With the Paris Games just around the corner, the golf world is gearing up for the third Olympic tournament since the sport returned to the program in 2016, and Le Golf National will be the venue.
Designed by Hubert Chesnaeu with consultant Robert Van Hagge, Le Golf National opened near Versailles on the outskirts of Paris in 1991. It's owned and managed by the French Golf Federation and serves as a national training center in addition to hosting tournaments.
The site features three different courses, but one, the Albatros, will host the Olympic tournament.
The Albatros is a real gem recognized as one of the best championship courses in Europe, receiving high praise from pros and amateurs alike. Since 1991, it has been the site of the French Open, a key tournament on the European Tour.
Featuring slick greens, vast undulating fairways with numerous links-style bunkers, and water hazards on nearly every hole, the course will test the best players in the world. However, it's the fearsome final four holes which provide the grand finish.
Of those final holes, No. 17 poses the greatest challenge. This par-4 is the second-longest on the course, and the difficulty of this hole is unmatched.
The short par-3 16th hole plays from an elevated tee, increasing the wind's impact on tee shots, and is fronted by water.
The 18th hole is a water-lined par-4 of 471 yards and tests players from tee to green. From the tee down the left side of the entire hole, there stretches a large body of water, but players must be careful because bailing out to the right doesn't offer much safety either.
This closing stretch has provided plenty of drama over the years, including at the 2018 Ryder Cup where the United States trailed until that final stretch. Even though the Europeans came out on top, the thrill of the course left spectators on the edge of their seats.
“That finish, coming down 15, 16, 17, 18; the amount of people, the noise, the cheers, the crowd in that area is going to be an incredible site," Jim Furyk, the captain of that year's U.S. Ryder Cup team, accurately predicted.
No matter the player nor the metric, Le Golf National has proven itself to be one of the toughest venues on the European Tour.
“The course itself is such a wonderful test,” said former European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke. “It’s fair. If you get too aggressive, there’s a lot of water in play.”
Le Golf National, unlike many modern venues, emphasizes accuracy over distance. According to the PGA Tour website, the average winning score at the last 10 French Opens has been just 9.6 strokes under par.
An American, stadium-style venue, the man-made spectator mounds and water hazards lined by wooden bulkheads here are reminiscent of courses like TPC Sawgrass.
A total of 120 golfers will participate in the 2024 Olympics — 60 in the men's competition and 60 in the women's. For any of them to claim gold, conquering this challenging course will certainly be a requirement.