10.BELLERIVE-SUR-ALLIER (Allier) – Golf Pavilion
The Bellerive-sur-Allier Golf Lodge is part of the history of the Vichy Spa and its recreational activities. It has features characteristic of the seaside architecture.
- early XXe century (1908)
Historic Monuments Registration July 20, 2022 of the golf course
© C.RAFLIN DRAC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
The development of a golf course in Vichy was initiated in 1906 by Joseph Aletti, director of the Société des grands hôtels de Vichy, in agreement with the Compagnie fermière, the project owner. In order to have large spaces, the latter chooses a wasteland located on the left bank of the Allier, opposite the thermal district of the right bank. It is ovoid in shape, boomerang, and follows the course of the river and extends over 34,000 m². Work began in 1907 and required drainage of the land. They are entrusted to Chantepie, a Parisian company specialized in this type of development. The nine-hole course project is due to Arnaud Massy, French champion winner of the British Open and renowned teacher. The grassed area is crisscrossed by rows of trees that run along the path, forming roughly parallel bands. A piece of water is supplied by the small stream that crosses the ground. At the end of it, a pavilion intended to welcome players and visitors is undertaken at the same time. It is designed by Gustave Simon, architect of the Compagnie Fermière. Largely wooden structure, it is a large building, wide and quite low. It is covered by a complex, low-pitched roof with a raised eave that houses a gallery with wooden posts that surrounds the entire building on both levels. At the top of the roof was originally a belvedere in the shape of a bell tower. Its polygonal base, pierced by a dormer, was surmounted by a part with a skylight, the posts of which supported a spired roof. A central advance covers the outside staircase leading to the floor. This one is built in exposed wooden panels that offer a decorative play (biase pieces arranged in V) and frame large French windows. The staircase and gallery on the first floor are lined with a wooden railing that forms a horizontal counterpoint on the wooden sides of the façade.
The golf was inaugurated on May 1, 1908 and met with great success. It welcomed a prestigious clientele and many competitions took place there. The course was completed and increased to 13 and 18 holes in 1904. The pavilion was expanded in 1908 to accommodate changing rooms and an American bar.
In 1922, the Vichy Sporting Club was created, an all-sports club (golf, tennis, athletics) that provided the management of the golf course. In 1936, the company Prory was in charge of destroying the bell tower of the pavilion, during the renovation of the building. This picturesque element has been replaced by three massive triangular dormers housing twin bays with small woods.
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