Golf in France
The only course on earth to host both a Ryder Cup and an Olympic Games, the finest inland golf in continental Europe, and the warm resort courses of the Riviera and Provence. The courses that matter, the regions, the seasons and how to plan it.
Photograph: Golf Du Touquet, Golf du Touquet - Resonance Golf Collection, via Google
Why golf in France
France is the most underrated golf destination in western Europe. Most travelers know it for food, wine and the Alps, yet the country holds Le Golf National, the stadium course outside Paris that staged the 2018 Ryder Cup and then the golf at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the only course in the world to have hosted both. Behind that headline sits the finest collection of inland golf on the continent: Les Bordes in the Loire valley, the Tom Simpson masterpieces at Morfontaine and Chantilly north of Paris, and the heathland and forest courses that ring the capital.
Then there is the south. The Riviera and Provence are built for a warm weather golf week, anchored by Terre Blanche above the hills inland from Cannes, while the Atlantic coast around Biarritz and the vineyards of Bordeaux, and the lakeside courses of the Alps around Evian, give France four genuinely different golf regions. Add the food, the wine and the easy high speed trains and short flights, and France is a trip that pleases golfers and non golfers alike.
The regions
Paris and the Ile de France
Le Golf National, Les Bordes, Morfontaine, Chantilly and Saint Nom la Breteche, the greatest concentration of championship golf in the country, all within easy reach of the capital and its airports.
The Riviera and Provence
Terre Blanche above Cannes and the warm resort courses of the Cote d'Azur, the easiest region for a sunshine golf week and a natural pairing with the coast and the hill villages.
Atlantic coast and the Alps
The historic links and resort golf around Biarritz and the vineyards of Bordeaux in the south west, and the lakeside courses of Evian and Chamonix in the Alps, two more distinct golf trips.
The courses that matter
Le Golf National, Albatros
The stadium course outside Paris that hosted the 2018 Ryder Cup and the 2024 Olympic golf, a water lined modern test with one of the great finishing stretches in the game. The one course in France every traveling golfer wants to play.
Les Bordes, Old Course
Routinely ranked the finest course in France and once the number one in continental Europe, a brooding, beautiful test cut through oak and birch forest in the Loire valley, now joined by a new Gil Hanse course.
Golf de Morfontaine
The most revered private club in France, a Tom Simpson masterpiece of heath and pine north of Paris, beautifully preserved and almost never open to visitors, the connoisseur's course.
Golf de Chantilly, Vineuil
A classic Tom Simpson parkland and forest course near the famous racecourse north of Paris, a frequent French Open host and one of the most respected championship tests in the country.
Terre Blanche, Le Chateau
The showpiece of the south, a Dave Thomas design of tumbling fairways, big greens and water set in the hills above Cannes, with a five star resort that anchors a Riviera golf week.
Evian Resort Golf Club
The lakeside course above Evian les Bains that hosts the Amundi Evian Championship, an LPGA major, a handsome mountain parkland with views across Lake Geneva to the Alps.
Golf de Saint Nom la Breteche
A genteel thirty six hole club in the woods near Versailles, a long time French Open and Lancome Trophy host and one of the most prestigious addresses in Paris golf.
Golf du Medoc, Les Chateaux
A links inspired Bill Coore design among the vines near Bordeaux, the standout round of the south west and an easy pairing with the wine chateaux and the city.
Chamonix Golf Club
A spectacular Robert Trent Jones Sr parkland on the valley floor beneath Mont Blanc, the most scenic round in the French Alps and a summer favorite.
Golf de Hardelot, Les Pins
A Tom Simpson classic through pine forest near the northern coast, an easy reach from the Channel and a longtime favorite of British golfers crossing for a short break.
Sperone Golf Club
A dramatic clifftop course on the southern tip of Corsica, with several holes along the Mediterranean, the most beautiful resort round in France and a destination in itself.
Golf de Fontainebleau
A heathland gem in the great forest south of Paris, sandy, springy turf and a quiet, classic feel, often grouped with Morfontaine and Chantilly as the finest inland golf in the country.
Designers and host history verified June 2026. Several of the finest French clubs are private with limited visitor access, which we arrange where possible. Course profiles are added across the site as the directory grows. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| May to September | Warm and settled nationwide, long daylight | Prime season for Paris, the Alps and the whole country |
| March to April and October | Cooler in the north, fine on the Riviera | Shoulder months, ideal for the south and softer rates |
| November to February | Cold and wet in the north, mild on the coast | Riviera and Provence only, the quietest of the year |
The Paris region and the Alps are summer destinations, while the Riviera and Provence stretch the season into a mild winter. Plan the south for the shoulder months and the north for high summer.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Le Golf National, Albatros | Around €90 to €125 | Varies by day and season, a relative bargain for the pedigree |
| Resort marquee green fee | Around €180 to €280 | Terre Blanche and Evian in peak season |
| A week, all in | Around €2,500 to €4,500 per person | Marquee courses, 4 to 5 star hotels, a car, excluding flights |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 season, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
France is the easiest country in Europe to reach for golf. Paris has two major airports and the fast trains that connect them to the rest of the country, so a Paris cluster trip around Le Golf National, Les Bordes and Chantilly needs little more than a hire car for the short drives between courses. For the south, Nice and Marseille serve the Riviera and Provence, while Biarritz and Bordeaux open the south west and Geneva is the gateway for Evian and the Alps. A car is essential once you leave Paris, since the great courses are spread across the regions and the drives through the vineyards and hill country are part of the trip.
Where to stay
Match the base to the region. Around Paris, a hotel near Versailles or a city base keeps Le Golf National, Saint Nom la Breteche and the northern courses in reach, and Les Bordes has its own estate accommodation. On the Riviera, Terre Blanche is a destination resort in itself, with Cannes and Nice as livelier alternatives. In the south west, a base in Biarritz or among the Bordeaux chateaux pairs the golf with the beaches and the wine, and on Lake Geneva the Evian resort hotels put you on the course. Book the resort hotels well ahead for the summer, and let one planner line up the right base for each leg.
Plan your France golf trip
Tell us the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
France golf questions
When is the best time to play golf in France?
May to September is the prime window across the country, with warm, settled weather and long days. The Riviera and Provence play well from March to November and even through a mild winter, while the Paris region and the Alps are best from late spring to early autumn. Book the marquee courses well ahead for the summer.
Where should I base a golf trip in France?
The Paris region holds Le Golf National, Les Bordes, Morfontaine and Chantilly within easy reach of the city. The Riviera and Provence are built around Terre Blanche and the resort courses near Cannes. The Atlantic coast around Biarritz and Bordeaux and the Alps around Evian are the other two strong clusters.
How much does a golf trip to France cost in 2026?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from around €90 to €125 at Le Golf National up to roughly €180 to €280 at Terre Blanche and Evian in peak season. A week of marquee courses with hotels and a car typically lands between €2,500 and €4,500 per head. Always confirm directly before booking.
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The Tee Sheet
New course openings, the trips our concierge is quietly building and the booking windows worth moving on early. Every other week.