Les Bordes Golf Club (New)

The 1,400-acre Les Bordes estate lies in splendid isolation within the massive Sologne Forest in the Loire Valley. Established in 1987 by Baron Marcel Bich, the property originally boasted an 18-hole layout designed by Robert von Hagge, the flamboyant Texan architect renowned for his artistic flair. It wasn’t long before his course (now known as the Old) was regarded as one of the best in Europe.

Several different owners were involved in running the estate during the first thirty years of its operation, before an affiliate of RoundShield Partners took over in 2018 with a plan to develop another 18-hole course which would complement the existing highly ranked golf layout. Other non-golfing activities – such as an equestrian centre, swimming lake – were also introduced to keep members and their families occupied off the course.

Gil Hanse was chosen to design his first golf project in continental Europe, using land to the west of the existing layout that had housed a 36-hole set-up called Golf de Ganay. Some of the playing corridors from the former course have been integrated into the new design, albeit in a significantly widened format. Holes flow seamlessly from one to the next, with some of the tees an extension of the fairway cut next to the previous green.

Great emphasis has been placed on the ground game and the ability to shape and control the ball along the playing surfaces on what is essentially a heathland-style layout that’s highlighted by large waste areas, formidable bunkering and captivating green complexes. Firm and fast playing conditions ensure it plays shorter than the official yardage might indicate.

Configured as two returning nines, the New course features four engaging par threes which measure between 135 yards at the 7th and 249 yards at the 14th. Other highlight holes include short par fours at the 9th and 15th, along with engaging par fives at the right doglegging 565-yard 6th and the 552-yard 18th, where the final fairway skirts past water on the left on its way to the home green.

The 10-hole Wild Piglet short course has also been fashioned to bring an extra dimension of fun and entertainment into proceedings at Les Bordes. Similar to the Cradle short course that Gil Hanse built at the Pinehurst resort, it’s chock-full of interest with items such as multi-tiered putting surfaces and even a bunker in the middle of one of the greens – all in keeping with the architect’s stated philosophy of “golf should be fun, it shouldn’t suck.”