The course that dare not speak its name (pictures)

[Philip Gawith]

This Tom Simpson designed course near Paris is very private - so this rather cute title is an attempt to address these sensitivities, sort of!

 The pictures below are of the Valliere course - the older nine which has a pretty dramatic set of greens and really is a great sequence of holes (bar 6 and 7, a little less special). The heavy fog adds an atmospheric edge to things!





Approach to first green



2nd Green




The dramatic third green



Another shot of the third...



View from behind the short fourth...



Approach to five



The fifth green



The approach to the daunting 8th - about 240 yards to get home from here



The eighth green



Ninth green - giving you an idea of just how sandy the property is

[Sean_A]

Philip

This old 9 looks radically different from the main course.  Do you have pix from fairways and tees?

Ciao

[Philip Gawith]

I don't Sean because the mist was too thick. It only really lifted by the time we were coming through 6 and 7 - not as strong as the rest, and 8, where the photo from the approach shot is shown.

It certainly is very different - shorter, quirkier, more fun. Quite a few years passed between the old nine and the newer course - maybe 15? - and it is interesting to speculate why his approach was so different when it came to doing the other course.

[John Sabino]

Philip - thanks for the pictures. Curious is you've every played Chantilly and have a view on Simpson's work there (or how much is still his?)

Sean - a couple of green pictures from the Valliere


Third Green


Fifth Green


Eighth Green

I had a dream day at Morfontaine recently (http://top100golf.blogspot.com/2007/10/golf-de-morfontaine-entente-cordiale.html). Enjoyed the Valliere course more than the championship course. Its quirky and eccentric like Simpson's work at Cruden Bay.

[Philip Gawith]

Joseph I played Chantilly about 5 years ago and was less attendant then to GCA nuances! I can't remember how it dates compared to the two courses at Morfontaine - but my I do remember thinking the course reminded me a bit of Sunningdale in its general sweep and features (meaning it is more like the championship at Morfontaine than Valliere). I need to go back to give you a more considered view re what of Simpson's handiwork remains. I suspect Frank Pont or Stuart Hallet or Steve Okula may have a more educated view!

[Peter Pallotta]

Philip
thanks much for the wonderful pictures. It's good for me to see them: a while back, out of the blue, I just decided to assume that it was Fowler who was the brains and talent behind Cruden Bay. I think I've been unfair to Mr. Simpson (even though I'd been told that he was the most consiously 'artistic' of the ODGs). I guess it was Oscar Wilde's favourite course then, huh? Oscar Wilde, who when asked by American customs if he had anything to declare, said "Nothing but my genius". Sounds like he could've been an ODG himself
Thanks again
Peter    

[David Stamm]

Those greens are so wild! Love 'em! Thanks for posting.