Golf de L’Ailette

Laid out over a part of the site of the Chemin des Dames, the site of a tragic Wortld War I episode, Golf de L’Ailette gently undulates and so is not too tiring to play on foot. This is a sort of model public golf course’s technical and tactical sides. The difficulties of playing here increase as you tee-off further back, but Ailette is playable by mid-to-high handicappers who make up the majority of golfers here. More easily playable holes alternate cleverly with tougher chanllenges to set a pleasante tempo and give players a breather. The greens are huge, fair and well-protected by neatly-designed bunkers but are sometimes a little short of good pin positions. Some holes run through woodland, altrough the trees are usually not too close, and the water hazards can be intimidating ( hole 11, 15 & 17 ). Rain is the main threat, even though things have improved with drainage work.