Simpson's Chantilly-Vineuil

[Keith Durrant]

This course may be considered as the Grande Dame of le golf francais. Ranked as the fifth best in Continental Europe, one spot behind Morfontaine, in 2003.

However, back in 1991, the club chose to create an additional 18 hole course (Donald Steel)and
splinter off 3 holes from the championship course for inclusion in the new course, the "Longeres".

Current Routing:


Original 1909 Routing picture is on the website in the history section, and is quite different from the current routing:

http://www.golfdechantilly.com/index.aspx

Does anyone have more information on the evolution of the routing? The club site mentions Steel only added 9 holes.
Did Simpson design 27 holes originally? TASOG refers to a Blue Course at Chantilly?
Was Simpson responsible for the original 1909 routing and the later re-routing as well?

It seems clear that the 10th, 11th and 18th on the Longeres course are some of the original Simpson holes which
were once part of the championship course. I believe the club still does play a composite course for its big events.

Here is the fescue-covered vista from the tee of the long par 3 10th (Longeres Course)(190 yds)
with a distinctly links-like feel:



Vineuil Course:
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Approach shot to the par 4, 1st (440 yds) - this course plays firm and fast!! With lovely tight turf
and very tricky greens. Beautiful dominating demi-cross bunkers on this fairway, obscuring
the bottom of the flag if the drive is down the right:


Short par 4, 2nd, approach to green with sharp drop off behind and testing back to front slope:



Par 3 third, 170 yds:


Another of the original green sites with marvelous serpentine bunker - a bold drive leaves this approach to the short par 4, 4th hole:



Another original hole, the current 5th, par 4 410 yds, slight dog leg right - a drive down the inside of the dog leg leaves a partially blind second:


Looking back from behind the 5th green:


Heavily defended par 5 12th green:



Green site of the par 4 13th (is actually more raised than this picture shows, with steep drop off the back to another bunker):



Two tiered green par 4 14th:



Homeward bound on the par 4 16th into the setting sun, 7-8 iron approach across the valley:



The inspiring downhill par 3 17th (mid-long iron). 18th tee is on the hillside behind (several steep climbs and descents to finish the round).


The Clubhouse:



And the view from the Terrasse, where one can sip a beer, showing the 18th green and view up the 1st fairway:

[David_Tepper]

Keith -

GREAT pixs! Thanks for posting them. I could look at courses of this type every day and not get tired of them. I especially like that 17th hole.

DT

[Keith Durrant]

David,

I guess my only quibble with the enjoyment of the 17th was that whilst playing it one was all to aware
of the coming climb up to not only the 18th Tee but then again up to the fairway of the 18th.
I wonder if this was the original design/routing. Perhaps on a cooler day it might have been
less irksome.

[Philip Gawith]

Keith - many thanks for the pics. They bring back fond memories - I played Chantilly about two years ago and thought it a wonderful course. It reminded me a bit of being at Sunningdale, although there are no doubt many differences. It was amazing to be able to get onto such a quality course so easily (tour operators have worked out, I think, that during August all the Parisian members are away at the coast on holiday). I loved the clubhouse and the overall calm feel of the place.

Sorry I can't answer your more detailed inquiries.

[Keith Durrant]

Philip, thanks - you are correct that most clubs here allow access, even on a weekend, in August. Did you play anywhere else on your trip?

[Stuart Hallett]

Keith,
Well done for the photos. I assume you are a big Simpson fan considering your recent post on Fontainebleau, and the probability that you travelled from Fontainebleau to Chantilly and by-passed two Colt courses on the way, sacrilege! Having said that, you picked two of the finest courses in the region which are must plays for GCA fanatics.

Without checking details, Simpson layed out Chantilly (Vineuil) and returned for another 18 in the 1920's. Weather this second course was originally called the Blue Course, I don't know. But it's possible that it refers to a course at Chantilly Lys (36 holes, Simpson 1929). The second course at Chantilly was largely damaged during the war, resulting in 27 holes. I'm not sure if Donald Steel used the same land to add or remodel 13 holes in the late 80's. Anyway it is quite apparent which holes Steel worked on as it is uninspired to say the least. After a quick look at the routing, and again, a rough idea from memory, I believe Steel built 4,5,6,7,17,12,13 (Longeres) and 9,10 & 11 (Vineuil) + 3 others.
I can check details with Remy Dorbeau (Course Manager) who is responsible for some very nice bunker restoration in your photos. Turf removal and scraping away at sand splash revealed the topsoil  and finally the fantastic forms you see today.
The club are very serious about traditional golfing values, especially the course set-up. This explains the exemplary, no frills, optimal playing conditions.

[Steve Okula]

Chantilly may be firm and fast during a summer drought, but when I played it in November (2003) it was mud, some fairways were unplayable.

My own opinion, it's over rated. The majority of holes become a redundant blur, repetitive cross bunkers, uninteresting flat terrain, and the only hole standing out in memory is the ninth, a dogleg over a gorge.

Anyone visiting the Paris area for golf would do better at a half dozen other venues.

[Keith Durrant]

Steve, are you sure you're not thinking of another course in Chantilly? (There are several).

The 9th hole on the Vineuil isnt a dog leg over a gorge (see course map above).

[Keith Durrant]

Stuart, thanks for the information. Monsieur Dorbeau should be congratulated, the crisp restoration of the bunkers does look wonderful.
The greens were also in excellent shape, with lots of movement.

I did manage to slip in a visit to Colt's, Saint Cloud Vert course which seems under-rated outside France,
which I liked very much.

Is there any Colt left at Golf d'Ormesson? Is RCF La Boulie's course of architectural note?

[Steve Okula]

Steve, are you sure you're not thinking of another course in Chantilly? (There are several).

The 9th hole on the Vineuil isnt a dog leg over a gorge (see course map above).

You're right. I was thinking of hole 16. I don't know why I recalled it as the ninth.