When 60 of the world’s best male professional golfers tee off on August 1 in a quest for Olympic Gold, they’ll be competing on France’s finest tournament stage, the Albatros course at Le Golf National. However, the Olympic venue is nowhere near the best course in the country. In fact, it wouldn’t even make the medal stand.
Le Golf National resembles a brawnier TPC Sawgrass, notably in its amphitheater viewing areas and its risk-reward drama. Three of the final four holes are splashed with liquid peril, with not one, but two island greens, at 15 and 18. Ahead of Europe’s 17 ½ to 10 ½ Ryder Cup beatdown of the U.S. six years ago, Phil Mickelson observed, “I think it’s phenomenal because it’s got the best viewing of any golf course I’ve seen, as well as the risk-reward. The last four holes are spectacular.”
