Morfontaine Golf Club

Morfontaineis aprivate members club set inbeautiful countryside north of Paris. Designed by Tom Simpson, in 1927, it is frequently compared favourably with Simpson'sgreatest achievements on home shores, particularly Royal Lytham and St. Annes and Ballybunion.

At 5,895 metres Morfontaine is not the longest course in France and few fairway bunkers really challenge, but what the course lacks in difficulty it more than makes up for withbig,undulating,well defended greens, plus, factor in the ever present trees and you have an all round stern test of golf.

Everything about Morfontaine is understated. There is no pro shop (or pro for that matter), the bar and dining room are tasteful but spare, and the little white scorecard couldn’t be simpler—just hole numbers, pars, distances and handicap strokes. The minimalism is most evident at the conclusion of the first nine. There is no halfway house, just a water fountain.

In addition to the main 18 hole Championship course there is also an original 9 hole course, Le Valiere, which is a gem in its own right and despite being short it is nonetheless a real challenge.