France Golf Course Renovations to Watch in 2026
France's most famous golf course is coming back. The Albatros at Le Golf National, host of the 2018 Ryder Cup and the 2024 Olympics, reopens in September 2026 with redesigned holes after major works for the Greater Paris metro. Here is what is changing and what it means for visiting golfers.
The headline: the Albatros returns
The project that defines French golf in 2026 is the rebirth of the Albatros at Le Golf National outside Paris. The course closed in October 2024 after staging both the men's and women's golf at the Paris Olympic Games, because the route of the new Greater Paris underground, one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe, runs close to the property. With the heavy civil works finished, the Albatros is scheduled to reopen on September 1, 2026.
This is more than a tidy up. Holes 4, 5 and 6 have been redesigned, the greens on holes 1, 2, 9, 15 and 18 reshaped, and the lake edges on holes 1, 2, 15 and 18 refurbished, alongside a large turf conversion across tees, fairways and greens. The clubhouse, bar, restaurant, lobby and the on site Novotel rooms are being renewed from April 2026 as well. For a course that already ranks among the great modern stadium layouts, this is a comprehensive renewal that should sharpen the test and the spectacle alike.
The wider picture
Beyond the capital, the most exciting French story is the continued rise of Les Bordes in the Loire Valley. The estate, long famous for its Robert von Hagge Old Course, has added a celebrated Gil Hanse New Course and is building the five star Six Senses Loire Valley hotel, reported to open in September 2026, turning a secretive members' retreat into a genuine destination. It is the clearest sign that serious money is backing French golf at the very top.
France's deeper strength, though, is its classical inland courses, the heathland and forest layouts around Paris and on the Atlantic coast that need preservation more than reinvention. Among the courses we profile, the Tom Simpson pedigree of Morfontaine and Chantilly represents the kind of golden age architecture whose value lies in careful custodianship, the unglamorous turf and bunker work that keeps a century old design playing as it was meant to.
What it means for your trip
For a 2026 French golf trip the calendar matters. If the Albatros is on your list, aim for after its September 1 reopening, and confirm tee availability since demand for the returning Ryder Cup and Olympic course will be intense. Paris makes an excellent base, pairing Le Golf National with the classical forest courses of Chantilly and Fontainebleau for a compact, high quality loop close to the city.
If you prefer the coast or the country, France rewards a touring trip. The Atlantic links country around Biarritz and Hossegor, the resort golf of the Cote d'Azur and the Loire Valley around Les Bordes each make a distinct itinerary. Whichever you choose, confirm green fees and access directly before booking, as the marquee venues are seasonal and in high demand.
Our take
It would have been easy for Le Golf National to simply patch the Albatros after the metro works and reopen quietly. Instead the renewal touches several holes, the greens, the water and the entire guest experience, an investment that befits the home of the 2018 Ryder Cup. Combined with the ambition at Les Bordes, it tells you France is spending where it counts. Plan your trip around the September reopening, add the classical Paris courses for contrast, and confirm everything for your dates before you commit.
Plan your French golf trip
From the returning Albatros at Le Golf National to the classical forest courses around Paris and the rise of Les Bordes, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, with no obligation.
Questions
When does the Albatros reopen at Le Golf National?
The Albatros is scheduled to reopen on September 1, 2026, after closing in October 2024 for works connected to the Greater Paris underground. Holes 4, 5 and 6 have been redesigned, several greens reshaped and lake edges refurbished.
What else is new in French golf for 2026?
Les Bordes in the Loire Valley pairs its von Hagge Old Course with a Gil Hanse New Course and is opening the five star Six Senses Loire Valley hotel, reported for September 2026, raising the estate into a full destination.
When is the best time to play golf in France?
The French season runs roughly April to October, with late spring and early autumn ideal around Paris and the Atlantic coast. Confirm tee times and green fees directly before booking, especially for marquee venues.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Renovation details verified June 2026 from course and design sources; dates and fees change, so always confirm directly. Last reviewed June 2026.