Best golf courses: France - North

Brittany has an exceptional coastline with many beaches, fishing villages and islands, a remarkable historical heritage to be seen in the towns and villages and some of the finest prehistoric landmarks in the world. Here is a rundown on the best golf courses in the north of France.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Boulogne
Dudok van Heel, Joan

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Boulogne

Designer

Joan Dudok van Heel

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Reims
Gayon, Michel

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Reims

Designer

Michel Gayon

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Lille
Cornillot, Jean-Claude

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lille

Designer

Jean-Claude Cornillot

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Boulogne
Rossi, Jean-Manuel

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Boulogne

Designer

French designer Jean-Manuel Rossi

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Lille
Hawtree, Fred W.

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lille

Designer

Frederick W. "Fred" Hawtree.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Lille
Jones Sr, Robert Trent

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lille

Designer

Robert Trent Jones Sr.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Wkends restrictd
Lille
Baker, Bill

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Lille

Designer

Bill Baker

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Le Havre
Park Jr, Willie

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Le Havre

Designer

Willie Park Jr.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Le Havre
Chantepie, Julien

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Le Havre

Designer

Julien Chantepie, assisted by Arnaud Massy, laid out the original 13 holes. The course was revised by Didier Fruchet (1992).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Boulogne
Cornillot, Jean-Claude

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Boulogne

Designer

French designer Jean-Claude Cornillot with Baron Paul Rolin (Belgium).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Boulogne
Simpson, Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Boulogne

Designer

Original design by Tom Simpson (1931); significant renovation by Frank Pont & Patrice Boissonnas (2013).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Boulogne
Hutchinson, Horace

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Boulogne

Designer

La Forêt: designed by Horace Hutchinson and Nick Lane Jackson* (opened 1904).
La Mer: designed by Harry Colt (opened 1931).

*Note: "Pa" Jackson is also closely associated with Stoke Park in west London, and GC de Cabourg (Le Home) in Normandie.

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Boulogne
Colt, Harry

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Boulogne

Designer

La Forêt: designed by Horace Hutchinson and Nick Lane Jackson* (opened 1904).
La Mer: designed by Harry Colt (opened 1931).

*Note: "Pa" Jackson is also closely associated with Stoke Park in west London, and GC de Cabourg (Le Home) in Normandie.

Unrated: Well regarded course not yet visited by the Where2Golf team.
Visitors welcome
Lille
Gayon, Michel

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Lille

Designer

Michel Gayon designed all three nines: Val de Marque (opened 2008), La Valutte (2010) and Rupilly (2014).

2-star: Reasonably okay course - if better courses not available.
Visitors welcome
Boulogne
Chatterton, Thomas

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Boulogne

Designer

Thomas Chatterton

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Rouen
Hawtree, Fred W.

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Rouen

Designer

Frederick W. "Fred" Hawtree

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Boulogne
Hutchison & Campbell

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Boulogne

Designer

Current layout by English architects Cecil K. Hutchison & Sir Guy Campbell (1920s).

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Tournaments

Presidents Cup: Geoff Ogilvy’s International Team take on Brandt Snedeker’s USA Team at the revered Medinah Country Club, near Chicago. The Internationals are trying to halt a run of 11 consecutive American wins. (Sept 24-27).

French Open: Continental Europe’s oldest national championship, dating from 1906, is once again staged on the Albatros Course at Le Golf National, near Paris. Defending champion is America’s Michael Kim. (Sept 24-27).

Recently visited

Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.

The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.

The Dutch GC, The Netherlands

The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.

Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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