Golf de Fontainebleau
In the great forest south of Paris, Golf de Fontainebleau is one of the country's finest Golden Age courses. Dating to 1909 and shaped around 1920 by Tom Simpson, this par 72 runs through birch, pine and sandstone outcrops, a strategic heathland test where contour and bunkering, not length, do the defending.
Photo: Fontainebleau Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Fontainebleau is heathland golf in the heart of one of France's most beautiful forests, and it plays as good as it looks. The club dates to 1909, when Julien Chantepie first laid out a course, but it is the redesign around 1920 by the English architect Tom Simpson that gave it the strategy and shape it still carries. The result is a par 72 routed through birch, pine and oak on sandy ground, with rocky sandstone outcrops adding drama you do not expect so close to Paris.
This is a course about position and judgment rather than power. Simpson set the bunkers to tempt and punish in equal measure, and the green contours ask for the approach played from the right angle. It is eminently walkable, quietly grand, and a natural pairing with the town of Fontainebleau and its chateau for a civilized day out of the capital. See our best of France ranking and the golf in France guide.
Fontainebleau at a glance
- Course dates to
- 1909
- Designer
- Tom Simpson (1920 redesign)
- Type
- Heathland and forest
- Par
- 72
- Holes
- 18
- Length
- About 6,200 m
Designer, dates and course character verified June 2026 from Planet Golf, Where2Golf and Golf Club Atlas. The course dates to 1909, originally by Julien Chantepie, with the defining redesign by Tom Simpson around 1920; it is a par 72 measuring roughly 6,200 meters. Green fees are an indicative guide from around 90 euros to 130 euros depending on season and day, with weekdays the usual window for visitors. Always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
What sets Fontainebleau apart is the ground it is built on. Holes climb and fall over undulating heath, weaving between stands of mature forest and past the pale sandstone boulders that are the signature of the region. The fairways spill across natural contours rather than fight them, and the bunkering is placed with the cunning that made Simpson's name, often pinching exactly the line a confident player wants to take.
The greens are the chief defense. They are firm, subtly sloped and well guarded, and a round here is decided as much by where you leave the ball as by how far you hit it. The par 3s are particularly fine, each demanding a precise, committed strike to a green that gives nothing away to the loose shot.
There is no water drama and little brute length, and the course is all the better for it. Fontainebleau is the kind of design that rewards thought and repays repeat play, a course you finish wanting to go straight back out and try a smarter line. For lovers of classic architecture it is essential French golf.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A private club that welcomes visiting golfers, generally on weekdays and subject to a recognized handicap |
| Green fee | An indicative guide from around 90 euros to 130 euros depending on season and day |
| Booking | Reserve in advance through the club or your trip planner; weekday tee times are easiest to secure |
| On the day | A strategic heathland and forest test; standard golf dress code with collared shirts |
| Walking | Eminently walkable over rolling ground; buggies are limited, so most golfers walk |
| Getting there | At Fontainebleau in the Seine-et-Marne, about 60 km southeast of central Paris |
Fees and access verified June 2026; the indicative green fees vary by season, so always confirm the current rate and tee availability directly before booking. Book a tee time through our trip desk.
Where to stay nearby
The town of Fontainebleau, with its royal chateau and forest, makes an elegant base, full of good hotels and restaurants within minutes of the first tee. It is a destination in its own right, which makes a golf trip here feel like a proper escape from the city rather than a day round.
For a fuller Paris golf break, pair Fontainebleau with the classic clubs west of the capital and the resort golf at Le Golf National. See our golf in France guide and the Le Golf National Aigle profile for how they fit a wider itinerary.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Fontainebleau and Paris.
Build a Paris golf trip
We book the weekday tee times at Fontainebleau and build a Paris golf break around it, from the classic clubs to Le Golf National. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Fontainebleau questions
Who designed Golf de Fontainebleau and when did it open?
The course dates to 1909, originally laid out by Julien Chantepie, and was redesigned around 1920 by the English architect Tom Simpson, whose heathland routing gives it its enduring character.
Can visitors play Golf de Fontainebleau?
Yes, Fontainebleau is a private club that welcomes visiting golfers, generally on weekdays and subject to a recognized handicap. Tee times are best arranged in advance through the club or your trip planner. Always confirm access and rates directly before booking.
What is Golf de Fontainebleau like to play?
It is a par 72 heathland and forest course routed through birch, pine, oak and sandstone outcrops, with green contours and deep bunkers the chief defense rather than length. It is a strategic, walkable Golden Age design south of Paris.
What are green fees at Golf de Fontainebleau?
Green fees are an indicative guide from around 90 euros to 130 euros depending on season and day, with weekdays the usual window for visitors. Always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, dates and course character verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.