Moliets Golf Course Races Against Time to Recover from Storm Damage

Moliets-et-Maâ, France – The Golf de Moliets is in a frantic race against time to repair storm damage and prepare its greens for the prestigious Grand Prix de Landifornie, a national competition scheduled to begin on March 13, 2026.

Storms Leave Greens Covered in Sand

Recent winter storms have left the golf course, particularly areas bordering the dunes, blanketed in sand, presenting a significant challenge for the maintenance crew. Jean-Michel Montauban, leading a team of six green-keepers, is spearheading the recovery effort.

According to Montauban, the extent of the damage is reminiscent of the historic storm of 1999, known as Martin. Since this historic storm, the dune has risen, and we see less and less of the ocean from the greens. he stated.

A Race Against the Clock

The team faced multiple storms in quick succession, including Nils, and Pedro. While preventative measures, such as installing protective netting with the National Forestry Office (ONF), were taken in December, the storms proved overwhelming. We had carried out quite a few developments with the National Forestry Office (ONF) in December, we had installed protection, coconut nets (which act as a mulching cloth, Editor’s note), in anticipation of these winter episodes. They loaded up with sand with Nils, we had planned to redo the arrangements. Montauban explained.

The situation is particularly dire on the courses closest to the dune, where sand drifts have reached up to two meters in depth, burying essential infrastructure like sprinkler systems. At the start of number 15, to the north, there are 2 meters of sand, the sprinklers are underneath, we try to locate them to clear them.

Restoring Playability

The primary focus is now on clearing the sand and preventing damage to the grass. If the layer of sand is not too thick, the grass manages to pass over it, but otherwise, it is deprived of light and dies. Montauban noted. The team is working with the ONF to find a sustainable solution for sand removal, while also attempting to restore starting areas to their original condition.

Clubhouse Construction on Schedule

Despite the challenges posed by the storms, construction of a new clubhouse is progressing as planned, with a projected completion date of June 1, 2026. The project is a joint effort between the Department and the community of municipalities, managed by the Résonnance group.

We had made three prayers for this winter: that there would not be too much wind, not too much water and that we would be able to start work on the clubhouse as soon as possible. For the wind and the sand, it’s a disaster, for the water, we broke records, but we couldn’t activate the pumps of the system, and we’re doing well, and for the work, we worked hard, and I think we will achieve our goals by June 1, 2026. Christophe Rondelé, Director of Résonnance group

FAQ

• What is the Grand Prix de Landifornie? A national amateur golf competition taking place from March 13, 2026.
• What caused the damage to the golf course? Severe winter storms deposited large amounts of sand onto the greens.
• What is being done to repair the damage? A team of green-keepers is working to clear the sand and restore the greens.

The Golf de Moliets faces a significant challenge, but the dedicated team is working tirelessly to ensure the course is ready to host the Grand Prix de Landifornie and provide a quality experience for golfers.