Golf du Chateau de Cely:14th-Century with Championship Golf
Golf du Chateau de Cely is situated on a magnificent and historic estate in the Seine-et-Marne department of France. The centerpiece of the property is the 14th-century Château de Cély, a structure that provides a "superb view" and a "sumptuous setting" for the activities on the domain. The entire estate spans a magnificent, sprawling 55-hectare (approximately 136-acre) park, offering a sense of seclusion and natural immersion. This vast property, transformed and refurbished over the centuries, provides a backdrop of historic prestige for the modern, high-quality golf and event facilities.
The domain's location strikes a perfect balance between tranquil seclusion and strategic accessibility. It is located 45 kilometres (approximately 28 miles) south of Paris, placing it firmly within the "Paris South" golf region and making it an easy day trip from the capital.
The estate is situated in the desirable Île-de-France region, near the historic Fontainebleau forest and the famous artists' village of Barbizon. This proximity allows visitors to combine a round of golf with a wider cultural exploration of the Pays de Fontainebleau.
Transport links are excellent. The property is easy to reach via the A6 motorway and is conveniently close to the main Paris airports. It is located just 30 km (19 miles) from Orly Airport (ORY) and 80 km (50 miles) from Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).
The Golf Course: A Championship Pedigree
The 18-hole golf course at Château de Cély was inaugurated in 1990. Its design is the result of a prestigious Franco-American collaboration. The primary architects of record are the French designers Marc Adam and Patrick Fromanger.
To elevate the design to an international, championship standard, Adam and Fromanger worked "in collaboration with Jack Nicklaus Design". This partnership infused the course with a distinct "American-style" character. Historical context of the Nicklaus Design firm's operations in that era suggests the project was likely overseen by Ron Kirby, a renowned architect who, at the time, was a senior designer for Nicklaus Design and managed the firm's European projects. This blend of local French vision and the Nicklaus/Kirby global championship expertise created the "exceptional par 72" that exists today.
The quality of the design was immediately validated at the highest level. Upon its inauguration, the Golf du Chateau de Cely "hosted the Women's World Championships".
To be selected for a world championship event before opening to the public is a profound testament to the course's design and condition. It was not a course that needed to mature into a championship venue; it was "born" a championship venue. This pedigree remains a core part of its identity and reputation, with the course consistently ranked as "one of the most beautiful golf courses in the Ile de France region".
Signature Holes and Layout Highlights
The course is a challenging and "beautifully sculptured" 18-hole, Par 72 layout. It plays to a total length of 5,856 meters (approximately 6,404 yards) from the standard tees, though the full scorecard reveals a range from 5,147 meters (Red) to a formidable 6,479 meters (Black).
Style: The course is explicitly designed "in the purest tradition of American golf courses". It is also identified as a "Parkland" style course.
Features: The terrain is "undulating," "hilly," and "landscaped". The design is considered "a rather technical golf course" and is "dotted with water features and numerous bunkers". Key features include "inter-connected water hazards" and some bunkers styled as "long, sandy waste areas," both classic hallmarks of American design. The fairways are "tree-lined" and the round includes "a few slopes to climb".
Difficulty: While its championship pedigree and technical features make it "très complexe" (very complex) and "pas facile" (not easy) according to players , the design is intentionally inclusive. Its "different starting areas" and multiple tee boxes make it accessible and enjoyable "for players of all levels and ages". The slope rating, a measure of difficulty, ranges from 139 (Black) and 136 (Women's Blue) down to 113 (Women's Red), confirming its scalability.
The course is crafted to produce memorable, dramatic, and photogenic moments.
Par-3 5th: The first of the par threes is a highlight, requiring a "tee shot carry over water to a boomerang-shaped green that's fronted by three small bunkers".
Par-5 15th: This hole is singled out as "the challenge" of the course. It is a "monstrous" par-5 that, according to the scorecard, plays 603 meters (659 yards) from the Yellow tees and a staggering 659 meters (721 yards) from the Black tees. Player reviews note it as a "difficult, very long uphill Par 5".
Par-3 17th: The last par three "plays to a large, offset green with a bunker protecting the front right side".
The Finishing Holes (Par-4 9th & 18th): The course provides a "fine style" and "testing" finale for both the front and back nines. In a classic "stadium" design, the 9th and 18th greens "lie on either side of a lake in front of the clubhouse". This shared hazard creates a high-pressure, scenic finish, with "greenside bunkers lying in wait" for any approach shot played too cautiously wide of the water
Golf du Chateau de Cely presents a "tale of two experiences."
On one hand, it is an exceptional golf destination, offering a "sumptuous" 14th-century setting and a "complex," technically brilliant, American-style course. The design's championship pedigree is legitimate, and its core playing surfaces (fairways and greens) are praised for their "perfect" condition. The ability to play a course that hosted a World Championship, in the shadow of a historic château, is an undeniable and powerful draw.
For the potential visitor, the recommendation is clear: one should absolutely visit Golf du Château de Cély for its magnificent setting, superb château views, and the challenge of its championship-caliber course layout. It is an experience the "surroundings" and "general impression" scores confirm is well worth having. However, visitors should manage their expectations regarding the practice facilities and, to a lesser extent, the dining. The strength of the core product—the course itself—is what defines the Cély experience.
Get in touch.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.