THE BEST COURSES FOR CHANTILLY GOLF HOLIDAYS
Our guide to the Golf Clubs north of Paris.

Regularly voted the best course in France and from the moment you pass through the gates it's easy to see why.  Vineuil has hardly changed since it was crafted by the canny Tom Simpson, who added little and took nothing away from this lovely land.  The course design is classic Tom Simpson with bunkering that provokes thought from the Tee, judgement around the Greens and finesse once aboard the putting surface.  Natural woodland golf with a graceful Clubhouse that has let time slip by unnoticed.  A golfing day to savour.
N.B.  An ultra-traditional (yet still very welcoming) Club: no buggies available.

The other course at Chantilly Golf Club that complements its senior sibling appropriately.  Longères is a very good test in its own right, (maybe even tougher than Vineuil?) over very similar terrain and Donald Steel made a good fist of designing it in keeping with the famous Vineuil (thankfully!).  Worth noting that the three closing holes are part of the original Tom Simpson 18-hole design and were played in all the French Opens that have been held here.

Resolutely holds its position in John Jacobs' personal top ten. Carved through established woodland that boasts a huge variety of trees and colours: especially pretty in the Autumn.  A fair test of golf with many dog-legs to plot your way around.  Superb Clubhouse facilities, including Japanese baths, Zen gardens and saunas!

Lovely parkland course, similar to Chantilly Vineuil in many ways (same course architect).  Les Chênes (the Oaks) winds its way through the thick forest surrounding the Clubhouse with many dog-legs demanding distance control from the Tee.  A little on the short side for some perhaps but easily walked so a 36-hole day here with lunch in the superb Clubhouse makes for a wonderful golfing day out.

A shorter, tighter course, with limited bunkering and intertwined amongst Les Chênes.  Ideal for walking off the undoubtedly fine lunch you will have enjoyed!

Very enjoyable woodland layout, mainly through ancient forest (Woburnesque you might say?) in the grounds of a fine Château.  Raray begins and ends with a few holes out in the sunshine, in between it's a wild ride through the dense woodland where slopes, hummocks, gullies and contours add bewitching shapes to many of the holes.  Scene of the one-off Montgomery v Furyk match and known also for its role as the setting for the original 1930's black & white film 'Beauty and the Beast' (although the château is now closed to visitors sadly).

A little further away from Chantilly, but under an hour's drive, Isle Adam is a well-established golf club that spreads over some interesting, heavily wooded terrain.  Most of the course is on flattish land alongside the river, which comes into play here and there.  There are also two hillier sections which are more strenuous going, but give rise to beautiful looking tee-shots looking down onto tree-lined Fairways.

A modern layout in a more US style with slick greens and plenty of water hazards.  Sitting up high on a plateau to the South of Chantilly the course looks out over the forests of Chantilly. The complex also has a formidable 9-hole course, short course, vast range and golf academy.

The course around the Mercure hotel and one that has improved well over the years with the trees and shrubs that were planted to add shape to the open flat land now starting to fill-out.  However, many holes are still open to 'self-expression' with the driver and the Greens are generally very good making the Forêt de Chantilly course an ideal venue to start your week with a gentle stretch of the legs upon arrival at the hotel.  They also have a (watery) range and a useful short-game area should you feel the need to iron-out any swing wrinkles.