Paris top Golf Courses

Opened in 1992 and located just 25 minutes west of Paris, the Golf de Joyenval is one of the most exclusive golf clubs in France. Designed by the iconic Robert Trent Jones Sr., the club features two 18-hole courses, Retz and Marly, that blend seamlessly into the surrounding Forêt de Marly, once part of a royal hunting estate.

The Retz Course is the club’s championship layout. It combines wide, rolling fairways with elevated greens, large bunkers, and several water hazards that require thoughtful strategy. The course offers spectacular views of the surrounding forest and natural valleys, with a routing that alternates between open, linksy holes and more wooded, technical sections. With its generous landing areas but demanding approach shots, Retz rewards aggressive play balanced with control.

The Marly Course, slightly shorter and more compact, offers a more technical challenge. It winds through tighter tree-lined corridors and places a greater emphasis on shot shaping and accuracy. Both courses maintain the Robert Trent Jones Sr. signature: visually impressive layouts that balance beauty with strategic depth.

Joyenval is a strictly private club, accessible only to members and their guests. This exclusivity is reflected in the immaculate course conditions, discreet atmosphere, and refined facilities. The clubhouse is housed in a beautifully restored 17th-century abbey, adding historical character to the experience. Practice facilities are comprehensive and top-tier, including a large range and short-game areas.

For those who appreciate design excellence, tranquility, and exclusivity, Golf de Joyenval offers an unforgettable escape just outside Paris — where nature, heritage, and modern golf architecture meet in perfect harmony.

Opened in 1909 and redesigned in 1920 by the legendary Tom Simpson, the Golf de Fontainebleau is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and classic golf courses in France. Located in the heart of the Forêt de Fontainebleau, just 70 kilometers southeast of Paris, the course is surrounded by ancient oak, pine, and silver birch trees, and features striking natural elements such as sandy terrain, heather, and dramatic rock formations.

The 18-hole, par-72 course stretches over 6,000 meters and offers a truly strategic and picturesque round. Simpson’s design cleverly integrates the forest’s topography, with undulating fairways, blind tee shots, subtle doglegs, and small, sloping greens. Accuracy and course management are essential, as the fairways are tight and the greens well-guarded. Despite its relatively modest length, the course consistently challenges even the most skilled players.

What sets Fontainebleau apart is its atmosphere of timeless elegance and immersion in nature. The combination of strategic design and scenic beauty creates a tranquil, almost spiritual golf experience. It’s no surprise that the course is consistently ranked among the top 5 in France and frequently features in lists of Europe’s best.

The club itself reflects understated sophistication, with a traditional French clubhouse, refined dining, and a culture of discretion. It remains a private members’ club, with access generally reserved for members and their guests, which contributes to its exclusive ambiance and pristine conditions year-round.

For golfers seeking authenticity, heritage, and challenge in one of France’s most enchanting natural settings, Golf de Fontainebleau is an unforgettable destination — a living testament to early 20th-century course architecture.

Le Golf National, located in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines just outside Paris, is the beating heart of French golf. Designed by Hubert Chesneau in collaboration with Robert Von Hagge, the club opened in 1990 with a clear vision: to create a European course capable of hosting the world’s greatest events. That vision became reality when it hosted the Ryder Cup in 2018, showcasing its world-class credentials.

The centerpiece is the Albatros Course, widely regarded as one of Europe’s most challenging and iconic championship layouts. Stretching over 7,300 yards from the back tees, this par-72 course is a spectacular blend of links-style play and modern stadium architecture. Its design features wide fairways, dramatic water hazards, deep bunkering, and undulating greens that demand precise shot-making and excellent course management. The finishing stretch, particularly holes 15 through 18, is known for its intensity, with water in play on three of the final four holes, creating thrilling risk-reward opportunities, especially under tournament pressure. The amphitheater-like setting allows thousands of spectators to view the action, a unique design element in European golf.

Le Golf National also offers the Aigle Course, a more forgiving 18-hole layout ideal for amateurs, and the Oiselet Course, a compact 9-hole course perfect for beginners and short-game practice. The facility boasts top-tier training grounds and a sleek, modern clubhouse. Today, Le Golf National is the official venue for the Open de France and serves as a symbol of France’s place on the global golf stage, a destination where challenge, history, and innovation converge.