Miles Bennett
France is home to some of Europe's most prestigious golf courses, including Golf de Morfontaine, Terre Blanche, Les Aisses Golf, Golf de Fontainebleau, Le Château de Taulane, and Le Golf National. There are 665 golf clubs in France, serving over 410,000 licensed players, and the sport has been growing steadily since the 1980s. Despite the abundance of golf courses and players, golf is still perceived as an elite sport in France, accessible only to rich families and individuals. However, efforts are being made to change this perception and attract more young people to the sport.
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What You'll Learn
France has some of Europe's top golf courses
France is renowned for its superb cuisine, stunning scenery, fascinating culture, and, of course, its golf courses. While golfers from around the world are drawn to France's greens, it is also home to some of Europe's top golf courses.
At the forefront of France's golfing venues is Le Golf National, which hosted the 2018 Ryder Cup and will host the 2024 Olympics. The country has also hosted the French Open at the Chateaux Course, which was voted the best course in France in 2014 and 2016.
The Vinieuil Course, located in the countryside surrounding Paris, is considered one of the best golfing experiences in continental Europe. Its classic woodland design, reminiscent of famous courses in South East England, offers a demanding 7,200-yard layout that challenges even the most serious golfers.
Golf de Chantilly, in the Ile de France region, is another of Europe's most glorious courses. With its heathland style, it echoes renowned courses in Surrey and Hampshire, England, and provides a unique experience with its combination of doglegs and blind tee shots.
For those seeking breathtaking views, the Evian Resort Golf Club, nestled between the French Alps and the shores of Lake Geneva, offers a challenging layout that has become a favorite among professional golfers. The resort hosts The Amundi Evian Championship, one of the five major tournaments in women's golf.
France's golf scene is heating up, with renowned golf architects like Tom Doak, Gil Hanse, and Jim Wagner introducing new courses. With its diverse offerings, from the shores of the Mediterranean to the foothills of the Alps, France truly has something for every golfer.
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Golf's reputation in France is of a rich person's sport
Golf's reputation in France is that it is a sport for rich people and spoiled kids. This perception is something that French golfers are trying to change. France has a total of 665 golf clubs, with over 410,000 licensed players. The sport has been growing steadily since the 1980s, when an expansion programme saw around 350 courses constructed within 10 years, often thanks to government tax breaks for farmland converted to leisure use.
The best golf courses in France include Golf de Morfontaine, Terre Blanche, Les Aisses Golf, Golf De Fontainebleau, Le Château de Taulane, and Le Golf National. The Vinieuil Course, located in the countryside surrounding Paris, is also considered one of the finest golfing experiences in the country. Golf de Seignosse, designed by Robert Van Hagge in 1989, is another notable course in France, featuring perfectly manicured fairways lined by towering pines.
Despite the abundance of courses and players, France has only produced one male French player who has won a major tournament—Arnaud Massy at the British Open in 1907. French golfers are working to improve their mental game, which is considered weaker than that of American golfers, who are known for their positivity, aggression, and patience.
Golf in France is also associated with fine dining and luxury experiences. The Ryder Cup, hosted by Le Golf National in 2018, is a prestigious event that attracts spectators from around the world and contributes to the perception of golf as an elite sport in France.
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France has over 600 golf clubs
France is home to some of Europe's most prestigious golf courses, and the sport has been growing steadily in the country since the 1980s. There are over 600 golf clubs in France, totalling 733 according to one source, serving more than 410,000 licensed players.
The Vinieuil Course, located in the stunning countryside surrounding Paris, is one of the country's finest golfing experiences. It has a reputation for being one of the best courses in continental Europe, with its classic woodland design reminiscent of some of the most famous courses in South East England. Chantilly, another course in Northern France, is also comparable to the golf tracks in Surrey and Hampshire.
France's golf clubs are scattered across the country, from the shores of the Mediterranean to the foothills of the Alps. The host of the 2018 Ryder Cup, Le Golf National, is at the forefront of France's golfing venues. The country also boasts other renowned courses, such as Golf de Morfontaine, Terre Blanche, Les Aisses Golf, Golf De Fontainebleau, Le Château de Taulane, and Golf du Medoc.
While golf in France may be perceived as a private sport for the wealthy, there are efforts to change this image and attract more young people to the game. The French golf federation organises promotions and taster sessions to encourage youth participation. Despite the abundance of golf courses in the north, France's diverse landscapes offer a range of golfing experiences across the country.
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$12.89
The Ryder Cup is the third most widely covered sporting event in the world
France is home to some of Europe's most prestigious golf courses, and the country hosted the Ryder Cup in 2018. The Ryder Cup is a biennial men's golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States, with hosting duties alternating between the two regions. The cup is named after English businessman Samuel Ryder, who donated the trophy, and it is jointly administered by the PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe.
The Ryder Cup has become one of the world's greatest sporting events, captivating millions of viewers worldwide. It is known for its drama, tension, camaraderie, sportsmanship, and incredible golf. The competition officially began in 1927 and has since expanded to involve the finest players in Europe. The Ryder Cup is played in odd-numbered years, with 12 members on each team.
The increased success of the Ryder Cup has led to landmark broadcasting contracts. In 2006, NBC reached a deal to air the competitions on USA and NBC, with ESPN sub-licensed to cover Friday's events. This marked a turning point in the competition's popularity. The Ryder Cup's media coverage is the third-widest in the world, after the Football World Cup and the Olympic Games. In 2021, Golf Channel and NBC combined for 28 hours of coverage, with broadcasts also available on various online platforms.
The Ryder Cup is an exciting and compelling event that transcends sport, attracting a global audience and generating significant revenue from television, sponsorship, ticketing, and merchandise sales.
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France has produced one male major golf winner
France is home to some of Europe's most prestigious golf courses, including the host of the 2018 Ryder Cup, Le Golf National. The country boasts a variety of golfing experiences, from the shores of the Mediterranean to the foothills of the Alps. Northern France, in particular, has seen a rise in golf tourism, with the Eurostar making it more accessible to UK golfers.
While France has produced several strong male golfers over the years, only one French golfer has ever won any of the men's major championships. Arnaud Massy, who won the Open Championship (British Open) in 1906, remains the only French golfer to achieve this feat. Massy was also the first non-Briton to win the Open Championship, raising the profile of golf in his native country. He played an important role in popularising the sport across Europe, putting on exhibition matches in various European cities. Massy's career was interrupted by World War I, during which he served in the French army and was wounded. After the war, he struggled to compete but remarkably won the French Open again in 1925 at the age of 48.
Matthieu Pavon came close to becoming the second French male golfer to win a major championship when he won the Farmers Insurance Open in 2024, his 11th tournament on the US tour. Victor Dubuisson, another notable French golfer, peaked at number 15 in the world rankings and had two top-10 finishes at majors in 2014. Thomas Levet also came close to winning France's second major at the 2002 Open Championship, making it to a four-way playoff.
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Frequently asked questions
Golf is growing in popularity in France, with 410,000 licensed players and 665 golf clubs across the country. However, it still has a reputation for being a sport for the wealthy, and efforts are being made to encourage younger players to take it up.
France has many famous golf courses, including Vinieuil, Golf de Chantilly, Golf de Morfontaine, Golf de Fontainebleau, Golf de Seignosse, and Le Golf National, which hosted the Ryder Cup in 2018.
Jean van de Velde and Arnaud Massy are two of the most famous French golfers, with Massy being the first and only French male player to win a major tournament, the British Open in 1907.
The best time to play golf in France is from May to October. In the summer, it can get quite hot, especially in the south of the country.
