Le Prieuré (Ouest)

Situated between the villages of Drocourt and Lainville-enVexin, the Domaine de Montcient is home to two Fred Hawtree-designed courses from the mid-1960s, the Est and the Oest, which were literally hewn from dense woodland.

The slightly longer Ouest course measures 6,235 metres from the back tees, playing to a par of 72 (35 out then 37 back), with three par threes on the front nine (starting at the 175-metre 1st) and three par fives on the back nine (the last of which plays as the 18th).

Highlight holes include the longest of the par threes at the 200-metre 6th, which plays to a heavily sand-protected green, and the severely left doglegging 12th in the southwest corner of the property, where the fairway turns through 90 degrees from tee to green.

The Peugeot Golf Guide describes the course as follows in this edited extract:

“Over a large park with some very fine varieties of trees, the course unwinds in a very classical style with greens often guarded by lateral bunkers, a few contours on the greens, well-balanced difficulties, very respectable yardage but few visual thrills or tough technical challenges.”