Region: Paris, Normandy, Loire Valley & Bordeaux, France | Best Time: May–September | Nearest Airport: Paris CDG, Bordeaux (BOD), Nantes (NTE)
Editor’s Note: Beyond the Côte d’Azur and Evian, France possesses a remarkable golf landscape that remains largely invisible to UK visitors. The Île-de-France has produced some of Europe’s finest parkland courses — Les Bordes is one of the greatest courses ever built, situated in the forested Loire Valley like a secret kept for insiders. Normandy’s coastal links golf is authentic and wind-swept. Bordeaux’s Château des Vigiers combines wine, gastronomy and golf in the Dordogne’s golden country. This is golf for those who understand France goes far beyond Paris and the Riviera.
The 5 Courses to Play
1. Les Bordes Golf International — Loire Valley ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: Robert von Hagge (1987) | Par/Yardage: 72 / 6,907 yards | Rating: 75.8 / 148
- Why Play It: Consistently ranked the best course in France and one of the top 50 in the world — built by Baron Marcel Bich (Bic pen magnate) as a private course for friends. Now open to the public, Les Bordes winds through Sologne forest with 14 water features, dramatic elevation changes and greens of Augusta quality. The estate hotel, renovated in 2021, is exceptional. An absolute must-play for any serious golfer visiting France.
- Book: lesbordes.com | Green fees from €295
2. Golf National — Paris ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: Hubert Chesneau & Robert von Hagge (1990) | Par/Yardage: 71 / 6,966 yards | Rating: 76.1 / 144
- Why Play It: Host of the 2018 Ryder Cup — the most important European golf moment of the modern era. The Albatros course’s island greens, massive water features and tiered amphitheatre finish produced one of the sport’s most dramatic spectacles. 25 minutes from Paris CDG airport; a legitimate pilgrimage course and France’s most accessible championship test.
- Book: golf-national.com | Green fees from €90
3. Golf de Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche — Paris ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: Fred Hawtree (1959) | Par/Yardage: 72 / 6,625 yards (Red Course)
- Why Play It: The Augusta of France — an extraordinarily private members’ club 30 minutes west of Paris in the Versailles forest. Host of the Lancôme Trophy (now Rolex Trophy) for 40 years — Seve, Ballesteros, Faldo and Tiger have all played here. Access by introduction; pursue it through the membership. The Red and Blue courses combined provide 36 of the finest holes in French golf.
- Book: saintnom.com
4. Golf d’Étretat — Normandy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: Arnaud Massy (1908) | Par/Yardage: 70 / 5,607 yards
- Why Play It: One of the most spectacular course locations in Europe — perched on the chalk cliffs of Étretat that Monet painted obsessively, with the English Channel stretching to the horizon. The historic layout threads through the clifftop meadows above the famous Arch and Needle rock formations. The short yardage is deceptive; the wind, terrain and views make every hole a genuine adventure. Étretat village below is one of France’s most beautiful.
- Book: golfdétretat.com | Green fees from €65
5. Château des Vigiers Golf — Dordogne ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: Donald Steel (1992) | Par/Yardage: 72 / 6,266 yards
- Why Play It: A 17th-century Bordeaux château estate combining a Donald Steel golf course with a vineyard, hotel, Michelin-calibre restaurant and spa. The course winds through vineyards, forests and lake-side holes in the Dordogne valley — every hole has the visual richness of a French impressionist painting. The estate’s own Bergerac wine is served at post-round dinner. The definition of French golfing civilisation.
- Book: vigiers.com | Green fees from €75
Where to Stay
- Les Bordes Estate Hotel (5★): The Loire Valley’s finest golf retreat — manor house suites within the estate, direct course access and exceptional French cuisine. Check availability on Expedia →
- Château des Vigiers (4★): 17th-century château hotel on the golf course — the most complete wine-golf experience in France.
- Le Grand Hôtel Cabourg (5★): Marcel Proust’s hotel on the Normandy coast — 40 minutes from Golf d’Étretat. Belle Époque grandeur facing the English Channel.
- Trianon Palace Versailles — A Waldorf Astoria (5★): The ideal Paris base for both Golf National and Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, adjacent to the Palace of Versailles.
Practical Information
- Getting There: Paris CDG (2h 15m from London Heathrow) serves Golf National and Saint-Nom. Bordeaux (BOD) serves Château des Vigiers — 1h 50m from London. Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris in 2h 15m; TGV from Paris to Bordeaux 2h 10m.
- Best Time: May–September. Les Bordes is open April–October. Golf d’Étretat is year-round but best May–September for optimal cliff-walk conditions.
- Regional Food: Normandy — Camembert, calvados and moules marinières. Loire Valley — Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé and freshwater pike. Dordogne — foie gras, confit duck, Périgord truffles and Bergerac wine. Each course’s surrounding gastronomy is as compelling as the golf.