Golf de Fontainebleau, Golf course in Fontainebleau, France.
Golf de Fontainebleau is an 18-hole course spanning 6016 meters across sandy terrain within the forest, featuring 103 bunkers and narrow fairways throughout the layout. The facility includes 15 practice bays, a pro shop, and restaurant services available to members and visitors.
Inaugurated in 1909, the course is among the oldest in France, with the Marquis Jean de Ganay as its first president. Its layout is credited to English architect Tom Simpson, later improved by Scottish architect Fred W. Hawtree, who added five holes in the 1960s, and by his son Martin, who added bunkers and three greens in the 1980s. It lies on the former imperial hunting grounds, 800 metres from town.
The club plays an important role in French golf circles and hosts regular competitions, including the annual Coupe Mouchy tournament. Visitors experience a golfing tradition that has developed over generations within this forest setting.
The course is open all year and lies about 800 metres west of Fontainebleau, reached from the carrefour de l'Obélisque via the route d'Orléans; other entrances are reserved and open from the route de la Faisanderie. The sandy soil keeps the ground playable whatever the weather, so the narrow, tree-lined fairways and 103 bunkers call for accurate club selection.
Some trees carry small signs giving their age, including a beech dating from the reign of Henri IV around 1595. The course record of 63 has stood since 1999, set by Sébastien Branger. The club has about 320 members, so a long waiting list exists.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,789 contributors worldwide.