Golf de Morfontaine is beautifully situated in the woods north of Paris. The 9 holes course ‘Vallière’ was built in 1913 and the ‘Grand Parcours’ an 18 holes course was added in 1927.
This is Tom Simpson who designed a new 18-hole Morfontaine (now called Le Grand Parcours) and Mrs Lacoste struck the first tee shot. he also realized the Royal Lytham & St Annes and ballybunion golf club
There are places where the world seems to have stood still just at the right moment. Morfontaine is a paradise for members who admit only their own guests. A lot of people would like to join, them, such is the reputation forged by this sleeping beauty course waiting to be awoken.Here, they love their golf, its traditions and Tom Simpson’s original layout. Today’s iconoclastic long hitters will certainly find it short but hitting the ball too hard here is tantamount to raising your voice in a hallowed sanctuary. The difficulty is to steer clear of the splendid trees, heather and wickedly located bunkers, and master the subtly contoured greens.
At Morfontaine you play with lovers of golf, not of slick golf swings.
• The 18-hole course is a technical picture of nobility and harmony.
The 18 hole course is built in a forest and has an abundance of heather. It is reminiscent of the heathlands outside of London. The soil is naturally sandy, and thus perfect for a good golf course. The course is an absolute treasure and work of art. It has that certain something the French call je ne sais quoi that sets it apart from anywhere else I have ever played golf. Like at Yeamans Hall, the entire atmosphere and sense of isolation overtakes you.
Simpson designed very large greens at golf de Morfontaine and left many of the natural rock outcroppings in place, which adds to the character of the course.
The best stretch of holes on the course are thirteen through sixteen. The thirteenth hole is a short par three at 134 meters (150 yards). There is a full-size large tree directly between you and the enormous multi-tiered green. You are forced to decide whether to go left or right of the tree. Tom Simpson was an iconoclast, and you really feel his unique style on this hole.
• The 9-hole Vallière course is a tasteful addition.
Simpson designed the Valliere in 1911 and the first five holes have had no alterations at all from the original design. The Valliere course is a cross between Cruden Bay (idiosyncratic) and Woodhall Spa (heathlands). It is an extremely quirky and very fun round of golf. The first hole plays through a narrow opening in the trees and is a sharp dogleg right up a big hill. The third hole plays from an elevated tee engulfed in heather down into a valley filled with rock outcroppings. The fairway slopes right to left the length of the hole.
The Valliere course has more interesting and varied greens than the main course at Morfontaine. The main course didn´t have as many contours and undulations on the greens. The fourth at Valliere is a world-class par three that plays downhill and is surrounded by bunkers almost the entire way around. he fifth hole is a short par five (420m) that has a punchbowl green hidden off to the left between dunes and trees.
A model golf club but reserved for members and their guests.
