Châteaux

When Bill Coore designed Châteaux in 1987, he attempted to build a new course that looked as though Tom Simpson had built it in the 1920s. Simpson had designed outstanding courses in France, perhaps most notably Morfontaine, and Coore wanted to pay homage to his beautiful style of work. Sandy soil, heather-lined bunkers and fast-and-firm fairways make Châteaux a distinctly heathland course, akin to some of the UK’s most famous such as Sunningdale Golf Club and Swinley Forest. The first tee at Châteaux sets the stage—the golfer must decide, while teeing it up on this 410-yard par 4, whether to play to the right of a series of bunkers that run down the middle of the fairway, or whether to dial back and play left. Pulling off the more difficult shot right of the bunkers means enjoying an easier approach to the green. The golfer faces similar decisions of risk/reward throughout the Châteaux journey, creating a dynamic and engaging experience from start to finish.