Tim,
I played the French Open there five or six times after it moved from Chantilly.
Chantilly was quintesentially French - beautiful ,elegant clubhouse,a fine Tom Simpson course amongst the forest and a fantastic venue.
Also it was close to Morfontaine where we would spend the afternoons after our rounds sneaking in more great golf.
It moved to the Federation owned course with an onsite Novotel for the players in an ordinary part of town that had almost no charm.
The course is build out of heavy clay - material won from the building of a nearby freeway, I think - to look like a links in parts but with all the cliched American water holes - especially the opening pair and at the finish where water is the main feature.
As far as I could tell there was nothing the French could point at as being uniquely French about the course - unlike the best of the Paris courses which are elegant and charming - and fine courses.
It is quite difficult if the wind blows - I see Martin Kaymer did 62 this am so it must have been calm - and would be the course the French are using as their Ryder Cup venue in the upcoming bidding process along with Sweden,Germany and others.
I know nothing else M Chesneau has designed.