Les Bordes: A golf course made for heaven

Posted on behalf of Phil

If there is a place for golfers to go when they pass on then this is surely it.

As some of you know, we played Les Bordes in France last week. Probably the best course that I will ever play, if I ever play a better one I will be a very lucky man.

It’s hard to describe how good it is, stunning, magical, it certainly has 18 signature holes, I found out on the way home that the 7th is the official one, but you would never have guessed that. It is set in ancient Woodland, Oaks and Silver Birch mainly, you hear and see absolutely nothing other than wildlife and greenskeepers working.

There were only four of us on the course the first day, us and two Swiss guys, they had the French, Swiss and Union Jack flags flying for us.
Every hole is a challenge, it has the highest slope index in Europe, and is arguably the toughest course in Europe, also described as the ‘Augusta of Europe’ and has the largest putting green…in Europe.

You drive down a forest track to access it, at the end, a huge security gate awaits, once it opens it’s like entering another world. The lodges, club house and restaurant are very French and the whole place is very laid back, pretty much wear what you want and go where you want, no restrictions, staff are fab too, Connor the pro who has been there for ever is a top chap, he came from Ballybunion on the request of Baron Bich, he of Bic biros fame and creator of this wonderful place.

We had a lodge overlooking the 18th and the beautiful lake that surrounds it. I mentioned to the pro that I would probably play of the white tees, he smiled and very gently said, ‘I would suggest the yellow tees to start sir’ I bet he has a giggle every time he’s asked that question. I never played the white tees.

Every hole is unique and the attention to detail unbelievable, if I could play any course for the rest of my days it would be here. They have a board up for anyone who breaks 80 off of the back tees, it’s been up since 2002, have a look at the photo, apparently pros comes to break the 80 and if by the 3rd, 4th whatever they feel it is slipping away, they go back to the first!

We had a wonderful time there, almost a tear when we left, a year wouldn’t be long enough.

If you ever get an opportunity to go there, take off immediately, no matter what else you have on.

Sean found this link which is a fabulous article on the place, pretty much says it all.

http://www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/courses-and-2-fore-1/europe/france/loire-valley/les-bordes-golf-club/