France conjures up images of chateaux and vineyards, crusty bread and smelly cheeses, the Eiffel Tower, the Tour de France, even garlic and onions. The French people have an air of seductive sophistication with a twist of va-va-voom and a dash of je ne sais quoi.

In the 19th century Pau became popular with the British after a Scottish doctor proclaimed that the mild climate was good for the body and the soul. Naturally a golf course soon followed, in fact the first on the continent of Europe, which dates back to 1856.

With its varied landscapes and topography France is ideal golfing country. In 2016 the number of French courses reached 600, serving more than 400,000 affiliated golf club members.

In 2018 the Ryder Cup was hosted in France at Le Golf National's L'Albatros course. It was the biggest golfing event staged on mainland Europe since the Ryder Cup visited the Costa del Sol in 1997.

We last updated our French Top 100 rankings in February 2023, click the link to read the story.