogenously dangerous region is both inaccurate and unfair.

In many political and social ways, Tunisia is far closer to Europe than she is to her enigmatic African neighbours. Democratic, progressive and tolerant, the country is stable, prosperous and a perfectly safe place in which to holiday and play golf. Indeed, since golf is unquestionably the most civilised and civilising of activities, Tunisia’s enthusiasm for the game and promotion of its courses, is confirmation that it rightly belongs in the multi-cultural family of golfing nations where religion and politics are of much less concern that the speed of the greens or depth of the rough.

Distinctive Panorama course at El Kantaoui

When the Tunisian Open was a regular fixture on the European Tour, this was its venue. Massive greens make monster putts a commonplace occurrence. Although there are not very many trees, cunningly located specimen palms oblige you to think carefully about where to position the ball of the tee if you want to avoid having to hit towering approach shots.

The adjacent beach looks dangerously inviting and some of its prettier occupants can present a welcome distraction on the Sea course, which is significantly longer, than its sister Panorama course, is noticeably flatter but no less enjoyable. The Panorama course is more difficult and affords the better views...of the coastline!

Set back from the sparkling Mediterranean and up against some imposing mountains, is the altogether hillier Citrus Golf Club just south of Hammamet and about an hour’s drive from Tunis. Opened in 1992 and owned by a consortium of local hotels, it purposefully caters for the visiting golfer.

Again there are two 18-hole courses; Les Oliviers, the gentler of the two, and La Foret, a stiff test by any standards. And there’s a nine-hole 'executive' par 28, too for the less adventurous and able golfer.

The Yasmine Golf course

The fairways on La Foret are pretty tight and there are enough out of bounds’ posts to create anxiety on the tee. The terrain is gently undulating with the occasional more testing climb, the views are simply splendid and a fine finishing hole with a demanding drive over an imposing lake from an elevated tee, provides a fitting climax.

Just over the road from Citrus, no more than a few hundred metres as the vulture flies, is the Yasmine Golf Club. Visually appealing with lakes, waterfalls, decorative bridges and a rich mix of magnificent plants, it provides a wide variety of holes and is challenging without being frightening. Cleverly carved out of the available acreage, it smells as good as it looks - the eponymous jasmine being responsible for the sweet, all-pervading odour.

According to the card, the course weaves around a river. If my junior school geography is more reliable than my short game - and I’m in big trouble if it isn’t - this river should more properly be termed a wadi or dry river bed. No doubt at some time of the year it’s a raging torrent but not, I suspect, very often.

Tunisia is looking to build more courses and the very latest at Gammarth – it only opened in October 2008 – is the first Robert Trent Jones Jr design in Africa. Located on the fringe of a salt lake just 20 kilometres from Tunis, it’s inviting with wide fairways and gentle mounds.

The principal threat, particularly on the back nine, is posed by the numerous water hazards. Although it may take a little while to mature and reach peak condition, it looks destined to be a contender for the title of number one course in Tunisia and could well host a pro tour event.

The adjacent Residence Hotel is already right up there with the very best and is thoroughly recommended for those who can afford its unashamed luxury.

Although the condition of the courses might not always be up to the highest European Tour standards, the year-round sunshine, delicious food, spectacular hotels and extremely competitive prices make Tunisia worthy of more than serious consideration by those who are looking for something more exotic than the regular 'Spike bar' golf break.