Le Golf National Albatros
Hubert Chesneau and Robert von Hagge built the Albatros at Le Golf National on flat farmland southwest of Paris, shaping it into a stadium course that staged the 2018 Ryder Cup and the 2024 Olympic golf. A par 72 of 7,331 yards, it is one of the great modern championship courses in Europe.
Photo: Le Golf National via Google.
The verdict
Opened in 1990, the Albatros was conceived as a tournament stage, and few courses do the job better. Hubert Chesneau and Robert von Hagge moved vast quantities of earth on a featureless site at Guyancourt to create amphitheatre mounding, lakes and a finish that funnels the drama toward huge galleries. It has hosted the Open de France since 1991 and reached the wider world in 2018.
That September the Albatros staged the Ryder Cup, where Europe overwhelmed the United States and Francesco Molinari sealed the win, a week that defined the course in the public mind. The closing holes around the water, the 15th, 16th and 18th, are as demanding a finish as the game offers. It returned to the spotlight as the 2024 Olympic venue, confirming its place among Europe's best.
Le Golf National Albatros at a glance
- Opened
- 1990
- Designer
- Hubert Chesneau and Robert von Hagge
- Type
- Stadium
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,331 yds
- Green fee
- EUR 145
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Le Golf National and leading course databases. The Albatros was designed by Hubert Chesneau and Robert von Hagge and opened in 1990, a par 72 of 7,331 yards. The visitor green fee ran from about 145 to 220 euros depending on day and season (indicative, 2026). Always confirm current rates directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Albatros is a stadium course in the fullest sense, its mounding built to seat tens of thousands and its water hazards placed to punish the timid and the greedy alike. From the back tees it stretches to 7,331 yards, a genuine championship test, though forward tees keep it playable for the visitor.
Water dominates the closing stretch. The par 3 16th plays to a green almost surrounded by the lake, and the 18th asks for two precise shots over water to a peninsula green ringed by grandstand mounding, the very hole where the Ryder Cup was decided in 2018. It is target golf with links touches, firm and fast when the tournament season comes.
Course management is everything on the Albatros. The lakes gather the loose shot and the mounding feeds the cautious one back toward trouble, so the player who picks a line and commits is rewarded. To walk the same closing holes the world's best have played, with the galleries imagined around you, is the draw of a round here.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public resort course; book in advance, with the Albatros the premium of three courses on site |
| Green fee | Around 145 to 220 euros depending on day and season (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve ahead through Le Golf National; tee times can be busy around tournament dates |
| On the day | Walking or buggy; the championship tees are long, so play the right tee for your game |
| Getting there | Guyancourt, about 30 minutes southwest of central Paris and Versailles |
| Best months | May to September for the warm, dry French summer when the course runs firm |
Access and fees verified June 2026; rates and availability change by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Le Golf National has a hotel on site, the simplest base for a stay that takes in all three courses, with Versailles and its palace a short drive away. The wider Paris region offers some of the finest hotels and dining anywhere.
For a golf trip, Paris combines the Albatros with day trips to the historic clubs of the city's western suburbs. It is an easy add to any visit to the French capital, world class golf 30 minutes from the centre.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Le Golf National Albatros.
Build a France golf trip
We secure Albatros tee times, pair them with the best of the Paris region and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Le Golf National Albatros questions
Who designed the Albatros at Le Golf National and when did it open?
The Albatros was designed by Hubert Chesneau and Robert von Hagge and opened in 1990, built as a stadium course on farmland southwest of Paris.
What is the par and length of the Albatros?
The Albatros is a par 72 of 7,331 yards from the championship tees, with multiple forward tees that keep it playable for the visiting golfer.
What tournaments has the Albatros hosted?
The Albatros has hosted the Open de France since 1991, the 2018 Ryder Cup, where Europe regained the cup, and the 2024 Olympic golf competition.
Can visitors play the Albatros?
Yes. The Albatros is a public resort course and the premium of three courses at Le Golf National. The green fee ran from about 145 to 220 euros depending on day and season; always confirm directly before booking.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.