There is three golf courses I’ve played that boast bunkers of a ‘different’ kind.
When I say of a ‘different’ kind I am referring to concrete bunkers. I hear you say: “Concrete bunkers?”. Yes, concrete bunkers and defence bunkers built during World War 11.
There is an anti-aircraft bunker still in position at the back of the seventh green on the Craighead Links course at my home club in Crail, Scotland. The bunker at Crail faces the North Sea is among a number of bunkers built at RNAS Crail and also known as HMS Jackdaw, a naval air station just outside of the village of Crail, and still in place over 60-years since it was last functional in 1961. You have to drive past the air station, that still has all the buildings in place, on route to the golf course.
A World War 11 air defence bunker still in place at the back of the 6th green on the Craighead Links course at Crail in Scotland. (Image GolfByTourmiss)
A second golf course I’ve played with air defence bunkers is Stromness much further north in Scotland on the main island in the Orkneys. The bunkers were built to protect the sheltered waters of the famed Scarpa Flow, and one of the great natural harbours in the world, that was the United Kingdom’s chief naval base during the First and Second World wars, until the facility was closed in 1956.
Your author standing atop of one of the many bunkers present on the edge of the Stromness Golf Club and overlooking the Scapa Flow on the northern tip of Scotland.
The third golf boasting a concrete bunkers is the Omaha Beach Golf Club in the Normandy region of northern France, and with the club perched high over the clifftops overlooking the English Channel.
Mention Omaha Beach and/or Normandy and quickly think of the World War 11 D-Day Landing Beaches where on June 6th, 1944 the Allies landed in France in first steps to liberate Europe from Nazi rule, and in playing the Omaha Beach Golf Club there is a massive German-built bunker that has been built into the cliff face that is located just behind the sixth green.
There’s actually eight traditional sand bunkers protecting the sixth green at the Omaha Beach Golf Club but nine if you count this reminder of the events of that took place 80-years ago this June, 2024.
The France and UK flags flying high at the back of the sixth green at the Ohama Beach Golf Club, and with the German bunker beside the flags. (Image – Omaha BeachGC)
The Omaha Beach Golf Club, with two courses, the sea and the mansion, is the only 36-holes golf course in the West. A family history that began in the 1980s.
Guy Dupont, the founder of the golf course, started as a farmer in the 1960s. He then took up the game of golf, which he discovered in the 80s. After having stopped farming his land, Guy Dupont decided, with his wife and children, to transform his farm into a golf course.
Following major works, the first nine holes took shape in 1986. It was designed by the architect Yves Bureau, designer of some forty prestigious courses. It is inaugurated in July 1986, it is the opening of the course of the Pond. Then golf develops very quickly, for Guy Dupont it is necessary to reach perfection. In 1987, it is thus the courses of the Sea and the Bocage which are born. The manor house, a continuation of the L’Etang course, was created much later, in 2006. The golf course now extends over 120 hectares and has two 18-hole courses.
Each hole is named after a liberating American veteran or a famous battle.
- 1953- 1985 : Dairy farm
- 1986 : Creation of the Omaha Beach Golf Course by Guy Dupont – Opening of the l’Etang course (9 holes)
- 1987 : Opening of the “Course de la Mer” (18 holes) and opening of the Club House.
- Opening of the Mercure hotel (46 rooms)
- Extension of the Mercure Hotel (72 rooms)
- Club House Extension
- 2006: Opening of the Manor Course
- When we are talking about or hear the word “OMAHA”, June, 6th 1944, D-Day are the most common words that comes to our mind.
The 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions of the First U.S. Army landed on this beach codename “Omaha Beach” between the villages of Colleville sur Mer and Vierville sur Mer, a distance around 5 miles which rapidly became known as “Bloody Omaha” due to the high toll of American casualties.
Not far away from Omaha overlooking the fishing harbor of Port en Bessin, a former farm’s fields were transformed into a Golf Course.
Back in the 50’s the Dupont Family were a farming family, their main activity being dairy cows.
Guy Dupont, the father and owner, discovered the golf in the 80’s. With his family (wife and children) all of them decided to change the activity of their farm into a Golf Course.
In 1986, Yves Bureau, a Golf Course Architect designed the first 9 holes which became the Pond Course. This first course was inaugurated in July 1986.
Guy Dupont had more ambitions. He didn’t want to be satisfied with only one course, two more additional courses were built: the Sea and the Bocage courses, plus a Club House carrying the number of holes to 27.
During the year 1994, the Golf Club had the privilege to receive the D-Day Senior Open, for this occasion the Supreme leader of the Allied Forces’ son in Europe John S. D. Eisenhower inaugurated the first hole.
In the lobby of the course clubhouse is an American flag with a certificate from one of Normandy American Heroes guests, Ken D., former member of the Kiwanis club in Suisun City, California. The club donated the flag to the owner Mr. Thierry DuPont in the late ’90s. They did that through Gene Dellinger who was the American superintendent at the Normandy American Cemetery at the time.
Over the years Major Golf Competitions were played at Omaha Beach Golf Club such as the:
- Omnium National
- French Senior Doubles Championship
- French Open Seniors
- French Mid-amateur Internationals
- French Open Seniors Men
- Jean Lignel Trophy – French Clubs Cup
- French Corporate Team Championship
Years later in 2006, the Manor House was created and in 2008, 9 additional holes were added.
In all the Omaha Beach Golf Normandy has 36 holes divided between the inland and coastal landscape. Each hole is named after a liberating American veteran (Frank Peregoy MOH resting today at the Normandy American Cemetery) or a famous battle (Fortress of Cherbourg).
For Normandy American Heroes the creation of this Golf Club has a profound meaning! Why?
As you know Omaha Beach was one of the two American landing beaches (Omaha and Utah Beach), which allowed to create a bridgehead to liberate France and Europe.
Many U.S. Officers such as but not limited to Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander, Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, Commander in Chief of the United States Navy’s Pacific Fleet, General Anthony McAuliffe of the 101st Airborne Division who pronounced the famous word “NUTS” in Bastogne (Battle of the Bulge) and soldiers played Golf at home and even during time of war.
Golf is a sport really impregnated in the American culture, it directly participated to the war effort during the First and Second World War! i.e., Golf balls are made of rubber, the balls were broken and rubber was taken to create tires and other equipment…
What was a farm in the 60’s became over the years a Golf Course really important for the American golf players. Playing a sport really important to Eisenhower and other WWII Key Players overlooking the sea where thousands of men died for duty, is truly a real privilege!
Written by Pierre Fallet WWII Trainee of Normandy American Heroes
