Les Bordes unveils continental Europe’s first-ever Gil Hanse design

Europe’s most eagerly anticipated new golf design project will officially be unveiled in the heart of France’s famed Loire Valley with the spring launch of the New Course at Les Bordes.

Situated 90 minutes south of Paris, within Les Bordes’ magical 1,400-acre estate in the Sologne Forest, the par-72 layout has been created by globally-acclaimed American golf architect Gil Hanse and is set to open in summer 2021.

The first golf course to be designed by Hanse in continental Europe, the New Course’s heathland style is in direct contrast to Les Bordes’ Old Course and, when combined with the venue’s 10-hole short course – the Wild Piglet, also created by Hanse and opened in 2020 – members of Les Bordes Golf Club will receive one of the greatest golfing experiences in the world.

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“We visited the site and fell in love with the entire property,” said Hanse. “It is very different stylistically to the original 18-hole course, which I think is a positive, as members will have two very different golfing experiences.

“We realised there was the potential to create some bold and dramatic features and strategies or options on the golf course. We could create a course that would be in balance with the low-profile nature of the site, with these more dramatic hole features adding drama to the course.”

With maximum care and attention taken to clear the location and preserve the natural environment, the New Course fits harmoniously into its surroundings, with the fairways blending seamlessly into the natural vegetation and trees.

Featuring large bunkers, subtle elevation changes and incredible green complexes, the layout measures 7,211 yards from the back tees but is expected to play shorter than its overall length due to the firm and fast playing conditions.

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“Gil lived with us on the estate for over three months whilst the construction was happening and was incredibly hands-on,” explained Jack Laws, director of golf at Les Bordes.

“The course has heathland features but it’s built on sand and has large waste areas like a Pine Valley and, in this respect, it is a unique style for Europe. 

“It is an outstanding golf course with truly exceptional architecture; I was based at Sunningdale for five years before moving to France and, for me, it rivals Harry Colt’s work there which is incredibly exciting.”

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In addition, members of Hanse’s team have also worked alongside the golf club’s greenkeepers to implement a series of improvements to the legendary Old Course which further elevates the playing experience for members and their guests.

Among the changes made, a new maintenance and watering program has been implemented to make the fairways and greens firmer and faster. The tees and fairways have been reseeded with fescue grass to improve their condition all-year round, while large amounts of overly penal rough have been removed and playing corridors have been widened. 

Numerous trees which infringed on play have been removed from the second, third, 11th and 17th holes.
In addition, the 16th tee has been raised 1.5metres to provide more green visibility and to reduce the severity of the tee shot.

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Future investment plans include an announced partnership with Six Senses for the transformation of the 19th century ‘Chateau Bel Air’ into a luxury hotel and spa, a village square with shops and restaurants and a variety of residential villas in various styles, as well as an equestrian centre, an organic farm, an art gallery and outdoor amphitheatre.

To learn more about continental Europe’s first-ever Gil Hanse design, or about Les Bordes in general, head to lesbordes.com for more information.