Le Golf National – Ryder Cup Venue 2018

Le Golf National – Ryder Cup Venue 2018

Tuesday 17^thMay, “…and the Ryder Cup host venue for 2018 is….Le Golf National in France.” For anyone who has even the slightest interest in golf, you can’t have failed to hear the announcement and news that in 2018, the Ryder Cup will be staged just outside Paris on the monumental ‘Albatros’ golf course at Le Golf National. Jumping slightly on the band-wagon, but having played the course twice this year, what better chance than now, to review the course and what it has to offer.

The ‘Albatros’ course, open for play just 21 years, was built with the precise purpose of hosting a future Ryder Cup and this dream has now become a reality. So what is so special and challenging about this course? Other than the fact the ‘Albatros’ is well over 7,000 yards off the back tees, there is an abundance of hazards ranging from large lakes with island greens, massive bunkers measuring a good 120 yards long and knee deep rough. So when Monty said he considered it one of the most difficult courses in Europe, he had some basis.

But how will it fare holding a world-class event such as the Ryder Cup? In terms of location, the course is just 10 minutes drive from the famous town of Versailles. With plenty of restaurants, hotels and bars, Versailles will provide the main evening’s entertainments. Likewise, it is just a short 30 minute train ride from central Paris, so transport will not be an issue. There is the Novotel Saint-Quentin hotel onsite, a 3* with a restaurant and outdoor pool, although whether the players will be staying in the hotel or not, your guess is as good as mine.

The course has been designed to take into consideration, not only the trouble-free movement of spectators during such an event, but it has also kept some of the most demanding holes for the last four. The 15^this a Par 4 with water all down the right and an island green, a Par 3 across water for the 16^th, a long Par 4 with a narrow fairway is the 17^thand the iconic 18^th, a Par 5 with water down the left and another island green. This will provide such a climatic finish to the event, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was to come down to the last pairing on the last day!

I would thoroughly recommend anyone who has a slightly masochistic tendency and likes to challenge themselves to go and play at Le Golf National before it becomes too busy. Spend a couple of nights’ onsite, travel into Versailles in the evening for a nice meal and a bottle of wine, and of course, play the superb ‘Albatros’ course during the day. A package of 2 nights’ Bed and Breakfast and 2 rounds of golf, playing the Albatros and with an additional round at Golf de Rochefort, would cost you only £239 per person.

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