Le Golf National (Albatros)

When you think of French golf, Le Golf National immediately springs to mind, thanks to it being on our screens for the best part of three decades now.

 

Only officially opened in 1990, the Albatros Course at Le Golf National has gone on to host some of the biggest events in world golf, culminating in becoming the second European host of the Olympic Games.

 

Prior to that, the Albatros had hosted the 2018 Ryder Cup, as Team Europe won convincingly. It is also the annual host of the Open de France on the DP World Tour.

Visit Le Golf National's website here.
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The idea for Le Golf National began in the early 1980s, with designer Hubert Chesneau being the spearhead behind the venue. Chesneau worked alongside Robert von Hagge to create the stadium course at Le Golf National, which would become known as The Albatros.

 

It took just a year for the course to host its first major golf tournament. The Open de France called Le Golf National its home for the first time in 1991. The Parisien venue has now been the host of the annual DP World Tour since 2002, and the list of winners is next level!

 

Tommy Fleetwood, Graeme McDowell, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Martin Kaymer, Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance, Retief Goosen and Constantino Rocca have all been victorious on the Albatros over the last three decades.

 

The course then moved to the next level in 2018, as it became the first venue in Continental Europe to host the Ryder Cup since Valderrama did so 21 years prior. Europe was the victors, beating the Americans by a score of 17.5-10.5.

 

In 2024, Paris played host to the Olympic Games. Le Golf National was the chosen venue to host 120 of the world's best golfers. New Zealand's Lydia Ko and the USA's Scottie Scheffler were the victors, with the former taking a third medal in as many games.

The Albatros Course will now be known by many golf fans, thanks to its hosting of the Ryder Cup and the Olympic Games within the last decade. The Par 71 layout can play as far as 7,250 yards in length for the professionals, and with water a feature on at least half of the holes on the course, it is one of the trickiest tests in France as well.

 

The test begins with water coming into play on the opening two holes. The 1st sees you tee off downhill to a relatively wide fairway, but if you hit it too far, then you'll be reaching for a second golf ball immedaitely. The 2nd is a long par 3 of more than 200 yards from the tips, and again, played over water. It has a shallow green and three bunkers to the back right of the green, right in the bail out area! The 3rd is the opening par 5 on the Albatros, and also has water coming into play in its first half.

 

4 and 5 are out and back par 4s, while the 6th is rather unique as there isn't a single hazard on this 400-yard par 4. No sand, no water, just mounds on either side of the fairway and a three-tiered green to contend with. The 7th has a fairway split in two, and features out of bounds down the entirety of its right side. 8 is the second par 3 on the layout, with the closing hole on the front nine also being the longest on the property at almost 600 yards. 

 

The back nine begins with a short par 4, but one where water comes into play on the drive. The further you hit your tee shot, the narrower the fairway gets, so the safe play is to lay up with a long iron, but then you have a longer shot into the green. 11 is another par 3 that sees you hit over water, with the 12th and 13th both being dog-leg par 4s. The 13th was the site of that incredible Rory McIlroy approach from the right rough, with the ball at least a foot below his feet.

 

The 14th is a long par 5 which takes you left, and left again, around a massive bunker which is greenside. It also brings you to the famous closing stretch on the Albatros Course.

 

The 15th takes you around the left side of the lake, before the short 16th - where Europe won the Ryder Cup thanks to Francesco Molinari going perfect - follows. The 17th then takes you back away from the clubhouse, before the closing hole brings you down the right side of the same lake that has 15 on its left. Both 15 and 18 have greens almost surrounded by water, in one of the toughest finishes in golf.

 

Where is Le Golf National located?
Le Golf National is situated to the southwest of Paris, around 25 miles from the centre of the French capital. It is just outside the locality of Guyancourt, and located just off the D36, which is the main road that runs to Guyancourt.

 

For those visiting from abroad, there are plenty of daily flights into the trio of Paris airports. Paris-Orly Airport is just 20 miles to the east of Le Golf National, while Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - the city's main airport - is around 40 miles away, across the French capital in the opposite direction.

What golf facilities does Le Golf National offer?  
As you would expect with a DP World Tour-hosting venue, Le Golf National is home to a glorious driving range, just part of its practice facilities on site. There are both matted and grass tees, with a cracking short game area that features practice greens and bunkers to work on your chipping. There are also two putting greens on route to the 1st tee. 
 

What are the green fees at Le Golf National?
The price of a green fee at Le Golf National changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. 

 

For more information on current green fees at Le Golf National, visit their website here. 

Visit Le Golf National's website here.
Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.