The signature hole in Boulie: par 3 of n ° 10, on the course of the Valley. @ André Crudo

For a little, we would almost show up at the reception on tiptoe. A slightly old school atmosphere, which we usually smell on the other side of the Channel, hovers around the Anglo-Norman style clubhouse built at the beginning of the previous century. La Boulie is a journey through time, a monument more than a century old, a green setting set on the wooded hills bordering another jewel of our heritage: the Palace of Versailles. In short, it is a golf course like no other.

Designed in 1902 by the Scottish Willie Park Junior (winner of two British Open), the course of the Valley hosted in 1906 the first Open of France - and of the Old Continent -, which was won by a player of the club, a certain Arnaud Massy. The story can begin. Like many golf courses in France, La Boulie had to pay a heavy price during the two world wars. In 14-18 the clubhouse was transformed into a military hospital while under the Occupation, the Germans requisitioned the land to set up a tank school.

It was not until 1951 that the course was repaired and renovated, under the aegis of the Racing Club de France, the famous sports club now owner of the premises. The legend can continue to be written thanks to Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, who came to contest the Canada Cup in 1963 with the American team. Nick Faldo won the French Open there in 1983 and Severiano Ballesteros added his name to the event's prize list in 1986, during the 20^e and last edition taking place at the Boulie. The illustrious Spaniard took the opportunity to return a card of 61 (-11) and beat the course record during the Pro-Am preceding the tournament. "That day, he played in particular with Catherine Lacoste and Roland Peugeot", says Jean-Franck Burou, golf director for twelve years now. In 1994, Tiger Woods in turn paced the hilly fairways of Boulie during the Eisenhower Trophy, the amateur team world championship.

Barely 6000 meters long, La Vallée is, as its name suggests, a hilly course, alternating between big drops and a few twisted slopes. It's rare to have your feet flat on this historic 18-hole course, just as it's hard to avoid the sea of ​​sand that protects the vast, perfectly manicured greens (a lot of work has been done over the past five years) . A tip: work on your bunker exits before facing the Valley, because it is not easy to reach all the greens in regulation.

The hole n ° 3 of the Valley. @ André Crudo

Par 3s have a lot of charm, like hole 3, where the magic sometimes happens. " Few years ago, says Jean-Franck Burou, three of the club's oldest players - they were all over 80 years old and unfortunately no longer in this world - showed up at the start of this par 3. The first made the par, the second birdie and the third… a hole in one! " Hole n ° 10 is a visual shock. This long par 3 (192 meters from the back tees) overhangs a green surrounded by bunkers for a good thirty meters. In the background, a thick forest of oaks and pines gives you the impression of swinging on a postcard.

Easier, the holes in the return allow the card to be cleaned, like the 17 and 18 (index 16 and 18), two short par 5s where birdie can be considered, as long as you take care of your play. time, well hidden behind the trees, a few fairways adjoin a railway line as well as the A86, which almost seems to have been built to best serve the Boulie, since the exit of the motorway leads directly to the club.

La Boulie is also a second high-quality 18-hole course: La Forêt, designed in 1967 after the club acquired the nearby Bois des Gonnards. Long in the shadow of its illustrious elder, this par 72 of 6122 meters now enjoys good odds. "We now have two courses of the same level, underlines Jean-Franck Burou. A little more difficult than the Valley, the narrower fairways of the Forest attractsnt good players. Even our 1500 members no longer make the differencerence between our two courses and play both with the same pleasure. "

The course of the Forest. @ laboulie.com

Superbly maintained, the Forest is a beautiful country walk, where calm reigns supreme, punctually interrupted by the echo of a few well-slammed drives. In autumn, the trees are adorned with their most beautiful colors and make it easier for you to digest your double bogeys. Flatter than the Valley, the course also retains the Boulie trademark: huge greens defended by wide and deep bunkers. The return is spiced up by the doglegs of 10 (a par 5) and 15, or by the par 4 of 17, a slight right dogleg that can be drivable in one. "But in this case, you better not miss each other », Smiles the director. The walk ends with a short, almost straight par 4, the green of which is slyly defended by one of the rare ponds on the course.

La Boulie, a legendary golf course to play at least once in your life.

Frank Crudo

18.82, a renowned restaurant

At the heart of the historic clubhouse, the 18.82 restaurant has recently changed its name, as a nod to the history of the Racing Club de France, founded that year. Seasonal French gastronomy is offered by Vincent Guillotin, notably at the great tables of the Trianon Palace, the Prince de Galles, the Auberge des Templiers or even the 3 Marches.

http://rcf-laboulie.com/