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Golf has always been more popular in the British Isles and Ireland than in Mainland Europe, but when it comes to high-quality properties the continent has many beautiful properties to choose from.
France often produces amazing parkland and links style buildings modeled on traditional British courses. But other areas have expanded as golf has become more popular on the continent during the 20th and 21st centuries.
Here are 10 of the best courses on the continent and what makes them special.
Hamburger Falkenstein – Germany
Hamburger Falkenstein, or Hamburg Golf Club, has its fairways at a club that was founded in 1906, but that original course was heavily modified in the 1960s and recent renovations have ensured that it remains among the best in Europe.
Falkenstein is an amazingly beautiful course, guided from all points of the campus. Golfers enjoy a peaceful setting in a wooded area, away from the hustle and bustle of Hamburg city.
Although tree-lined courses can be dull with fairway-like holes, in Hamburg only the 2nd and 11th are relatively straight and that’s the right amount of diversion on a course full of doglegs and tricky tricks created by creatiev accidents.
Every hole presents a unique challenge, the bunkers let you know that this is Harry Colt’s masterpiece and the green structures offer great fun without going over the water, we’re looking at you Pinehurst No 2.
Real Sotogrande – Spain
The Real Sotogrande course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. It was his first European course, but it’s a credit to the man and his design that the par 72, 6,224-metre layout still delights players after all these years.
It is a private members’ club, maintaining an airy sophistication but offering a warm welcome to guests. The green fees for visitors are minimal, but this is a local course worth traveling to in Sotogrande.
The clubhouse is as good as any on the continent and its facilities and course conditions are second to none.
Fontainebleau – France
Fontainebleau is not the longest course in the world, measuring 6,153 yards from the back tees, but the greens are compact and well-marked, reinforcing the scale of challenge of this French woodland wonder.
With less to aim for, a good short game is to combine, but this is a course where the smart golfer should do well.
There is more than a hint of an English parkland course at Fontainebleau, with fairways winding through a rich forest of beech, oak and pine. A sharp-eyed golfer might spot a deer or two around.
Fontainebleau is built on sandy and well-drained soil, with many sandstone rocks that are part of the natural geology of the area cleverly integrated into the course layout.
The presence of a thick pine forest means there is little rough going but the thick trees lining each side of the road present a serious hazard in their own right.
Chantilly (Vineuil) – France
The 6,399-yard Vineuil course at Chantilly is a tough test of the golf shot if it’s not too easy when it comes to strength.
The woods and bunkers ensure that the hit-and-hope golfer is given plenty to think about.
The Chantilly clubhouse which offers 36 holes of Le Vineuil and Les Longère is notable for its marked resemblance to Sunningdale and also evokes a distinctly English feel to the course and facilities.
There is more to Vineuil’s clubhouse and course than pure beauty as the layout attracts players of different skill levels as much as it is a scenic drive through an attractive setting.
Les Bordes (New)
The 1,400-acre Les Bordes estate is located in the Loire Valley’s vast Sologne Forest in a stunning landscape.
Originally designed as an 18-hole course by the colorful Texan architect known for his creativity, Robert von Hagge, the course was founded in 1987 by Baron Marcel Bich. His course, now called Endala, was soon recognized as one of the greatest in all of Europe.
In the first thirty years of this place’s existence, it was owned by many different people. However, in 2018, a subsidiary of RoundShield Partners took control of the property with the intention of creating a second 18-hole course to complement the already highly regarded golf course.
Some classic game passages from the old course have been integrated into the new design, albeit in a much more expanded format. Each hole flows seamlessly from one to the next, with some tees built as an extension of the fairway cut next to the previous green for accuracy.
A heatland-style building highlighted by large wastelands, awe-inspiring habitat and attractive green buildings, it calls for a styled approach to more links in the game.
Hard and fast playing conditions are generally maintained throughout the year ensuring that playing is shorter than the official yardage that may be suggested.
Real Valderrama – Spain
Almost everyone has heard about the “Augusta of Europe” Valderrama but the course’s great success rests with Jaime Ortiz-Patino and his few golfers.
A billionaire industrialist bought and took over what was then a limited-edition course in 1985. Having poured a fortune into its development it is now one of the best courses in the world, let alone in Europe.
Valderrama may be a private members club, but guests can still get a key to the first tee and although it’s not the cheapest green in Europe the course is rarely played and remains in excellent condition.
Valderrama is also in perfect harmony with nature and its surroundings and is a great way to see some of Spain’s beauty.
Links to Lofoten – Norway
The magnificent 18-hole Lofoten Links course opened in the summer of 2015 and is located in a secluded area on the unspoilt coast of the island of Gimsøya in northern Norway. In June and July, golf is played there 24 hours a day and attracts visitors for a unique experience.
The course is shaped by the sea, with sandy beaches acting as natural beaches on some holes and the sea acting as a water hazard on others. The 140-meter 2nd hole is the first to catch the eye. It is a remarkable hole with a two-story green located in a small rocky area with a single pot bed in front of it.
Utrecht de Pan – The Netherlands
The second oldest club in the Netherlands Utrechtse Golf Club de Pan commissioned Harry Colt to design the building in 1929 and the result was a course set in a private wooded area.
The course is inspired by the classic English heathland style, running through stands of pine, birch, oak and chestnut trees.
Golfers are often surprised to find the terrain rises and falls as it does. Since there is no water in play, the main hazards to avoid are trees and a few well-placed bunkers, but the first time around this structure can be an emotional experience.
Recent renovations have improved the structure without robbing it of its course as a course built in the late 1920s.
Koninklijke Haagsche – The Netherlands
Getting the royal seal of approval isn’t something that many courses in Holland can do, but Haagsche has certainly nailed it.
Accurate layout pitches and rolls in a rolling country and players can be forgiven for feeling frustrated by the lack of balance at Haagsche due to the many uneven lies in the dimple area.
The Haagsche is a course that will impress traditional links enthusiasts and anyone who likes a certain level of challenge and a traditional ground game course.
Morfontaine (Grand Parcours) – France
A few properties might argue that the Grand Parcours at Morfontaine isn’t the best golf course on the continent, but those arguments usually stem from matters of personal taste and can be expected with this kind of list.
At 5985 yards from the back tees at 70, Morfontaine is not the longest course in France but its challenging rating ranks between 71 and 72.
Sparse fairway bunkers sometimes challenge your club selection off the tee, but what the fairway lacks in difficulty, it more than makes up for in its approach shots and tricky placements.
Most of the large and undulating greens are well protected by bunkers that are perfect for collecting balls if the wrong club is chosen. While the trees along the way provide some protection from the elements that can be dangerous in themselves.
The stunning beauty creates an unparalleled ride when it comes to having your breath taken away over 18 holes.
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