Les Bordes open for limited visitor play in 2017

[David Davis]

This will not be of interest for everyone but those that are aware know that Les Bordes was shut off quite some years ago and has been literally impossible to play. Even for the people that play everything. I received an email the other day from them suggesting they were offering limited opportunities to come stay and play the course before they shut it down again to take the next steps in their future, which I'm guessing is to build a second course.


The prices are rather healthy but to be fair it's a very unique experience in terms of staying there and dining there. Their kitchen is superb. The course well like any course that gets a hardly any play is in great condition and used to be ranked very high back when it was a normal club. I doubt they receive enough visits during the last years to be considered for ranking.


I'd classify it as a US parkland course in France. It's very tough and water comes into play on many holes. Tough enough that they have a board in the clubhouse and if you break 80 from the back tees your name goes on the board. No I didn't play he back tees, too long for me.


It's a fun experience and worth it if you have been itching to play there.


Here are the details and NO, I'm not working for them and am not on commission either ha ha. Just passing on what might be a cool opportunity for some. It would be worth combining a trip there with Morfontaine, Fontainebleau, St. Germain and perhaps Chantilly.


 
 
 
 2 night-stay & 3 days of golf : €1,470
3 days of golf, buggy, unlimited practice, 2 nights accommodation, breakfasts & 2 dinners (without drinks)
1 night-stay & 2 days of golf : €875
2 days of golf, buggy, unlimited practice, 1 night accommodation, breakfast & 1 dinner (without drinks)
1 night stay & 1 day of golf : €610
1 day of golf, buggy, unlimited practice, 1 night accommodation, breakfast & 1 dinner (without drinks)
Any booking will be for a minimum of 12 persons & up to 36 persons.
   

[Greg Gilson]

Nice opportunity David. As you said, not for everyone, but its neat to have the option. Thanks for sharing.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Les Bordes was always a course that fascinated me in my early days. In those early days, the “American” style that Von Hagge designed, with loads of water, was something completely new and quite romantic to me and I suspect a lot of Scots and Irish. Les Bordes looked like it had the coolest holes of all.


Times change. I’ve never seen the course but am really intrigued reading Adam’s interview with Gil Hanse on the second course (don’t know how to link).


Firstly, Gil says it’s sandy soil (I always assumed it wasn’t) and secondly Gil says that the primary - and only - inspiration is Tom Simpson’s work in France, meaning - due to the relatively flat landscape - that he will be creating some quite bold, Simpson like features.


Not sure what others think, but from the few courses I’ve seen of Gil’s, I don’t consider him a minimalist. What I think he’s second to none at is building really cool, natural looking features. If he is really going to mimic a bold featured version of Simpson at Les Bordes, this could be a really special golf course, even if most of us will likely never see it.