Rating 5/5
Review of Golf de Chantilly
One of Europe’s finest golf courses, the Vineuil course at Golf de Chantilly is a special experience and one I couldn’t recommend enough. It is regularly voted as being one of the top courses in Continental Europe, and for good reason.
Similarly to when playing the magnificent Golf de Morfontaine, just 30 minutes away and another Tom Simpson course, when you arrive at the Golf de Chantilly it is like walking back 100 years. Even the drive to the course gives you an impression of what is to follow, past the magnificent Château de Chantilly over the cobbled stones and up to this celebrated club.
This whole area was once the playground of the French aristocracy, coming from Paris to watch Polo matches and particularly the horse-racing and it was during this period in 1909, that the Golf de Chantilly was built.
There have been a couple of changes to the course over the years with a few of the older holes from Le Vineuil being merged into the newer Les Longères course, but it was only recently in the 1980s that the full 36 holes onsite were completed.
The large expanse of woodland is the perfect hideaway for this course and with penalising bunkers and well-protected greens, typical of Tom Simpson’s work; Le Vineuil is testing even for the better golfers. As such, Le Vineuil has hosted the French Open on numerous occasions, of which our own Nick Faldo was the eventual winner in both 1988 and 1989.
There are some cracking holes but the 16th and 17th are stand out ones. The 16th appears to be a straight-forward Par-4 although when you get down to the end of the fairway, there is a dog-leg right to left over what appears to be an abyss, to carry the green. Immediately after is the impressive Par-3, where golfers are hitting down into a natural cauldron onto the protected green.
The whole experience is special, especially visiting the clubhouse with its traditional early 20th century wooden panelling and memorabilia lining the walls. Although the club is friendly and welcoming to visitors, it is closed to members on weekends and closed Tuesdays.
Detail
- Designer: Tom Simpson
- 36 holes
- Par 71
- Length: 6,005 metres (6,581 yards)
- Slope 135
- Golf club website: http://www.golfdechantilly.com/index.php
- Phone number: 03 44 57 04 43
- Private
- Address: Allée de la Ménagerie, 60500 Chantilly
