Golf de Morfontaine
Tom Simpson built the Grand Parcours at Morfontaine in 1927 on sandy heathland 45 minutes north of Paris, and it has never stopped being the best course in France. A par 70 of about 6,545 yards wrapped in heather and pines, it is also one of the most private clubs in Europe, open only to members and their guests.
Photo: Yves Philippe via Google.
The verdict
Morfontaine began as a private pleasure ground: Simpson laid a nine, the Valliere, for the Duc de Guiche in 1913, then returned to build the 18 hole Grand Parcours, inaugurated in October 1927. The course he left is golden age design at its purest, a par 70 of about 6,545 yards across sand, heather and pine where strategy, not length, is the whole examination.
France has produced nothing better. Morfontaine sits first in every credible French ranking and high inside the world lists, Golf Magazine placing it 41st in the world and Golf Digest as high as 7th outside the United States in 2020. It is also genuinely private: there is no green fee to publish, and virtually nobody plays without a member at their side.
Golf de Morfontaine at a glance
- Opened
- 1927
- Designer
- Tom Simpson
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- About 6,545 yds
- Green fee
- Members only
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from club history and leading course databases. The Grand Parcours opened in 1927 at par 70, about 5,985 meters or 6,545 yards, alongside Simpson's earlier Valliere nine of 1913. Morfontaine is strictly private with no published green fee; access is by member invitation, so always confirm any arrangement directly before planning a trip around it.
The holes worth the trip
Simpson's genius at Morfontaine is restraint. The corridors are framed by heather, broom and the great pines of the Oise forests, the bunkering is sparse but perfectly placed, and the green sites do the defending, perched, tilted and full of borrow that reads slower than it putts.
Five of the holes are par 3s, a remarkable count for 1927, and the set is the equal of any in Europe, each asking a different flight and a different nerve. Among the two shot holes Simpson mixed the lengths so that drivers, long irons and wedges all matter, and nothing about the examination has dated.
The Valliere nine alongside is no warm up act; many members count its short, wild green complexes among the best fun on the property. Together the 27 holes form one of those rare places, like Swinley Forest, where golf feels reduced to its essentials.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Strictly private; members and their accompanied guests only, with no public tee times at any price |
| Green fee | Not published; guest arrangements are at the club's discretion (2026) |
| Booking | There is no booking route for visitors; play comes through a personal invitation from a member |
| On the day | Walking only in keeping with club tradition; understated dress and quiet etiquette are expected |
| Getting there | Mortefontaine in the Oise, about 45 minutes north of central Paris and 25 minutes from Charles de Gaulle |
| Best months | April to October; the sandy heathland drains beautifully and the shoulder seasons are lovely |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Morfontaine is private and unadvertised, any invitation is a privilege to be treated accordingly, and arrangements change, so always confirm directly before booking travel around a promised game. If your trip runs through Paris without one, the great public examinations of the region, led by Le Golf National, are within an hour.
Where to stay nearby
Chantilly, fifteen minutes away, is the natural base, a town of racehorses, a great chateau and the Auberge du Jeu de Paume for those doing it properly. Senlis, smaller and medieval, is equally close, and central Paris itself is only 45 minutes south.
Golfers chasing the architecture of the region pair Morfontaine with Chantilly Vineuil and the forest golf at Fontainebleau on the far side of Paris, the strongest classical triangle in continental Europe.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Golf de Morfontaine.
Build a Paris golf trip
We cannot conjure a Morfontaine invitation, but we build the Paris and Chantilly golf trip around every door that does open, with the right hotels and the region's best tee times. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling, with no obligation.
Morfontaine questions
Who designed Morfontaine and when did it open?
Tom Simpson designed both courses: the nine hole Valliere of 1913 and the 18 hole Grand Parcours, inaugurated in October 1927, commissioned for the Duc de Guiche.
What is the par and length of Morfontaine?
The Grand Parcours is a par 70 of about 5,985 meters, roughly 6,545 yards, with five par 3s and a celebrated set of green complexes on sandy heathland.
Can visitors play Morfontaine?
No. Morfontaine is one of Europe's most private clubs, reserved for members and their accompanied guests. There is no green fee to publish and no visitor booking route; play comes only by invitation.
Where does Morfontaine rank?
Morfontaine is ranked the number one course in France and features high in world lists, placed 41st in the world by Golf Magazine and as high as 7th outside the United States by Golf Digest in 2020.
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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.