Le Golf National

Le Golf National, Albatros Course

The Albatros is Le Golf National's centrepiece and the annual host of the French Open. Ranked 4th in France and 9th in continental Europe, it was designed by Hubert Chesneau with consultancy from Robert Von Hagge, blending hints of Florida, a splash of Ireland and a lot of France. This stadium course was built to modern championship standards and joined the elite list of courses to have staged a Ryder Cup in 2018.

This is the toughest golf course around Paris. Enormous, undulating greens are sculpted around sweeping lakes and deep bunkers. The rugged feel of the Albatros reminds you immediately that this is a proper golf course, not a resort walk-in-the-park. It's built to test even the best.

Wind is a factor here more often than you'd expect for an inland course. The exposed nature of the layout means club selection can shift by two or three clubs depending on the day, and the greens are firm enough that you'll need to think about landing areas rather than just firing at flags. The bunkering is penal, the rough is thick, and if you're offline you're scrambling.

The closing stretch is where drama unfolds. The 13th brings water into play, followed by a reachable par five, then a breathtaking run home. Water guards the 15th and 16th, the 17th is a long, demanding par four, and the 18th brings water back into the equation. Everything can change over these final holes, and if you've kept it together to that point, you'll know exactly why the pros talk about this finish the way they do.

The Albatros Course at Le Golf National is ranked as one of the best courses in France. Want help locking in tee times and the right hotel base? We can build Le Golf National into a tailored France break.

What the pros say:

"It's a very dramatic and therefore a great course for The Ryder Cup. Especially the last few holes where everything will be decided. The 13th, with the water, then a par five which you can reach in two, then the last few holes are really breathtaking. On 15 and 16 you have water, 17 being a long par four and 18 water again so a lot of things can happen on the closing holes. It's going to be quite thrilling." – Jose Maria Olazabal

"I think Le Golf National is a fantastic Ryder Cup venue for many reasons. Firstly, I can think of worse places in the world to stay in than Versailles, the Trianon Palace and the great hospitality and great food that we enjoy here. But on the golf course, the last four or five holes, in the natural amphitheatre that this golf course creates, I can only imagine how good the buzz will be coming down 15 and 16. They are about as good and dramatic a risk-reward par three and four you'll get. Then the 17th is a great par four and for matches that do come down the last, there's not going to be a better par four on The European Tour than the last at Le Golf National. I can really picture 40, 50, 60,000 people up on those slopes around that little cauldron of the last four holes, and I think the atmosphere will be amazing." – Graeme McDowell

Le Golf National, Aigle Course

The Aigle is the one you'll be glad you played if your group has a spread of handicaps. It's shorter at 6,489 yards and gives you the same rugged, slightly linksy feel, but without quite so many 'reload' moments.

In practice, that means you can swing freely, get used to the visuals and the ever-present sand and water features in the background, then save your full concentration, and a fresh sleeve, for the Albatros. The course still asks questions. You'll face elevation changes, firm turf that rewards good ball-striking, and enough strategic bunkering to keep you honest. But the hazards are more forgiving, the greens are a touch more accessible, and the overall set-up lets higher handicappers stay in the game for longer.

For plenty of golfers, it's also the perfect first-round course after travel day, especially if you've come over on an early Eurostar or a quick flight into Paris. You get your eye in, shake off the journey, and build confidence before stepping onto the Albatros the next morning.

If you're travelling as a society or corporate group, the Aigle is a smart pairing for matchplay formats too. You still get a proper test, the course has enough character to feel memorable, and it tends to keep everyone engaged rather than watching balls disappear into water on every other hole. It's also a good option if you're planning multiple rounds over a long weekend and want variety without the relentless pressure of back-to-back championship golf.

The 'links character' here is more about feel than pure seaside golf. You'll notice the firm, fast-running fairways, the open exposure to wind, and the need to shape shots rather than just hit it high and hope. It's parkland in setting but plays with a bit of bite, and that makes it a solid warm-up or a worthy round in its own right if the Albatros isn't on the agenda.