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Robert
von Hagge is well known golf architect, but perhaps
for a man of his artistry, the North American market
has yet to realize his brilliance. Surely, we alluded
to talent with our feature of Cinnamon Hill, but still
his lack of presence on the North American continent
leads many to continue to miss some excellent world
wide tracks attributed to him. Les Bordes set in the
idyllic Loire Valley 90 minutes south of Paris
provides testament to von Hagge’s ability. Surely
the course is the most celebrated new course on the
European continent since Valderama was built. Its
meteoric rise to being considered the second best
course in all of
Europe
, since its opening in 1987 gives further
creditability. Although, with on of the prettiest
inland settings for a golf course, it is difficult to
at first understand whether credit is heaped on
because of this. Any true golf aficionado will realize
stepping off the wild 18th green that Les Bordes is
more than just a pretty resort course, but actually a
world-beater. Carved through the lovely woods and
water, von Hagge made great use of the property,
moving earth to create a series of dramatic holes.
Similar in style to the 1980s employed at such
courses as TPC at Sawgrass in the same genre of
architecture, the bulkhead water hazards and island
green (on the par five 14th) give the golfer both
visual stimuli, but also provide a sharp line
separating the good shots from the bad. Les Bordes is
very playable from the forward tees, though the
difficulty from the back tees can be attested by the
course record of 71, held by the infamous countryman,
Jean Van de Velde. Measuring 7,062 yards with a slope
of 148, it can surely test the more accomplished
player, but the five sets of tees afford everyone to
find their comfort zone.
From
the first tee, the golfer gets a clear sense of joys
to come, with gorgeous opening drive from the tee
located next to the majestic circular green that
highlights the front of the resort. Across the water
that comes back into play on the final hole of the
round, the generous fairway gives the golfer room to
stretch their muscles. The approach is a wholly
different story, with a massive waste bunker, that
almost rings the entire green, except for a sliver of
fairway at the entrance to the green. The large green
can be hit, but given its size, securing the opening
par is still a test.
The
first of the par threes, the relatively short 165-yard
fourth hole, can prove to be an ominous introduction
to the short holes. With a small green that guarded
both front and right by the water hazard, whose only
buffer from the putting surface is the fringe, the
golfer must play a solid shot. The internal contour
means that attacking the pin is a fools game and
trying to escape with a par is a worthy ambition.
The
sixth is the shortest par four on the golf course (at
385 yards), though it still provides the classic
dilemma. Accuracy from the tee is essential, both to
avoid the trees and rough left, but the large waste
bunker lining the right side of the fairway. Owing to
the history of the land, the approach is played to a
green that is always under the eye of the ancient
cross that stands on the right side. Those looking for
divine intervention in their golf game, would do well
to seek it here. The green has bathtub like depression
in the middle right side of the green, which
essentially creates three separate greens. Finding the
appropriate position is crucial, because putting
through the depression can prove next to impossible.
The charm of the green is overwhelming, and given the
relatively short approach, it fits the hole incredibly
well.
The
front nine finishes with a dogleg left par four
measuring 390 yards. The tee shot is played out of a
chute of trees to a wide fairway that sets up the
approach to a welcoming green. The backdrop off the
grand clubhouse and the flagpoles, which represent the
guests staying, adds to the drama.
The
back nine affords to create even more dramatic holes
than the front and the golfer gets a clear picture of
this on the 399-yard 11th hole. The dogleg left wraps
around a water hazard and requires two careful shots
to achieve success. The prudent play from the tee is
to place the tee shot on the right side of the
fairway, leaving a longer, but safer approach into the
green. The green has plenty of movement, however any
ball left in the right centre of the green should
leave a legitimate two putt.
The
aforementioned island green weighs on the golfers
psyche throughout the round, whether through past
experience, reputation or the first glance that one
gets on the 12th tee. The 14th hole is a long par
five, measuring 558 yards, which basically assures
that it will be a three shot hole for most people.
Given this, the golfer has the ability to set the hole
up for ideal approach, making the task much easier.
The green is fairly receptive and if the golfer is
wielding a short iron should prove to be an easy task
– if the inevitable intimidation can be overcome –
always easier said than done.
Despite
being the only par three with water, the 215-yard 16th
hole is by far the hardest of the collection. Playing
even longer than the stated yardage, the tee shot is a
daunting one that must flirt with the enormous bunker
that guards the front right of the green. Although the
bunker seems to be the key hazard to avoid, the real
trouble is left and long, where the green falls over
severely. The miss is definitely to the bunker, which
leaves a decent chance at recovery, via an uphill
bunker shot. Pars are celebrated with worthiness here,
despite the misleading stroke index of 15.
The
closing hole at Les Bordes makes undoubtedly the
greatest demands of the round. The 447-yard finisher
forces the golfer to hit among their best tee shots of
the day, finding the narrow fairway, that guides balls
to the right side. The approach is a mid to long-iron
that is all carry, due to the water, which once again
is against the bulkhead green. The green boasts
further protection long in the form of bunkers, but
the green itself can give golfers fits. The boomerang
shape means that finding pins, especially in the
corners, is a tricky proposition. Due to
plenty of contour, two putts can generally win
the match here.
Clearly
von Hagge’s success has been recognized throughout
Europe
, where his courses sprouted up after the accolades
for Les Bordes poured in. In this majestic corner of
the world, golf would seemingly not be the first
thought as deer seemingly prance throughout the
property. However, the visionaries and artistry of von
Hagge combined to introduce a world-class facility
that will – if it has not already – become a
“must” destination on every golfers list.
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