La Foret
The quieter sister to the famous La Mer links, La Foret is the original course at Golf du Touquet, a Horace Hutchinson design from 1904 that winds through a tall maritime pine forest. A par 71 of about 5,770 metres, it trades the dunes for tranquillity, small tricky greens and a sheltered calm just inland from the Channel.
Photo: Golf du Touquet, Resonance Golf Collection via Google.
The verdict
Golf du Touquet has two faces. La Mer, the Harry Colt links along the dunes, takes most of the headlines, but the resort was founded on La Foret, laid out by the English amateur champion and writer Horace Hutchinson in 1904 and threaded through a forest of maritime pines planted to stabilise the coastal sand. It is the calmer, more sheltered round, a par 71 of about 5,770 metres, and it has a charm entirely its own.
What La Foret asks for is accuracy rather than length. The pines press in on the driving lines, the fairways tumble and turn, and the greens are small, quick and full of subtle borrow, so a wayward tee shot is quickly punished and a precise one richly rewarded. For a travelling golfer it is the ideal companion to a windy day on La Mer, an easier walk in the trees that still tests the short game and the nerve. Together the two courses make Le Touquet one of the great golf escapes within easy reach of Paris and the Channel ports.
La Foret at a glance
- Established
- 1904
- Designer
- Horace Hutchinson
- Type
- Forest, inland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 5,770 m
- Green fee
- From about 90 euros
Opening year, designer, par and length verified June 2026 from Golf du Touquet and leading course databases. La Foret opened in 1904 to a Horace Hutchinson layout, a par 71 of roughly 5,770 metres through the pines. Indicative green fees from around ninety euros for eighteen holes vary by day and season, 2026. Always confirm current rates and tee availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
La Foret plays gently across sandy, free draining ground that wears its age well, the pines giving the round a hushed, enclosed feel that is a world away from the exposed links a few hundred metres west. The opening holes set the tone, narrow corridors of fairway where position off the tee matters far more than raw distance.
The greens are the heart of the test. Small, firm and quick, often raised and subtly contoured, they punish an approach from the wrong angle and reward the player who has thought a shot ahead. Several short par 4s tempt the bold to take on the trees, while the par 3s are pretty and exacting, asking for a controlled, flighted iron to a target ringed by pine.
Because the forest shelters the course from the worst of the Channel wind, La Foret tends to play to its number more honestly than its links sister, which makes it the smart choice on a blustery day. It is a thinking golfers walk in the trees, a round that values touch and placement over power from first hole to last.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course, open to visitors and societies; book ahead in summer and at weekends |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees from around ninety euros for eighteen holes, more in peak season (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Through the Golf du Touquet pro shop or resort website; ask about two course and twilight rates |
| On the day | A flat, walkable forest course; trolleys and buggies available |
| Getting there | Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, about two and a half hours from Paris and ninety minutes from Calais |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest turf, though the forest course drains well year round |
Access and fees verified June 2026; rates and tee availability change by day and season, so always confirm directly before booking through the resort or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
Le Touquet-Paris-Plage is a polished Belle Epoque resort town with grand hotels, a fine sweep of beach and a lively centre of restaurants and shops, all within a short drive of the golf. Many visitors stay at the resort's own hotel beside the courses, while the town offers everything from classic seaside grand hotels to smaller boutique boltholes.
La Foret pairs naturally with La Mer for a two course stay, and the wider Hauts de France region adds Hardelot and the dunes courses of the Opal Coast for a fuller links and forest week. With Paris, Lille and the Channel ports all close, it is one of the easiest premium golf escapes to reach from Britain or the capital.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near La Foret.
Build a Le Touquet golf trip
We book La Foret and La Mer together, add the best of the Opal Coast and arrange the hotel beside the first tee. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and a concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
La Foret questions
Who designed La Foret at Golf du Touquet and when did it open?
La Foret is the original course at Golf du Touquet, designed by the English amateur champion and writer Horace Hutchinson and opened in 1904. It is a par 71 of about 5,770 metres through maritime pine forest.
How is La Foret different from La Mer?
La Mer is the celebrated Harry Colt links along the dunes, exposed to the Channel wind. La Foret is the older, sheltered forest course inland, calmer and shorter but demanding on its small, quick greens. Many golfers play both.
Can visitors play La Foret?
Yes. La Foret is a resort course open to visitors and societies, with indicative green fees from around ninety euros for eighteen holes in 2026. Book through the Golf du Touquet pro shop and confirm current rates before travel.
How do I get to Le Touquet for golf?
Le Touquet-Paris-Plage sits on the Opal Coast about two and a half hours from Paris and ninety minutes from Calais, making it an easy drive from the Channel ports or the capital.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Opening year, designer, par and length verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.