Back on the Olympic programme since 2016, golf is becoming increasingly popular around the world, and France is no exception. As the national game prepares to host the Paris 2024 Games, France.fr takes just 5 minutes to show you what France has to offer when it comes to golf, a combination of sport, leisure and lifestyle. To your clubs!
Welcome to the European pioneer...
The history of golf in France dates back to 1856 and the creation of the Golf de Pau. The first golf course in France and the first in continental Europe, it was built under the influence of English golfers who were never short of excuses to enjoy the French art de vivre!
The French love golf more and more...
The French Golf Federation is the 7th most popular sports federation in France, with over 440,000 members by 2022, just behind handball and ahead of swimming. A real craze. And there's more to come...
In France, golf is also (or especially) a pleasure...
In 1907, Arnaud Massy won the British Open and remains the only Frenchman to have won this great tournament. But the French take it rather well. When asked why they play golf, 93% of them answer: "to relax"...
From the Ryder Cup to the Paris 2024 Olympics and the French Open, the three-course Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, near Paris, is a must for golf professionals and enthusiasts alike. Here are a few reasons to take to the fairways...
A bespoke golf experience
What landscape are you dreaming of? In France, you're spoilt for choice. Links courses such as Golf Wimereux or Dinard for the purist sand lovers. Or Evian, where the legendary Evian Championship women's golf tournament is held every year. In town, by the sea or in the mountains, you'll always find a well-prepared course within an hour's drive. In the Basque Country, Saint-Jean-de-Luz has been the cradle of the sport in the region since 1928: the Chantaco Golf Club.
Golf and more
If golfers come from all over the world to play on our greens, it's because they want to vary their pleasures... Golf and fine dining, near Bordeaux or in the Basque Country. Golf and relaxation, in Provence or on the Côte d'Azur. Golf and cultural walks, in the Loire Valley or around Paris. Golf and nature walks, in Brittany or the Alps...
Happy as a golfer in France...
It's a skilful blend of exceptional fairways, the art of entertaining, wine and cheese, culture and fabulous scenery that makes France one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
Grab your clubs and go for it like a champion!
As a golfing nation, France hosts a number of top international events, starting with the Ryder Cup, the third most watched sporting event in the world, which took place in 2018 at the magnificent Golf National. Located in Saint-Quentin-en Yvelines, not far from Paris, it will host the Paris Games in the summer of 2024. Why not come and play golf in France before everyone else does?
By The editor
The editorial staff of France.fr follows the trends and news of destinations to bring you stories from France that reveal its innovations and traditions that make you long to (re) discover its territories.
