Best golf courses in France

Immaculately maintained and benefitting from sunshine nearly all year round, Terre Blanche is another jewel in the crown of French golf. The Chateau Course was transformed from merely hilly landscape into absolute golfing heaven that is a test for any golfer. The onsite resort and Le Riou course are also an added attraction to this already great golf course.

The Fontainebleau forest is one of France’s most beautiful, with a delightful golf course intertwining through it. Another quest of Tom Simpson’s on his French travels, the course has undergone several changes that makes it into the masterpiece it is today. But the English architect’s heritage certainly comes through on the layout where the fairways carefully wind through the stunning forest.

This is comfortably the best course in the South West of France, which is saying something with the rich selection of layouts to choose from. Located to the north of the wine capital of the world, Bordeaux, Les Châteaux Course at Golf du Medoc bares reminiscence of an inland links with even some heather and gorse to be aware of.

This is one of the most exclusive venues in Europe with only a handful of members belonging here. Set in the enchanting Loire Valley, Les Bordes will take your breath away from the moment you arrive. The conditioning of the course is second to none, perfectly manicured full of challenging island greens and lengthy rough. Don’t ever miss out on the chance to play at Les Bordes as they don’t come along very often.

Set amongst beautifully lined oak trees and winding vineyards, this five-star, 18-hole golf course was designed by none other than Tom Doak, one of the world’s best architects. The natural and free-flowing route from hole to hole mixed together with the stunning vineyard fringing off the course makes for an enjoyable golfing round for golfers of all levels. Don’t forget to take in the breathtaking panoramic views across this stunning course as you relax in the clubhouse after you’re round.

The Open de France has been held here since 1991 and some big European names have taken the title, including Miguel Angel Jimenez, Graeme McDowell and Colin Montgomerie. The 2018 Ryder Cup is being held here with the stunning venue set to welcome the best golfers in the world. The layout is arguably perfectly suited for match play, with many of the closing holes sided by water.

Flamboyant English architect Tom Simpson hopped across the channel back in 1909 to design what would soon become one of the continent’s most glorious courses. First sights will be of the wonderfully traditional clubhouse but the Vineuil Course will soon leave you scratching your head. The tough layout has brutally unforgiving rough but the experience is one that will live long in the memory.

Set in the North West of France and very near Calais, the beautiful Hardelot Les Pins course is delightfully set amongst dunes and a wonderful pine forest. Benefitting from the Gulf Stream, Hardelot enjoys warm weather for a vast majority of the year whilst also having enough rain to keeps the fairways fresh. The clubhouse is also divine and with the course being so well located only half an hour away from the Channel Tunnel, Hardelot is a great early addition to your French golf break.

This stunning seaside venue is set in the golfing hotbed of Le Touquet and has played host to 6 French Opens itself. One Seve Ballesteros won the title when it was last held here in 1977 and the layout still provides a tough test today. After an extensive redesign back in 2015, the La Mer layout will now definitely be thrown back into the mix as a championship golf course in the not so distant future.