The Loire Valley vs Bordeaux for Golf
Two French wine regions, two very different golf trips. The Loire Valley keeps a low profile but hides one of the great modern golf estates in Les Bordes. Bordeaux pairs more accessible courses with one of the world's famous wine cities. Here is the honest head to head for a golf-and-wine break, verdict first.
Photograph: Cabot Bordeaux, Medoc, France, via Google
The verdict
On the single best golf, the Loire Valley wins, and the reason is Les Bordes. Set among the forests and lakes of the Sologne, the estate's Old Course, a Robert von Hagge design from 1986, has long been rated one of the toughest and best in France, and its New Course, opened in 2021, vaulted straight into the upper reaches of the national and world rankings. Add a private members' estate with its own lodge and short course, and for pure architecture there is nothing in either region to touch it. The catch is access: Les Bordes is exclusive and limited, and the wider Loire is thin on other championship golf.
For a rounded golf-and-wine trip, though, Bordeaux is the stronger all-rounder. It offers several genuinely good, accessible courses, led by Cabot Bordeaux, the former Golf du Medoc, whose two eighteens include the links-like Les Chateaux laid out by Bill Coore in 1989, and the Tom Doak design at Grand Saint-Emilionnais weaving through the vineyards near the famous village. Wrap that in the wine capital itself, the Medoc and Saint-Emilion, and easy flights into Bordeaux, and you have a trip where the golf, the food and the wine all sing. Choose the Loire for the Les Bordes pilgrimage and chateaux sightseeing; choose Bordeaux for variety, access and the complete wine-country experience.
Head to head
| The Loire Valley | Bordeaux | |
|---|---|---|
| Headline golf | Les Bordes, Old (von Hagge, 1986) and New (2021) | Cabot Bordeaux (Les Chateaux and Les Vignes), Grand Saint-Emilionnais |
| Design pedigree | Among the best courses in France, world ranked | Bill Coore (1989) and a 2015 Tom Doak design |
| Depth of golf | Concentrated on one exceptional estate | Several strong, varied courses across the region |
| Access | Les Bordes is exclusive and limited | Courses welcome visitors, easier to book |
| Wine and scenery | Loire chateaux, river valley, crisp wines | The Medoc, Saint-Emilion and the city of Bordeaux |
| Getting there | Drive from Paris or fly to Tours | Direct flights into Bordeaux, then a short drive |
| Best for | The Les Bordes round and chateaux touring | A varied golf-and-wine week in a famous region |
Course facts and designers verified June 2026 from course and ranking listings; access and fees vary by season, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick the Loire Valley if
You want to play Les Bordes and pair it with France's most beautiful chateaux country. This is the choice for golfers who put architecture first and will travel for a special, hard-to-get round on two of the country's finest courses, then fill the rest of the trip with river-valley scenery, historic chateaux and unhurried Loire wines. It suits discerning, design-minded groups and couples happy to centre a trip on one exceptional estate rather than a busy course rota.
Pick Bordeaux if
You want a varied golf-and-wine week with several strong, accessible courses and a great city as your base. Bordeaux gives you Cabot Bordeaux's two layouts, the Doak course at Saint-Emilion and easy direct flights, all wrapped in the Medoc, the wine villages and the food and culture of the city. It suits buddies groups, couples and society trips who want golf in the morning and a vineyard or a fine dinner in the afternoon, without a long drive between them.
Plan your French golf and wine trip
A Les Bordes pilgrimage in the Loire, a wine-country week around Bordeaux, or a tour that links the two. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge secures the tee times, arranges the chateaux and tastings and costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Loire Valley vs Bordeaux questions
Is the Loire Valley or Bordeaux better for golf?
For the single best golf, the Loire Valley wins thanks to Les Bordes, whose two courses, the von Hagge Old Course and the acclaimed New Course opened in 2021, are among the finest in France, though the estate is exclusive and limited. For a rounded, more accessible golf-and-wine trip with several strong courses and a world-famous city, Bordeaux wins, led by Cabot Bordeaux and the Tom Doak design at Grand Saint-Emilionnais. Choose the Loire for Les Bordes, Bordeaux for variety and wine.
What are the best golf courses in Bordeaux?
Cabot Bordeaux, the former Golf du Medoc at Le Pian-Medoc about thirty minutes from the city, leads the way with two eighteens, the links-like Les Chateaux course designed by Bill Coore in 1989 and the parkland Les Vignes. Near the famous wine village, Grand Saint-Emilionnais is a 2015 Tom Doak design that weaves through a vineyard valley. Both welcome visitors and pair beautifully with the region's chateaux and tastings.
Can you combine golf and wine in the Loire and Bordeaux?
Absolutely, that is the appeal of both. The Loire Valley pairs its golf with chateaux, river scenery and crisp whites and reds, while Bordeaux is one of the great wine capitals, with the Medoc, Saint-Emilion and the city itself on the doorstep of the courses. Many visitors build a trip around a round in the morning and a vineyard visit in the afternoon. Always confirm tee times and tasting bookings directly before travelling.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and designers verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.