Les Bordes Old
Robert von Hagge carved the Old Course out of the Sologne forest in 1987 for Baron Marcel Bich, a par 72 of about 7,026 yards laced with water and sand that has stood for decades as one of the hardest and most beautiful inland tests in Europe. Since 2018 it plays as a private retreat for members and their guests only.
Photo: Les Bordes Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Robert von Hagge routed the Old Course at Les Bordes through dense Sologne woodland south of the Loire in 1987, and almost from the first season it earned a reputation as the toughest course in France and one of the most exacting in continental Europe. A par 72 of roughly 7,026 yards from the tips, it threads heroic carries over water and around acres of sand through a forest so quiet you hear nothing but birdsong between shots.
Our verdict is that Les Bordes Old is a bucket list round for the strong player who wants to be tested and a humbling one for everyone else, played in a setting of rare seclusion and immaculate conditioning. It is also one of the harder tee times in golf to arrange, because since 2018 the estate has run as a private members club, so access is the first thing to plan, not the last.
Les Bordes Old at a glance
- Opened
- 1987
- Designer
- Robert von Hagge
- Type
- Forest parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,026 yds
- Green fee
- Members and guests
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Les Bordes Golf Club and leading course databases. The Old Course was designed by Robert von Hagge and opened in 1987, a par 72 of about 7,026 yards. Les Bordes is a private members estate; there is no published public green fee, so always confirm access and any guest arrangement directly before planning a visit.
The holes worth the trip
Les Bordes Old is defined by water and forest. Von Hagge brought lakes and ponds into play on roughly a dozen holes, and the corridors are tight enough that position off the tee matters far more than raw length. The greens are large but heavily contoured, and with the firm, fast conditioning the estate keeps, the wrong section can leave a near impossible two putt.
The signature stretch is the run around the water, where the par 3 over the lake and the reachable par 5s ask you to take on the carry or lay back and accept a longer route in. The 18th is one of the great closing holes in French golf, a long par 4 played to a green guarded by water down the left, where many a good round has come undone in the final 150 yards.
More than any single hole, what stays with you is the relentlessness. There is no soft opener and no let up on the back nine, and the forest swallows anything offline. Play it from a sensible tee, club for position over distance, and treat par as a fine score on almost every hole.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members estate since 2018; play is for members and their accompanied guests only |
| Green fee | No published public fee; any guest arrangement is made through the estate (indicative, 2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Through a member, the estate, or a recognized golf travel specialist; plan well in advance |
| On the day | Buggies available; the forest routing rewards a caddie or yardage book; immaculate, firm conditioning |
| Getting there | Saint-Laurent-Nouan in the Sologne, about 2 hours south of Paris and 30 minutes from Blois and Orleans |
| Best months | May to October, when the Sologne is dry and the course runs at its firmest |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Les Bordes is private and policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit with the estate or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
Les Bordes itself is an estate with its own lodging and a second course, the New Course by Gil Hanse, so a stay on site is the natural way to secure access and play both layouts over a couple of days. It sits in the heart of Loire Valley chateau country, so a golf trip pairs easily with the vineyards and the great houses along the river.
Beyond the estate, the towns of Blois and Orleans put you within half an hour, with characterful hotels and restaurants, while a Loire base lets you build a wider itinerary around the region's history as well as its golf.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Les Bordes Old.
Play Les Bordes on a Loire Valley golf trip
Access at Les Bordes is private, so it pays to plan early. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge works on securing the tee times, pairs them with the best of the Loire and books the lodging around them, with no obligation.
Les Bordes Old questions
Who designed Les Bordes Old Course and when did it open?
The Old Course at Les Bordes was designed by Robert von Hagge and opened in 1987, built for Baron Marcel Bich on a forested estate in the Sologne, south of the Loire.
What is the par and length of Les Bordes Old?
Les Bordes Old is a par 72 of about 7,026 yards from the back tees, long regarded as one of the hardest inland courses in Europe, with water in play on roughly a dozen holes.
Can visitors play Les Bordes?
Since 2018 Les Bordes has run as a private members estate, so the Old Course is open to members and their accompanied guests only. Visitors should arrange access in advance through the estate or a golf travel specialist.
Is Les Bordes Old or New harder?
The Old Course by Robert von Hagge is the sterner test and the more famous of the two, while the newer Gil Hanse design offers a different, more strategic challenge on the same estate.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; access arrangements verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.