Le Golf National (Albatros course) - France

The Le Golf National-Albatros course, is a wonderful inland links style course of France and also regarded amongst its finest courses.

History of the Course:

The Le Golf National-L'Albatros golf course is located in the flatland region of Guyancourt, surrounding the historic Chateau of Versailles, once home to Louis XIV.

There are presently three courses of the Le Golf National Club, namely its 18 hole links-target style L'Albatros Course, the 18 hole classical L'Aigle (Eagle) Course and the 9 hole L'Oiselet (Sparrow) Course.

The initial plan for the Le National Club was set in 1985 by The French Golf Federation' S Executive Committee and its President Claude Cartier. After three years of construction, the course was opened for play in 1990.

The amazing 18 hole Le Golf National-Albatros course was designed by golf architects Hubert Chesneau and Robert Von Hagge in the late 80's. Subtly crafted amidst the flat corn farmlands of the vast Guyancourt region, the beautiful course was created in the Scottish “links style” as well as the “target golf” style of the U.S. courses, adapting well to the native topography.

The 6,854 yards, par 72, L'Albatros course is a lengthy course built on a clay base, so that there would be excellent drainage for the fairways. Its layout consists of well trimmed slick greens, vast undulating fairways dotted by innumerable links bunkers, sand traps, water hazards, fescue roughs, tree obstacles as well as the rigid slopes and artificial sand mounds.

This inland links course tests the golfers' versatility, choice of clubs and provides ample challenges and diversity through its characteristic course features. Thus, a unique experience of links-target golf here in France.

Course Trivia:

The Le Golf National-Albatros course is the venue for the oldest European professional tournament established in 1906, the prestigious French Open and the Albatros race.

The Le Golf National-Albatros course was earlier ranked as the 3rd European Championship Course by the PGA Tour Professionals survey and 4 th amongst European courses by British golf magazine, Golf World .

The first French Open to be held at the Le Golf National-Albatros course, was in 1991; overcoming the bad rainy weather on that day, golfer Nick Faldo won the event with a score of 71.