A mixture of breathtaking scenery and a round of golf is a winning combination, especially when you have the chance to take your clubs to Southern Brittany.

Our historical connection with this beautiful part of France has always fascinated me and has never disappointed on my numerous journeys across the English Channel.

Visits over the past few decades have included several family camping holidays and golfing trips in equal measure.

In the Dark Ages, Britons fled to their south western strongholds in Wales and Cornwall to stem the advance of the Anglo Saxon invaders, while others crossed the water to the then-named Armorica – now known as Brittany.

The modern day retreat to Brittany is made up of tourists looking to bask in the milder climate along its vast unspoilt coastline adorned with many sandy beaches and rocky coves.

Following in the footsteps of our Celtic ancestors we crossed the English Channel to the ancient port of St Malo to begin our exploration of French golf courses.

Exponents of the Royal and Ancient game are well catered for with 22 courses across the province, many close to the Brittany Ferries terminals of St Malo and Roscoff.

Our three-day visit, however, included a 140-mile trip to the south coast – one well worth the extra miles to sample the full variety that Brittany has to offer.

My favourite destination was the links course at Golf de Ploemeur Ocean in the Morbihan district of Brittany.

Perched on the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, this picturesque venue serves up a ‘game of two halves’ with a mixture of links and parkland holes.

While tackling the demanding stretch of six holes from 11 to 16 there was, in my case, the welcome distraction of a panoramic vista which included Groix – Brittany’s second largest island – in the distance.

Golf de Ploemeur Ocean was only a few miles drive away from our base for the stay – the Best Western’s Hotel Les Rives du Ter at Larmor Plage on the outskirts of Lorient.

The hotel was opened in 2005 and has 58 rooms, all with balconies, overlooking Lake Ter and its nature reserve, situated only a few hundred metres away.

A restaurant and adjoining terrace caters adequately for the visiting golfer, but for those wanting to sample further French cuisine will need to take a taxi into Lorient.

The fishing port of Lorient, with a population of around 60,000, was founded in 1664 by the French East India Company and helped form the town’s name which means ‘The Orient’.

Eastern promise in the form of a golfing experience for us came at Golf de Saint-Laurent along the coast and inland at Ploemel which features an adjoining hotel of the same name.

This 6,277 parkland course is only slightly shorter than Golf de Ploemeur Ocean but offers a totally different experience with its tree-lined fairways.

The gently undulating Michael Fenn-designed course meanders its way through an oak and pine forest. With its generous fairways only the most wayward strikers of the ball will be left frustrated.

Our final two courses were to the west of Lorient and south of Quimper – Golf de l’Odet and Golf de Cornouaille which are just a few miles apart.

Golf de l’Odet, close to the seaside resort of Benodet, is carved out of more than 250 acres of pine and oak woodland and features large bunkers and ponds ready eat up any miss-hit approach shots to the greens.

Golf de Cornouaille, meanwhile, was designed by the famous course architect Fred Hawtree and opened just over 50 years ago, staking a claim to be the oldest course on Brittany’s glorious south coast.

Lying within the Fouesnant Forest and alongside the Bay of Concarneau, this course boasts an impressive clubhouse set within an 18th century Breton Manor.

Like many of the French courses these days, there was a bustle of local players practicing on all four of the courses we visited, more often than not in large groups under the tuition of the club professional and their assistants.

Since the recent domination of Europe in the Ryder Cup and the inclusion of French players such as Victor Dubuisson in the 2014 winning team – golf is now a major sport in France.

And with the Le Golf National in Paris hosting the 2018 Ryder Cup against the Americans, this popular trend is only likely to increase.

Although the empty car parks that once greeted the British golfer in the 1990s have become more congested, the country’s numerous courses are still easily accessible with the proper scheduling.

The Brittany Ferries Golf Desk is staffed by experienced golfers with a thorough knowledge of the courses and hotels. They can be contacted at 0871 244 1818 or by visiting the website at brittany-ferries.co.uk/ golf/contact-us

Getaway

Golf de St Laurent: Ploemel, 56 400 Auray – T: +33 (0)2 97 56 85 18 – bluegreen.com/en

Golf de l’Odet: Clohars Fouesnant, 29950 Bénodet – T: +33 (0)2 98 54 87 88 – bluegreen.com/en

Golf de Cornouaille: Manoir du Mesmeur, 29940 La Forêt-Fouesnant – T: +33 (0)2 98 56 97 09 – golfdecornouaille.com

Golf de Ploemeur Ocean: Saint-Jude – Kerham, 56270 Ploemeur – T:+33 (0)2 97 32 81 82 – bluegreen.com/en