Fontainebleau: 2026 Access and Booking Update
Golf de Fontainebleau is one of France's golden age treasures, a Tom Simpson design threaded through the pines, oaks and sandstone of the great forest south of Paris that golf architecture students travel a long way to walk. Here is where the club stands in 2026, how visitor access and booking work, and how to play it.
The news: a Tom Simpson classic in the forest
Golf de Fontainebleau sits in the famous forest about an hour south of Paris in the Seine et Marne, and in 2026 it remains one of the most admired and most distinctive courses in France. The course was originally laid out by Julien Chantepie and opened in 1909, then redesigned in 1920 by the British architect Tom Simpson, whose hand is the reason it is regarded as a golden age masterpiece.
What sets Fontainebleau apart is the setting and the strategy rather than length. Narrow fairways run between centuries old oaks, silver birch, pine and wild cherry, with sandstone outcrops and a famous collection of fine sand bunkers shaping the angles. It is a course about placement and thought, and it has aged into one of the most atmospheric rounds in continental Europe.
The course itself
Fontainebleau plays as a par 72 of around 6,016 metres, which works out to roughly 6,580 yards. The numbers are modest by modern standards, but the test is anything but, because the corridors are tight, the trees punish anything wayward, and the angle into each green matters far more than raw distance off the tee.
Simpson's routing makes the most of the forest floor, with bunkering placed to ask questions rather than simply to catch errors. The greens are subtle and well defended, and the quiet of the forest gives the whole round a contemplative quality. It is the kind of course that rewards a second visit, because the strategy reveals itself slowly.
How to play it in 2026
Golf de Fontainebleau is a members club that welcomes visitors, and for 2026 the access pattern is clear. Visitors are generally welcome on weekdays year round, with the course closed to outside play on Tuesdays, and weekend visitor access opening up only across the high summer holiday weeks. A handicap is required, with typical limits in the mid twenties, and advance booking is essential.
On cost, indicative green fees sit in the region of 180 to 200 euros, which reflects the quality and the heritage. Treat that as indicative for the 2026 season and confirm directly with the club before booking. The course is easily reached from Paris, which makes it a natural addition to a city trip or to a wider Ile de France golf itinerary.
Our take
Our take is that Fontainebleau belongs on any serious continental golf itinerary and is close to essential for anyone interested in design, because it is one of the purest surviving examples of Tom Simpson's work in a setting you will not forget. It is not about scorecard length, it is about angles, restraint and atmosphere.
If you are building a 2026 Paris and Ile de France trip, pair Fontainebleau with the region's other classics for a cluster of golden age golf within easy reach of the city. Book a weekday tee time well ahead, carry your handicap details, and give yourself time to study the strategy hole by hole among the trees.
Plan your Paris golf trip
From the Tom Simpson forest classic at Fontainebleau to the wider courses around Paris and the Ile de France, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, with no obligation.
Questions
Who designed Golf de Fontainebleau and when did it open?
The course was originally laid out by Julien Chantepie and opened in 1909, then redesigned in 1920 by the British architect Tom Simpson. Later work lengthened and modified the layout, but Simpson's design is why it is regarded as a golden age classic.
What is the par and length of Golf de Fontainebleau?
Fontainebleau plays as a par 72 of around 6,016 metres, roughly 6,580 yards. It is a course where placement and angle matter far more than raw length, threaded through a tight forest of oak, pine and birch.
Can visitors play Golf de Fontainebleau?
Yes. Fontainebleau is a members club that welcomes visitors on weekdays year round, closed to outside play on Tuesdays, with weekend access opening up in high summer. A handicap is required and green fees are indicative for 2026, so confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course, season and access details verified June 2026 from club and golf travel sources; conditions and green fees change, so always confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.