Racing Club de France La Boulie

La Vallée — Paris’s first major course, designed by Willie Park Jr. and rich in history

The site is located in Versailles, on a hilly estate blending lawns, ancient trees, and natural slopes. Despite its immediate proximity to Paris, the topography and vegetation provide strong isolation for the course.

La Boulie was founded in 1901 when Pierre Deschamps and his associates created the Société du Golf de Paris. , a two-time Open champion and a major architect, designed La Vallée. The course hosted the first French Open in 1906, which was won by Arnaud Massy. Devastated during the Second World War, it was rebuilt and reopened in 1952 under the aegis of the Racing Club de France.

Park created a winding layout where narrow fairways hug the slopes. The greens are large and deep, surrounded by severe bunkers. The architecture does not rely on length but on sloping lies, angles, and the short game.

La Vallée measures less than 6,000 meters, yet almost no shot is played with flat feet. Changes in elevation and slopes make trajectory control far more important than raw power.

La Boulie is a historic private club boasting three courses and remarkable practice facilities. Visitors can generally play on weekdays under certain conditions, while weekends remain reserved for members and their guests.

The Round selects it for its historical importance and technical uniqueness: La Vallée remains a great test without relying on modern length.

Created in 1901 by Willie Park Jr. ; first French Open in 1906; nineteen editions of the French Open; 1963 World Cup; reconstruction after World War II.

Open de France; compétitions nationales du Racing Club de France