Visit Exclusive Les Bordes Golf Club In Loire Valley

In the heart of the Loire Valley, there is a golf club that is so exclusive, even its own members are not given a roster of the membership. Called Les Bordes Golf Club, it offers two championship length golf courses, each designed by a world-renowned golf architect, plus a 10-hole par three golf course that pays homage to some of the most iconic holes in the world.

Les Bordes Golf Club is now opening its doors for non-members enabling them to experience the property—and learn about its newly launched Six Senses-branded residences that are being developed there. Guests will dine in the lodge, play unlimited golf on its Old Course (or enjoy a daily three-hour package at Le Retreat Spa). Guests will enjoy full access to all of the club’s facilities including its equestrian center, plus receive daily breakfast and a food and wine tasting dinner menu each evening.

The package includes accommodations in a Lakeside Cottage or a Cour du Baron villa. The price for the experience is €2,500 per couple, per night, for visits up to seven days. The offer is only available on a one-time basis, hence the name of the package “Once In A Lifetime”.

The estate was once the private hunting lodge and grounds of Baron Marcel Bich, co-founder of BIC, the well-known manufacturer of pens, disposable razors and lighters. During his later years, Bich was not able to hunt and so took up golf and hired American golf architect Robert von Hagge to design a world-class 18-hole golf course where Bich could play with his friends.

With an unlimited budget, von Hagge created what is considered to be his greatest work of his career. A contemporary course featuring many man-made elements such as mounding, bunkering and fairways with rolling contours. von Hagge wanted to create a golf course to be admired for its beauty. He designed it so that shadows would be cast in specific ways while combined with colors and shapes made it “painterly” he said. His goal was for golfers to be in awe of its beauty and for the experience to be a feast for the eyes and not just a golf round. After a three-year long construction period, the course was completed and open for play in 1987.

von Hagge incorporated the estate’s woodland lakes into the course design as there are striking, albeit tricky, water expanses on 12 of the 18 holes. He also designed midway bunkers and grass-filled bunkers that resemble dimples. Some of its greens are located on small islands and accessible by an elevated walkway. The course is difficult, although some recent alterations including the removal of encroaching trees and the firming up of some fairways has made the course’s length of 7,044 yards slightly easier.

The Old Course is well-regarded and for the past thirty years it has been considered one of the top courses in continental Europe. Another of von Hagge’s creations, “The Albatros” course at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, France, bears many similarities as the Old Course at Les Bordes. The Albatros, which opened in 1990 and was co-designed by golf architect Hubert Chesneau (in collaboration with fellow golf architect Pierre Thevenin), was the location of the 2024 Olympics’ golf competition as well as the 2018 Ryder Cup. In fact, Scottie Scheffler spent the week prior to the Olympics at Les Bordes where he trained with his caddie.

Les Bordes remained the Baron’s private sanctuary where he hosted family and friends and the occasional amateur or professional event. But after the Baron’s passing in 1994 many years passed by without clear direction. Control of the estate was taken over in March 2018 by the partners of private equity firm RoundShield Partners LLP. RoundShield Partners has invested heavily in Les Bordes including improving the Old Course, but also developing a second championship course, plus building a plethora of other amenities.

The owners launched Les Bordes Golf Club in August 2019 as a private club accessible exclusively for members and their guests. The equity membership is very international and currently has 300 members from around the world including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and France.

Significantly, a second course was also added to the property. Called the “New Course” it is a traditional links-style course designed by another notable American golf course architect, Gil Hanse. The designer of Castle Stuart and Ohoopee Match Club, Hanse is also well-regarded for the restoration work he has done on many Top 100 Courses, including Merion, Winged Foot, Yale University and The Los Angeles Country Club.

For Les Bordes, Hanse designed a 7,391-yards-long course that is very wide, natural and open. Built on sandy soil, it has a heathland style layout with 100% fescue grass. Hanse’s creation is considered to be a masterpiece and is now ranked as a Top 100 Course in the World by Golf Magazine.

Hanse also designed the 10-hole Wild Piglet, which is considered by Golf Magazine to be one of the top 25 par three courses in the world. There is also a driving range and a hilly short game area called The Himalayan, which is the largest putting green in Europe. There are no tee times required at any of the courses and walking only until after 1pm when golf carts are allowed. Caddies are available to hire for both 18-hole courses during peak seasons.

The owners invested in existing facilities including a Loire-style clubhouse that features enormous fireplaces, exceptional dining and several indoor and outdoor dining areas. The clubhouse also offers a game room with billiards and foosball, a golf simulator and fitness center.

For the exclusive use of members and guests, 36 well-appointed guest cottages are available for short-term visits, while Les Bordes has also developed a residential component called Cour du Baron residences where 19 of its first 20 turnkey houses built to date have already sold to members. A five star hotel, Six Senses Loire Valley, is currently under construction and will feature 50 guest accommodations, a world-class 18,000-square-foot Six Senses Spa and multiple restaurants. The hotel is expected to open in September 2026.

Six Senses Loire Valley will also include 52 beautifully crafted homes, with the first phase of twelve residences now available for purchase. Each private residence, ranging from three to seven bedrooms, will be situated on a spacious plot—an exceptional feature for branded developments. Designed with modern elegance, the interiors combine locally sourced wood and stone to create a warm, natural atmosphere, while each home also includes a private pool. Owners will have full access to the wellness-centered amenities and services of Six Senses Loire Valley, as well as the option to participate in its rental program. Prices of the first phase of homes range in price from €2,659,000 to €8,183,000.

For more information about the Once-In-A-Lifetime visit at Les Bordes Golf Club click here.