Le Golf National returns to our screens with the 2024 Olympics golf competitions taking place at the renowned French venue, with the men's event beginning on August 1 and the women's starting on August 7.

The men's Olympic field and women's field for Paris are set, and they're stacked with a whole host of the world's biggest names ready to tackle Le Golf National.

Also referred to as 'Paris National', the course is no stranger to hosting prestigious events. After all, it was the venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup, as Thomas Bjorn's Europeans swept aside Jim Furyk's Team USA by 17.5 to 10.5 points, while it's also in the spotlight annually for the oldest national open in continental Europe, the Open de France. 

There are actually three courses at Le Golf National - two 18-hole courses and one nine-hole course, but the biggest tournaments, including the Olympics, are reserved for L'Albatros, a course designed by Hubert Chesneau and Robert Von Hagge, in consultation with Pierre Thevenin.

L'Albatros is regarded as one of the best courses in France, and one of the toughest, and is well known for the huge expanses of water throughout, as well as a relative lack of trees.  

The water is necessary because the course, which opened in 1991, is built on the clay silt of the Parisian basin, so without man-made lakes it would be too swampy to play after rain. Meanwhile, the lack of trees is equally deliberate, and is down to a decision by the French Golf Federation to have a mature course from the outset, and not one that would need decades for trees to grow.

As for what makes it particuarly challenging, you need only look as far as the closing stretch. It begins with the par 4 15th, which has water running alongside the right and an island green. 

The 18th shares the same island, albeit with a separate green, making it one of the most distinctive, and difficult, finishes you'll find anywhere. In between those, the par 3 16th also features water along its right, including at the green, while the 17th features an uphill tee shot with a green sloping from right to left.

Overall, players will be met by  slick greens, undulating fairways and many links-style bunkers, making it a suitable challenge for players ranging from the recreational all the way to Olympians.

How To Play Le Golf National

If you'd like to experience a round at Le Golf National, the good news is it's relatively straightforward. 

In 2024, for one round at L'Albatros, there are offers available for two players with a handicap of 28 or better to take a one-night stay with breakfast at Novotel Saint Quentin en Yvelines for €235 in July, August and October 2024 and €250 in June and September, with the offer available between Friday and Sunday except during special events. 

Guests can also opt for the Challenge Course, where two players with a handicap of 36 or better can play a round and stay in the same hotel for €145 in July, August and October and €150 in June and September.

Guests can also stay at the five-star Waldorf Astoria Trianon Place for one night for €800 for two people, which includes a round at L'Albatros, up to 31 October 2024.

Le Golf National Location

To complement Robert von Hagge’s Old course at the exclusive Les Bordes estate in France's Loire Valley region some 90 miles south west of Paris, Gil Hanse’s New course was opened for play this summer and brings more of a heathland feel to the American-style target golf of its older sibling. 

Unlike Les Bordes Old Course, where water features prominently on 11 of its 18 holes, the New's defences are characterised by deep pot bunkers and huge sloping greens. 

Visually, Hanse's design is an absolute delight, and when combined with the 10-hole Wild Piglet – a devilish short course which was also designed by Hanse and is rated among the top 25 par-3 courses in the world – Les Bordes’ members are now treated to the full golfing experience (for which they pay a handsome fee to enjoy).

To celebrate the New’s opening, Golf Monthly was invited to play both courses at Les Bordes, staying on site at the luxury member cabins and getting a sneak peak at future investment plans after the estate was taken over in 2018 by a consortium consisting of the principals of RoundShield Partners.

These include the development of an on-site luxury hotel and spa and a village square with shops and restaurants, while a number of residential villas are set to be developed for the big spenders. 

The global allure of Les Bordes is greater than ever, with members of Pine Valley, Merion, Riviera, Sunningdale, Friar’s Head, Royal St George’s, Royal Melbourne and Morfontaine – another of France’s finest layouts – among approximately the 140 members who have joined the club under its new ownership.

The Les Bordes lifestyle may not be to everyone’s budget, but it at least offers a glimpse of how its owners are looking to create the ultimate millionaires’ playground.

Playing Les Bordes New Course

A short buggy drive from the Old and Les Bordes’ clubhouse, Hanse's New course uses the natural surroundings of the Sologne Forest and immediately you realise this is an all-together different test.

The first course to be designed by Hanse in continental Europe, the design is no doubt inspired by the work of legendary golf course architect Tom Simpson, who has left such an indelible mark on a number of heathland gems throughout the Surrey sandbelt.

Hanse said: “We visited the site and fell in love with the entire property.

“It is very different, which I think is a positive as members will have two very different golfing experiences.

“We realised there was the potential to create some bold and dramatic features and strategies or options on the golf course.

“We could create a layout that would be in balance with the low-profile nature of the site, with these more dramatic hole features adding drama to the golf course.”

Featuring large bunkers, subtle elevation changes and incredible green complexes, the layout measures 7,211 yards from the back tees but can play shorter than its overall length due to the firm and fast-playing conditions.

There is a wonderful opening to the course, with the elevated tee shot on the 1st setting up a birdie opportunity if you can get a good drive away. 

Unlike the Old, there is some forgiveness with the New, notably off the tee and also with your approach shots. 

The big test for many will come on the greens, where sweeping contours will punish anything that does not hit the required landing zone.

From the tee, you have the opportunity to open your shoulders – and on some holes you will need to.

Notably, the par-4 5th hole – the course’s stroke-index-one – is a beast for a two-shotter at 499 yards and a whopping 516 from the backs, while the layout’s eclectic nature comes to the fore two holes later with a tiddler of a par 3 at 126 yards. 

Tree-lined treat

But beware: you are faced with another fiendishly sloping green and anything long will run off the back, leaving you with a very difficult up-and-down for par.

The back nine is far more tree-lined and, as such, more demanding from the tee (although driver is still the smart play), while a number of deep traps come into play. 

However, a good long game will be rewarded and the 280-yard par-4 15th is one of the stand-out holes, with bunkers well placed to challenge those who take on the green.

It all sets up for a grandstand finish with the closing hole, a par 5 where water – a rare sight on the New – comes into play as you take on the green in two. 

A wonderful finish to a wonderful golf course.

Personal favourite

17th – A great par 3 of 160 yards with one of the course’s deepest traps lurking at the front of the green. Another sloping putting surface continues to ask questions.

Toughest hole

5th – Long, long and long. Only the biggest hitters will be threatening the green in two and even when you’re there, it slopes back to front and three-putts loom.

Why not fly in style?

Jettly offers private charter jets at the lowest prices with instant digital booking. To find out more visit www.jettly.com – for about the Les Bordes experience, visit www.lesbordes.com

There are some courses that just carry an aura. You don’t have to play them – and in some cases you can’t – to acknowledge their history and character. 

Take Augusta National. For most of us, we only get to see Bobby Jones and Dr Alister Mackenzie’s masterpiece once a year through a television set, and yet, via the trials and tribulations of The Masters, we understand its story. 

Every hole. Every dogleg. Every sprawling sandtrap.

But what about those courses we don’t see? In many ways, their lack of exposure only adds to the mystery. 

There can be no better example of this than at Les Bordes, a private members’ club where Robert von Hagge’s magnificent Old Course first set tongues wagging after opening to critical acclaim in 1986. 

Just 90 minutes south-west of Paris in the Loire Valley region, Les Bordes is easily one of the best golf courses in France, and lies within 1,400 acres of the Sologne Forest. 

Texan Von Hagge was commissioned to design the layout by Baron Marcel Bich - the co-founder of Bic ballpoint pens – and his business partner Yoshiaki Sakurai. 

It was the Baron’s vision for Les Bordes to be recognised as the ‘Augusta of Europe’. But really, despite both courses’ stunning condition and setting, the only real similarity comes with their exclusivity. 

Following the Baron’s death in 1994, ownership would change hands and Les Bordes opened to the public as a pay-and-play venue. But as the numbers swelled to play the course, conditioning ultimately went downhill and some of its aura was lost.

But since taking over the estate in 2018, further investments by the new owners – a consortium which consists of the principals of RoundShield Partners – have helped return the course to its brilliant best, and to complement Von Hagge’s Old course, there is a second layout of equal beauty. 

Gil Hanse’s New course was opened for play this summer and brings more of a heathland feel to the American-style target golf of its older sibling. 

Playing Les Bordes Old Course

Exclusive, expansive, expensive. Les Bordes ticks all those boxes. But what really enhances the reputation of its Old course as one of Europe’s most famed stretches of golfing terrain?

Quite simply: difficulty. It is a layout built to affirm its intimidating and imposing nature. From the word go, you are asked questions – and none are easy to answer. The opening hole – the course’s stroke-index-eight - requires a drive positioned left of the fairway before your approach to a green that is surrounded almost entirely by sand. It’s a regulation par - a false sense of security, perhaps...

Score: Bogey five

The run from the 2nd to the 6th – in the context of what lies ahead – perhaps offers some respite: a dogleg left par 5; a 350-yard par 4 with deep traps left; a short par 3 with water right, a long, uphill par 4 followed by another par 4 with sand running down its right side.

Scores: Bogey; Bogey; Par; Bogey; Double

Now for the mayhem. Standing on the 7th tee and glancing at the course planner, you realise you will be required to pull out three of the best shots you have in your locker. This may well be the Old’s stroke-index-two, but pound for pound, it is the hardest hole on the golf course and one of the most challenging you are likely to play.

It’s a par 5 that weighs in at 509 yards from the tips, but such is the shape of the hole as it twists 90 degrees to the left and almost back on itself – with the fairway bottle-necking as you approach the green – that mere mortals will have to play it as a three-shooter, as water comes into play for your second and third shots, and probably your fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh.

I would lose eight balls during my round on the Old, with three meeting a watery grave at the 7th as I hopelessly tried to navigate my way to the green.

Score: Don’t ask...

Somewhat shaken by this experience, matters continue to unfold on the Par-3 8th, where a full carry of over 150 yards is needed to reach a slightly raised green. My ball doesn’t make it. Meanwhile, the feeling of a bogey on the par-4 9th comes as something of a blessing, despite having to hit one of the narrowest fairways with overhanging trees catching the corner and more water right.

Scores: Double; Bogey

The 10th is a long, narrow par 5 with a green perched high on the banks with sand everywhere, while the 11th is one of those holes where local knowledge is your best friend. As the hole sweeps sharply to the left at 240 yards, strikes must not only carry a deep trap on the corner but also, anything that doesn’t have the required distance will trickle down into the water - so don't be greedy.

Scores: Double; Bogey

A short carry is needed over water at the 12th, but the approach is punishing with a huge, sprawling bunker hugging the left side. The 13th is another par 3 over water where playing long is your best bet.

Scores: Double; Bogey

Much like that devilish par 5 at the 7th, people may well question what Von Hagge’s motives were when he designed the 14th. The Old’s stroke-index-one, it is another three-shot hole and water lies everywhere. Only the very best players should be eyeing its island green up in two.

For big hitters who think they are up to task, the fairway pinches in tight at around 250 yards. Swallow some medicine, if you have any left, lay back and look for placement. Then lay up short of the bunkers on the right to leave a shot over water from 100 yards and from there, just hope for the best.

I do none of this and lose another two balls...

Score: Nine

The closing four holes, while still serving up a fearsome test, are navigated playing bogey golf, with a grandstand finish at the 18th where I play arguably my two best shots of the day: a drive right-centre of the fairway that leaves a 5-iron approach to another green with water front and right. I make the putting surface in two, wave to galleries and then take three putts from 10 feet. It’s a victory, of sorts…

Scores: Bogey; Bogey; Bogey; Bogey

Despite its fiery and unrelenting nature, playing Les Bordes’ Old course is a challenge all golfers should aspire to take on. Like a first-time marathon runner or a cyclist climbing an Alp, it is one to tick off your bucket list.

It will beat you. But, it is an experience you will never forget – even if you want to.

Toughest hole: 7th Two superb shots are needed to reach this green in two, while even reaching the putting surface in regulation requires smart play and sweet ball-striking.

Best Par 3: 4th The shortest of the par 3s at 165 yards from the back tees, but 129-141 from the whites. Water lines the right of the green with a steep bank left.

Video: Les Bordes overview...

Did you know?

Did you know? Jean van de Velde held the course record at Les Bordes’ Old for many years with a score of 71, while members who broke 80 in competition would get their names on the clubhouse honours board.

www.lesbordes.com

Here is our list of the best golf courses in France.

The Best Golf Courses In France

As far as continental Europe goes, when you first think of golf across the pond your mind may not immediately go to France. Spain, Portugal and Italy are usually the first ports of call but that should not be the case because France has some golf courses that are some of the best in the world.

Don't just take our word for it though, take a look at some of the best below.

Morfontaine

Benefitting from recent modifications by Kyle Phillips, the Grande course was originally designed by Tom Simpson. It is not long but it does demand accuracy and a strategic approach to large, undulating greens. Thirty miles to the north of Paris, the club celebrated its centenary year in 2013.

In many ways, little has changed and there is a great sense of history and tradition, as well as peace and seclusion.

Fontainebleau

The course at the historic club at Fontainebleau dates back to 1909. It was redesigned by Tom Simpson in 1920, and the beautiful, meandering tree-lined layout has staged many important tournaments.

Little appears to have changed here over the years and the course has a similar feel to many of Surrey’s heathland classics, with the small greens demanding pinpoint accuracy and the sandy subsoil leading to year-round playability.

Les Bordes

Now one of the most private destinations in Europe, this fabulous but extremely tough course is in the Loire. The brainchild of Baron Bich, of Bic pen fame, it was carved from lush woodland nearly 35 years ago.

It has more than its fair share of water hazards, which seep into the golfers consciousness on the majority of holes. This is a visual and photogenic masterpieces that requires clout, in every sense.

Chantilly (Vineuil)

With its pavilion style clubhouse oozing history, a visit to this centurion is a real step back in time. It is said to have a British feel about it, and some even consider it to be the French version of St Andrews. The course donated its excellent thee closing holes to the Longeres when it was extended to 18, but it remains a parkland gem with heavily contoured greens and superb conditioning.

Sperone

The Old Head of Europe, the Pebble Beach of the Med - Sperone boasts an incredible setting and it the only 18-hole course on Corsica. With fabulous vistas over the water, nearby islands and even across Sardinia, the stretch of holes from 12 to 16 is one of the most enjoyable and attractive anywhere.

Prince de Provence - Vidauban

In the 1970's Robert Trent Jones Senior stumbled across and bought this tract of rocky land in the hills to the east of Marseille. Together with his elder son, he built his 'dream course.'

Terre Blanche

Terre Blanche Resort, 45 minutes from Nice airport, is home to two wonderful championship courses, both designed by Dave Thomas. Le Château is the sterner test, stretching to over 7,000 yards and features a variety of perfectly manicured holes that thread through mature trees, flirting with a number of attractive water hazards on the way.

Le Golf National (L'Albatross)

Designed by Hubert Chesneau and Robert Von Hagge, it is one of the very first courses built with spectators in mind and has produced some great moments, chief among which is the 2018 Ryder Cup. Many of the holes that feature water are simply spectacular. 

Medoc (Chateaux)

Golf du Medoc has two golf courses called the Chateaux and the Vignes. The former is the older of the two as it opened in 1989 and was only the third solo design of Bill Coore. Rod Whitman was also involved with the construction of the course that is renowned for its toughness especially when the wind off the Atlantic is up.

The course can measure up to just below 6,600 metres and there are only three par-5s so there is little margin for error.

La Touquet (La Mer)

There are 45 holes at the Le Touquet, the standout 18 being the championship links, La Mer, which winds through coastal dunes and rough grasses. Seve won the French Open here in 1977, and you’ll need a good short game to master this tough yet very enjoyable test.

Les Golf d'Hardelot (Les Pins and Les Dunes)

Golf D’Hardelot is home to two more contrasting courses in the Pines and Dunes. The former was designed by Tom Simpson and has a British feel and demands great accuracy. While the Dunes opened in 1990 and is also well worth playing. Both courses are in great shape after recent restoration work.

Notable Mentions: Seignosse, Les Aisses, Chiberta, Kempferhof, Granville, Belle Dune, Royal Mougins, Pont Royal, Evian Resort, Saint Endreol, Saint Germain (Grand Parcours)

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David Taylor heads down to Provence to sample its fine wines and, of course, its fine golf courses too

Golf In Marseille - Pont Royal & Servanes

While the eyes of the golfing world were very much focused on Paris last September, it would have been easy to miss another French course making its mark on the international stage.

The Seve Ballesteros-designed Pont Royal, situated in Mallemort just 30 minutes north of Marseille, was a late-September stop on the Challenge Tour, and the future stars of the game were definitely not disappointed.

Earlier in the year, the club welcomed a less-celebrated group of golfers, and I was lucky enough to be among them.

Our two-night stay gave us ample time to experience the course and sample another of the region’s delights with a wine tour of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

Fortunately, we started with the golf as my game is prone to collapse at the best of times.

The course was opened in 1992 and the first few holes wind around the Moulin de Vernègues Hotel and Spa, our base for the trip.

The layout really comes alive, however, when you reach the par-4 6th, which rises steeply to reveal stunning views of the Luberon and Alpilles mountain ranges.

I was joined on the course by David Payne, an ex-pat who retired to the region and is now Pont Royal’s vice president.

He kept us entertained with tales of Seve’s typically eccentric visits over the years and was also able to impart some valuable local knowledge, which helped keep my score respectable.

Added Delights

Another perk arrived at the 7th tee when David’s wife appeared from their house with a tray of coffee and biscuits before we got to play the hole.

This extra hit of caffeine was not enough to inspire me to take on the fearsome-looking canyon, which stood between us and the green of this sharp dogleg-left par 4.

Long hitters may be tempted, but the sensible play sees you aim for the fairway.

This also gives you slightly longer to admire the scenery, which is at its best as you wander down to the putting surface.

Another highlight is the 215-yard par-3 11th, which travels over a steep valley to a raised green.

With very little run-off behind the putting surface an accurate strike is crucial, and I just managed to hang on.

Another foot and I would have found the rocky abyss.

The course is tough but fair, and involves a decent amount of water and some pretty steep climbs through pine woods and typical Provençal countryside.

A buggy is recommended, and it certainly helped keep my energy up for the post-round wine tasting.

The whole region of Provence is a haven for wine lovers, and many choose to make the pilgrimage to Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 30 miles from Mallemort.

The village is overlooked by the ruins of a mediaeval castle and many of the wineries encourage visitors to take a tour and sample their wares.

Of course, wine is not the only attraction in this historic part of the world.

The city of Avignon is less than an hour away and the famous Pont du Gard, a spectacular three-tiered Roman aqueduct, is well worth a visit too.

Cycling fans may also like to try their luck on Mont Ventoux, arguably the toughest climb of all on the Tour de France – I have to confess that I was pretty glad our itinerary didn’t quite stretch that far!

Major Investment

As well as the only Seve-designed course in France, the Pont Royal complex also includes the 37-acre Durance Training Centre.

This comprises a two-storey driving range, a large putting green, a short-game practice area, a 1,039-yard six-hole course and a David Leadbetter Academy.

These additions have been part of a major investment programme which also included a new clubhouse, with further work promised over the next few years.

The four-star Moulin de Vernègues Hotel and Spa where we stayed is perfectly situated for the golf course.

It has 102 rooms, a pool and spa and a fine restaurant down in the cellar.

The main building dates back to the 13th century but the majority of rooms are housed in the modern extension, which is situated perilously close to the 2nd green.

There’s further accommodation in the village just behind the clubhouse, which also provides a fine selection of restaurants and wine bars to while away the evenings.

If you’re keen to experience the local cuisine, there are six Michelin-starred restaurants within 45 minutes of the resort and plenty more low-key but delicious options.

Servanes

If you want to take your clubs further afield, the course at Servanes, a 40-minute drive from Pont Royal, offers a picturesque alternative.

This extremely friendly club is set at the foot of the Alpilles hills, which offer a spectacular backdrop to some lovely holes.

Provence is a region steeped in history and attracts visitors for countless reasons, from art to architecture to wine.

With the investment made in the course and facilities at Pont Royal, golf definitely now features ever more prominently on this very tempting list.

Related: Check out what else France has to offer golfers

Expand Alsace, Golf among the Vineyards

Alsace, Golf among the Vineyards

Alsace is a beautiful part of France, which…

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Roderick Easdale finds a literal golfing high when he plays Mont D’Arbois golf course while staying at the fabulous Four Seasons Megeve in the French Alps

A few holes in at the Mont D’Arbois golf course in Megeve in the French Alps, an hour and a half’s drive from Geneva and about four minutes from the Four Seasons Megeve, and I am enjoying myself.

My drives are flying further than usual. I am not sure whether to put this down to my increased golfing genius, or the excellence of the TaylorMade M4 hire set the club has provided.

Turns out it is due to the invigorating Alpine air - literally. Golf balls travel 10% further at this altitude. A quick bit of calculation shows that I am striking the ball just as poorly as ever. Still, the illusion is beguiling.

So, too are the views from the course. The layout itself is fairly flat and trots back and forth sideways across a gentle piece of hillside - for this reason slicers are in often in luck as huge slices tend merely to leave one fairway to nestle safely on a parallel one.

This is an easy-walking course, so there is no need to take a buggy - nor one of the cable cars. Cable cars cross at either end of the course, for in winter parts of the layout are a ski run. The Mont D’Arbois golf season is from about mid May through to October.

A local rule is that any shot striking a cable has to be replayed. Nor are shots allowed to be played when the cars are running - which is for around a minute every 20 minutes during the golfing season.

The Mont D’Arbois golf clubhouse restaurant was welcomingly busy the Saturday we played, with excellent grub and relaxed, attentive, prompt service. The course also has a driving range, practice putting green and a well-stocked pro shop.

The club is a short drive - or maybe at this altitude only a long iron - from the Four Seasons Megeve, a 55-room hotel. It, too, has suffered length inflation for it is fact a two-season hotel: winter and summer.

The Four Seasons Megeve summer season runs from mid June to late September. Both the hotel and golf course are owned by the Rothschild family and the hotel is decorated with art from Baroness Rothschild’s own collection.

The hotel opened in December last year. The golf course, a Henry Cotton design, dates from 1964 although golf, in the form of a four-hole track long since gone, first came to the town in 1920. The hotel’s helicopter can take you to golf courses in Chamonix, Evian and Crans-Montana - or fly fishing in the Alpine lakes.

In winter, hotel guests have winter sports to occupy themselves with outdoors; in summer guides can take you up in to the mountains by foot, electric mountain bike or horse.

There are three restaurants at the hotel including a Japanese one, and one where the two Michelin-starred chef Julien Gatillon reigns supreme. He also runs a haute cuisine cooking class.

We were served a detox lunch around the pool, which appealed to us, not least because this version of detoxing involved both chips and wine. Wine is taken seriously here. The cellar has 1,200 different wines, some of them from the Rothschilds’ own collection, and range in price from 45 euro to 21,000 euro a bottle.

The hotel’s spa, at 900 sq m, is apparently the largest in the Alps, and there is a instructor with whom you can book individual yoga or woga lessons.

The latter is water yoga, done in the heated pool, and is rather fun. The water helps with balance when less-supple-than-they-were bodies try to do supple things.

After enjoying the drive-lengthening properties of the Alpine air, this was a trip where I could briefly pretend I was young and athletic again - which made an enjoyable stay even better.

One-night golf  packages for two people, to include accommodation at Four Seasons Megeve and a complementary green fee for two at Mont D’Arbois , start at 550 euro.

One of the very best courses in northern France is the greatly admired links and pine/heathland hybrid at Belle Dune - Rob Smith thoroughly enjoys a return visit

Belle Dune Course Review

Just an hour from the Channel Tunnel, Belle Dune has matured in just a quarter of a century into a course that is played and enjoyed by golfers of all tastes and ability. You seldom hear a bad word about it, and for me, its greatest asset is that every hole is both different and memorable.

Conditions

A warm and sunny afternoon in late May with a gentle but cooling breeze

FootJoy Outfit

Shirt: Engineered Stripe Lisle, Shorts: Performance, Shoes: AWD XL Casual, Glove: Sci-Flex Tour

A longish walk over a bridge sets the scene for the course which opens with a pair of par 4s played to rising fairways flanked by pine where two fives will satisfy most golfers. These are followed by the first short hole which is very photogenic and inviting.

I particularly like the first par 5 which comes next, and not just because it yielded a birdie! Carved out through the forest, it is beautifully secluded and tranquil.

Five is a tough par 4, before you reach the most inland part of the course at the short sixth. Here, you play from an elevated tee over some wasteland to one of the many large greens that are a feature of the course.

Following this, you head out towards the dunes via a couple of demanding par 4s, the second of which at eight is arguably the toughest hole on the course. It is also very attractive and a par will often feel like a birdie.

The front nine concludes with an exciting, short par 4 where the longer hitters will enjoy giving it a go.

Belle Dune has a remarkable lack of, and indeed lack of need for, bunkers. The tenth is the longest hole on the course, and there is an attractive drive at the next before a relatively long approach up to the green.

The twelfth is reminiscent of the third, though this time there is a backdrop of dunes rather than pine.

A surprisingly long pathway leads to the next tee, but it is more than worth it as the dogleg left par 5 is a classic. Bite off the corner, and you can go for the green up on the hill in two. Hit a fade/slice, and it’s a lay-up.

The straightforward par 3 at fourteen is less exciting, and it’s easy to get blocked out at fifteen, but the sixteenth offers real hopes of a birdie where distance control is key. A hybrid from the tee leaves just a pitch over a lake that is flanked on the other side by the colourful houses that are a feature of the development.

Seventeen is tough, uphill all the way and requiring a straight drive. It is then back to the clubhouse via a long par 4 lined by trees on the left and water on the right.

Belle Dune offers a lot more than just holiday golf, and depending on your choice of tee, it will test the best. It also offers great variety from start to finish and is a course to which I will very happily return.

Normandy has some lovely courses that make for a very pleasant golfing break - Rob Smith visits St Julien near Honfleur

Golf Barrière St Julien Course Review

The Barrière hotel chain in France has more than fifty courses in its international network, one of which is not far from the attractive harbour town of Honfleur and just a short drive from the port at Le Havre. Opened as recently as 1989, it has the feel of something far more mature.

Conditions

A warm, sunny afternoon in May with a light breeze

FootJoy Outfit

Shirt: Smooth Pique, Shorts: Performance, Shoes: Hydrolite, Glove: Sci-Flex Tour

There are 27 holes at St Julien with the main course being the par-72 Vallon, or Valley. I played it the day after visiting Omaha Beach, and the Vallon has two distinct nines, the order of which were swapped over a little while ago meaning that it now opens with a wonderful but very demanding par 4. The green has been re-sited across a lake which means that it now calls for a bold and confident approach.

The second is a straightforward short par 4 and this is followed by an excellent par 5 with a semi-blind drive followed by a lay-up or a long shot over the valley in which the water is far wider than it appears. The green is also some way above you, meaning that taking extra artillery is advisable.

A long par 3 leads you to a left-to-right dogleg par 4 where it is easy to block yourself out - trust me - and you then reach the prettiest short hole which is just a short iron over a pond.

Three tough par 4s take you back to the clubhouse, with the final of these being the hardest on the course. Here, the sensible option will often be to play it as a five, aiming short and right with the second.

The back nine is a little less dramatic than the front, running through tighter, mature woodland. At the 11th there is a lovely building behind the green, one of several that decorate the course and remind you where you are.

There is also a real sting in the tail at the closing pair of holes. Seventeen is an extremely difficult par 4 which calls for a long straight drive beyond the corner if there is to be any chance of making it all the way up to the green in two. And at the closing hole, a par 5, you will want to drive down the hill as close to the water as possible.

If you then decide to go for the green, then you may not notice the second lake behind the first until, like me, you see the splash!

With the 9-hole Hedgerow Course for those seeking less of a challenge and a characterful clubhouse, Barrière St Julien makes for a worthwhile golfing stop either as part of a tour, or at the start or end of a journey further afield.

Despite its name, the scenic course at Omaha Beach is more parkland than links - Rob Smith investigates

Omaha Beach Course Review

Although the UK and Ireland is blessed with the finest golf in the world, with the Golf Monthly Top 100 and Next 100 highlighting the best of the best, it is still a real treat to play overseas. Continental Europe has many lovely courses, plenty within easy reach such as the lovely Omaha Beach in Normandy. There are two courses, and I played the highly rated par-72 La Mer which overlooks the sea and the nearby fishing village of Port en Bessin.

Conditions

A bright and sunny afternoon in early Summer

FootJoy Outfit

Shirt: Smooth Pique with Double Chest Stripe, Shorts: Performance, Shoes: AWD XL Casual, Glove: Sci-Flex Tour

About an hour west of Le Havre and the pretty tourist town of Honfleur, Omaha Beach opened for play thirty years ago having been designed by the officious-sounding Yves Bureau. The opening hole on La Mer is a par 5 that leads you round the practice ground towards the sea.

A short but very pretty par 3 follows, offering up lovely views over the water and well protected by three bunkers and a run-off area to the left. A par-par start will set you up very nicely indeed.

Just as you thought you were coming to the clifftop, you turn left at the third to play a tight and partially blind drive over the brow of a hill to a green set down and to the left. No great distance, accuracy is everything and a fairway wood is probably the best option from the tee.

The next is even shorter, but is as pretty as a picture played over a pond and up the hill to a very narrow split-level green.

The long fifth hole leads you back in the direction of the cliff-top, and it is at the tough sixth that you get your closest encounter with the ocean at an infinity green that is well protected by sand.

The next is another testing par 4 before you reach another very attractive and inviting short hole at the eighth where the slope on the right can lead your ball down towards the green.

After returning to the clubhouse, the course changes nature quite dramatically to almost pure parkland, with the par-5 eleventh offering hopes of a birdie.

Twelve is another attractive hole with the green protected short and left by a lovely tree and a wide bunker.

A straightaway par 5 and a dogleg left lead you round to the final short hole, the fifteenth, which is beautifully framed by trees and sand.

Sixteen is stroke index one and rightly so as it plays very long, seventeen is even longer but doesn’t seem it, and the closing hole leads you back to the bar and a well-earned cold beer. Omaha Beach may only be beach in name, but its two good-looking and very different nines are well worth a game.

We visit Terre Blanche, the stunning five-star golf resort set in the French Riviera that boasts two championship golf courses and a state-of-the-art academy

Set in the hills of the French Riviera is one of southern France’s top resorts, the highly regarded Terre Blanche in Tourrettes. This magnificent five-star hotel, spa and golf resort is a key part of the European Tour Destination portfolio, which now comprises 13 such destinations spread throughout Europe and beyond in the case of Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, where the tour’s flagship finale is played.

Of those 13, seven currently host tour events, and many are regarded as the premier golf resorts in either their regions or countries, with the line-up including PGA Catalunya in Spain, Le Golf National in France and Kunsangen in Sweden. The concept is a network of world-class golfing facilities whose alliance with the European Tour tells the visiting golfer all he or she needs to know about the quality of the destination. That quality was all too apparent as we pulled up outside Terre Blanche’s impressive main gates after a pleasant 40-minute drive from Nice.

We were here with Under Armour for the launch of two new golf shoes, the Tempo Tour and Tempo Hybrid, to speak with a top biomechanics expert based here called Jean-Jacques (JJ) Rivet, who was consulted on for the design of both the models. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit many excellent golf resorts over the years, but as we were waved through by security, it immediately became obvious that this was going to rank among the very best. Upon arrival we went for lunch with JJ, owner of the ‘Biomecaswing’ academy, at which players can undergo a full biomechanical screening and fitness programme to get their body more suited to the demands of the golf swing. He is an informed and charismatic man who set our short stay off on the perfect foot.

We then embarked on a grand tour of the resort. Suitably replete, we set out to explore the expansive estate, making our way slowly past elegant residential areas. There are 115 suites and villas, ranging from 60-300 square metres all with a private terrace and stunning views.

These dwellings are set into a fairly steep hillside, between the main reception and restaurants at the top and the golf clubhouse at the bottom but throughout the tour we had tantalising glimpses of wonderful golf holes through the trees. At the top of the hill is also a 600m infinity pool, a kids club and outdoor bar area to serve all your family’s needs. You can even rent a bike ride to see the local vineyards and sample the local tipples.

Eventually, we reached the Leadbetter Golf Academy, which is also home to the first ever European Tour Performance Institute, though a second is now open at Jumeirah. There was some mind-boggling technology on display, and it was no surprise to learn that the French Golf Federation uses the facility as its winter training base, while Victor Dubuisson, Alex Levy and the resort’s touring pro, Raphael Jacquelin, are among the top home players to pass through the doors.

A key piece of technology here are force platforms, which tell you how well or badly you distributed and transferred your weight during the swing by highlighting in the minutest of detail which specific part of your foot the weight is on at any given point. The volume of data generated is vast, but it is the practitioner’s duty to pinpoint the one or two key things that could make the most difference, and then suggest exercises, drills or treatments to address things rather than bamboozling the pupil with information overload.

Read: The inside story behind Under Armour's new footwear designs

The next morning, it was on to the golf. There are two championship courses at Terre Blanche, both designed by Dave Thomas respecting the existing landscape, its valleys, lakes, ravines and woods. The Chateau course previously hosted Senior European Tour events, while the Le Riou course is reserved for hotel residents, members and their guests and recently hosted an event on the ladies tour equivalent to the Challenge Tour.

JJ had said that if we could get through a tough opening stretch on the Chateau course, things would settle down, and he wasn’t wrong. The 1^st requires a long drive to make the corner of a dogleg stoutly defended by large trees. The next is then a glorious par 3 playing uphill along a rocky creek, with anything left a distinctly bad miss. The drive from the elevated 4th tee has you playing straight towards the mountains, but two holes later it’s water that forms a rather more close-at-hand distraction on the daunting par-5 6th playing towards the Chateau after which the course is named. After a decent drive, I was forced to lay up to make the final expanse over the unforgiving water a little easier.

As my game went south, the course went from strength to strength with excellent hole following excellent hole... the clever dogleg 10th where the right-hand water, tree and sand seem blessed with magnetic properties; another elevated tee with a mountain view on 11; and then the pretty par-3 16th, with a walled stream to the front and an amphitheatre of trees providing a stirring backdrop. By the time I was chipping and putting to save par on 18, with glorious views out over the surrounding villages, I’d run the ‘good shot’ bank dry, but this had in no way detracted from the experience. So, was it better than Le Riou? Not necessarily better, but definitely more demanding.

The Le Riou course is around 700 yards shorter and certainly less demanding off the tee in terms of accuracy. It is arguably more playable and enjoyable for a wider range of handicaps. There are some fun risk and reward holes, like the downhill, dogleg par four 7^th where the long hitters can cut the corner with the driver should they wish, or take an iron to the corner for safety. Both the 9^th and 18^th are tricky finishing holes to the front and back nines, both with water lurking down the right to snaffle a wayward drive.

I’m certain anyone that makes the journey will leave Terre Blanche having experienced a hugely enjoyable trip – great golf and great food in great surroundings. Whether you take on the challenge of the golf courses or relax in the quaint surroundings of the hotel and luxury spa, you’ll find your ideal way to pass the time. The blend of facilities, and easy access from Nice airport, makes Terre Blanche the ideal retreat for families or couples. You really won’t leave disappointed.

Golf de Reims is an historic parkland course with an even more historic clubhouse that was literarily fit for a king

Golf de Reims is a parkland course in the Champagne region of France. In case you forget where you are – maybe as a result of drinking too much of the local produce? - every hole is named after a Champagne house.

Champagne is the reason Golf de Reims was built, so the current owners told us. The course opened, as a nine holer, in 1928, as an added attraction for the English who came to sample and buy the local produce.

Indeed, the pro here has described the course as “like an old English engraving”.

Of Tom Simpson’s original nine-hole course only two holes remain. One of them is the 18^th, the best hole on the existing 18-hole Golf de Reims course. This par 4 gently curves and descends with a lake on the right complete with all that you would ask for your chocolate box lid – arched bridge, weeping willow, ducks, the works.

In the background, peeping through trees is the moated clubhouse. It is the part of a castle built by Henry IV, who reigned over France from 1589 to 1610, and where he housed his mistresses, or Dames De France as they were more exaltedly known.

When Golf de Reims came to expand and burst its boundaries, the farmer who had the land adjoining the nine-hole course declined to sell his land, so instead the course hops across the road and carves a way through forest for 14 holes.

The opening two and final two holes are on the original plot of land, the remainder of which has been turned over to a practice area.

The holes through the forest section tend to follow a similar pattern – straight, medium-length par 4s through an avenue of trees and without fairway bunkers.

Exceptions include the 9^th, a late-turning right dogleg over a lake, and the 12^th, a par 3 of 162 yards at its maximum, played over a pond.

The course’s defences rely a lot on the subtle undulations of the greens. There are some tough greens such as the 14th where the putting surface is like an upturned saucer with bunkers front right, front left and on left flank of green.

Golf de Reims, along with Golf de l’Ailette, which 45 minutes by road to the North, are among the 150 courses which are part of the Golfy Network.

Golfy cards offer discounts to members when booking at clubs in its network. These cards are  reasonably inexpensive – the basic Indigo Golfy Card costs €45 for UK residents. It gives 25% off green fees at all Golfy courses. It also gives 15% off accommodation at participating hotels. The more expensive Platinum Golfy Card comes with larger discounts and a range of extra benefits.

Golf de l’Ailette has much a variety to its hole designs and some glorious lakeside views, which are shared by its sister hotel

Golf de l’Ailette is a golf course in the Champagne region of France with much a variety to its hole designs and some glorious lakeside views.

The course takes a while to get into its stride, with the first hole probably the worst on the course.

The 2nd is a par 3 which slopes gently towards the lake. The hole design is unspectacular but the views behind the green make up for this.

The first five holes loop around the driving range which is right in front of the clubhouse, and which the clubhouse terrace overlooks. A feature of the driving range is two sets of rugby posts, put there to act as a target. This must be a local custom, as Golf de Reims, which we played the next day, also has rugby post on its practice range.

The 4th is another attractive hole, running alongside a huge lake which borders the course. Golf de l’Ailette is at its a most beautiful when it is lakeside.

After the opening five-hole loop, comes a four-hole one on the other side of the clubhouse, and on hilly terrain.

This loop starts with a steeply rising par 3 of which opinion divided, but which I liked. Then follows two par 5s. The 7th plummets away from the tee to a fairway well below it.

The 8th dips to a stream just over halfway along its length and then rises up again.

The 9th is a very enjoyable par 3, cleverly making use of the descending terrain.

After some steep inclines on this loop, that the back nine at Golf de l’Ailette is generally flat may come as a welcome relief to the calves. The back nine is the superior half and has some beautiful holes.

The par-4 10th requires an approach over water just short of the green.

Then the 11th doglegs around a pretty lake. It’s a par 4 on which the long hitters can attack the green from the tee. The rest of us have to decide how much of the dogleg to cut off. But be too timid and a trio of trees on the fairway can block out the second shot.

The 17th goes back across this lake, as an attractive par 3. But the most beautiful stretch of holes comes at the extremities of the course.

Here is the par-3 14th, which threads its way between two ponds to a raised green, and the 15th, which is a par 4 where the drive cuts off a corner of the lake – again you decide how bold a drive you wish to take on.

The views from the course are superb, with wooded hillside and this large man-made lake, on which are sailing boats weaving to and fro, and on far side of the lake elegant coloured houses which, we were surprised to learn later, were actually part of Center Parcs. On the hillside above the lake is a church, and the bells began to peel out as we played, adding to the enchantment of this particular spot at the time we played.

The closing holes at Golf de l’Ailette have some low stroke indexes, so if you are playing handicap match this could make things interesting. The 15th is SI 5, the 16th SI 1 and the 18th SI 3.

The 16th is the toughest of the par 5s.  It is narrow, long - 597 yards from the tips, 586 from the yellows – and played to a narrow green flanked by the lake on the right.

Also sharing this idyllic lakeside location is the Hotel du Golf de l’Ailette. The hotel faces the lake, with a lawned area, terrace and swimming pool all lakeside. Behind them the bedroom balconies overlook the lake. The rooms are comfortable and well equipped.

Hotel du Golf de l’Ailette is laid out in an angular C shape and to get the best views go for the central section.  On the first and second floors, avoid the lowest and highest numbered rooms on each floor as the view is partly blocked by trees. But I had room 202 and the view, albeit partially obscured, was still grand!

Both hotel and golf course are part of the Golfy Network, which offers discounts to members when booking at these venues.

Golfy cards are open to all and are reasonably inexpensive – the basic Indigo Golfy Card costs €45 to UK residents, and gives 25% off green fees at all Golfy courses. It also gives 15% off accommodation at Hotel du Golf de l’Ailette and all other participating hotels. The more expensive Platinum Golfy Card comes with larger discounts and a range of extra benefits.

Contributing Editor Rob Smith reviews the beautiful clifftop course at Etretat

Etretat Golf Club Course Review

Because of the rigours of playing beautiful courses for Golf Monthly, it is sometimes a pleasure to go away with friends and play golf completely off-duty. So it was that I headed via the Eurotunnel in May to northern France to spend a few days in the delightful harbour town of Honfleur with a dozen friends from my home club, Tandridge.

Despite the petrol shortages and a sat-nav based on medieval trading routes, we found the charming clubhouse at Etretat Golf Club which looks out over the closing hole and the dramatic tee on the tough par-5 10th.

Weather Conditions

A bright, sunny late Spring afternoon but with a stiff breeze that cooled substantially in the late afternoon

FootJoy Outfit

Shoes: Hydrolite, Shirt: Smooth Pique, Mid Layer: Chill-out Pullover, Trousers: Performance, Glove: Sci-Flex Tour

Suitably fortified by omelette and fizzy drinks, we headed out onto the course which begins with a short uphill par-5 and a tree-shrouded par 3 before opening up onto more exciting terrain out along the cliffs. The 4th is your first chance to hit into the sea, though you would have to thin your approach pretty badly to reach the 250-feet high cliff-edge beyond the green.

There are several good holes before you reach the best on the front nine, the dogleg left 8th which has fine views to the cliffs beyond the town.

This is followed by a tricky short hole which, at over 180 yards and in any kind of a wind, belies its index of 18.

The back nine begins with a huge question mark over how much of the dogleg to take on. In retrospect, the answer is very little as most of us drove over the brow to find knee-high rough and worse still, white posts. Nonetheless, it is a hole full of character with more superb views back down to the town.

The 11th is an excellent but demanding par 3 played over a severe dip which for some of us called for driver.

The next three take you right along the cliff-tops; a par 5 followed by a tough par 3 and a short par 4. The middle of these, the 13th is the same length as the 11th but in the opposite direction - on the former I took a 5-wood, on the latter, a 7-iron.

Into the wind, the closing four holes are a very tough proposition with the final par 5 at 18 about 550 yards and playing roughly twice that.

Overall, Etretat is a very enjoyable course in a magnificent location. Dating back to 1908 but with many modifications over the years, it makes for an ideal stop-off en route to or from north-west France.

Gorgeous scenery, but is there any room for good golf courses among all those endless vineyards? Yes - just about! I begin at the Links of Alsace, a friendly club with a tough track from the back tees and some great par 3s over water. Then comes the hugely enjoyable LaLargue minutes from the Swiss border, followed by Ammerschwihr in the heart of the Alsace region with a fabulous run of holes from the 8th through to the 17th - truly a track all about position from the tee. And have I mentioned the stunning Bugatti collection at the Museum of the Automobile in Mulhouse? Read more...

Perhaps not an obvious choice for a golfing vacation, particularly in high summer. But then why bother with ultra-busy Spain and Portugal when you can have satisfyingly affordable, wonderfully serene fairways in a range of tracks from links to parkland to American-style - all just an hour's flight from the UK? Thrown in some of the planet's finest seafood and wine and it's not hard to appreciate why Brittany refreshes the parts other weekend golf breaks just can't reach. From youthful tracks rapidly becoming must-play courses to great hotels with first-rate practice greens and ranges - invariably with a backdrop of forest and lake. Read more...