Our take

Cut through ancient forest near Senlis, Chateau de Raray starts you off gently then gets cleverer and prettier the deeper into the woods you go.

• Serious golfersColin Montgomerie called these the truest greens in France, and the putting alone justifies the trip; the long par threes ask real questions and the 17th catches good rounds late.
• Higher handicapsBarely 50 metres of climb all round and just one water hazard on the whole course, so the trouble is trees rather than carries; the straightforward start lets you settle before the forest closes in.
• Buddy tripsThe nine-hole par 35 and the pitch and putt make a proper afternoon of it after the main round, which is ideal for settling the morning's debts.

Tell us who’s coming and how you like to play, and we’ll shape the right trip around you.

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