Golf Course Scouting Report: Le Golf National - Albatros Course

The Albatros Course at Le Golf National is a compelling modern layout dressed up as a traditional links-style golf course. The property features very few trees and numerous penal pot bunkers nestled amongst the fescue-covered hillocks. While this scenery is reminiscent of the Open Championship venues of Great Britain, the style of play required is entirely different.

Unlike the British links, this Olympic venue calls for very little play along the ground; rather, aerial precision is needed to negotiate the angled, elevated greens and large water hazards throughout. I have long believed that it can be easy for water hazards to serve as lazy, unimaginative fallbacks in lieu of true creativity from golf course architects. However, as I mentioned on my podcast, Linksworms, Hubert Chesneau and Robert von Hagge's masterpiece at Le Golf National does not fall into this category; each and every hole here provides a unique experience.

Overall: 8.60 - The Albatros Course at Le Golf National showcases a relentless array of riveting championship golf holes.

Memorable Holes: 9

There are so many stand-out holes on the Albatros Course beginning with the very first hole, a dogleg-right par-four with water down the entire left side. One of the most memorable holes is the par-four 15th; it forces the golfer to decide how aggressive to be off the tee, leading to a wedge shot toward a kidney-bean-shaped peninsula green. These are merely a couple examples of numerous exciting golf holes.

Interest: 9

The narrow fairways and creative green complexes, not to mention the relentless water hazards and pot bunkers, make for an engaging round. The par-five ninth ends with one of the most narrow greens in golf, and the blind approach at the short, bunker-less sixth is intriguing. The wide variety of shots that require a carry over water add to the drama, and yet it never seems to feel redundant. One of the unique green complexes on the course is displayed at the par-four 13th, a shorter hole with water in front of and behind the green. The protuberance at the green's front-left section is guarded by a well-placed tree. You certainly don't see that every day.

Par Threes: 8.5

All but one of the par threes require a carry over water, which may feel a little monotonous, but they all play entirely differently. The aforementioned second features an extremely intimidating carry over a vast lake that borders the front and left sides of the shallow target. The pond at the 174-yard 11th doesn't creep quite as close to the front edge of the reasonably large green, but there is a runoff area short that can propel balls back into the water. The 168-yard 16th, the shortest hole on the course, is a fantastic one-shotter with water tight to the front edge of the green and a small back tier guarded by bunkers. The 208-yard eighth is the only short hole without water; instead, a little pot bunker guards the front of the tricky putting surface.

Difficulty: 7.5

The Albatros Course at Le Golf National is extremely demanding due to the very tight landing areas from start to finish. The main reason why this difficulty rating is not higher is because the course is not particularly long; while danger lurks everywhere, avoiding these penalty areas is often doable on the shorter holes. Additionally, chipping around the green is not as daunting as other aspects of the course. But overall, this is a legitimately hard test of golf.

Finishing Holes: 9

Were I to include the 15th hole in this category, the ranking would be even higher; however, the final three holes are spectacular in and of themselves. After the par-three 16th, the Albatros Course finishes with two grueling par fours. The 480-yard 17th is a straight, narrow, bunker-less hole with a green that slopes severely from right to left and a steep shelf that will send short misses away from the putting surface. The 471-yard 18th's challenge is different in almost every way: Players will try to fit their balls between pot bunkers right and water left to set up an approach to a green bordered on three sides by yet more water.

The only bailout is a bunker left, but even this could leave a delicate chip to a severe two-tiered green with extremely small targets. I am a little unsure of how much credit to give for this finish because it plays as a par five for the public; as a par four, however, the 18th is truly one of the hardest golf holes I have ever seen.

For the criteria used to determine these ratings, please click here.