Merignies Golf Country Club

Set just outside Lille, Mérignies Golf & Country Club boasts a four-times 9-hole golf complex that rates among the top golf courses in the Greater Lille basin, yet stands out as the only one architectured as a links-style golf course. Golfers tend to see a links course as being on or near the coasts. Simply becauseof the lay of the land, where the architects designed the course around the landscape rather than re-shaping the landscape into a course. The game was played thus in a natural, virtually untouched environment.
This is what gripped course architect Michel Gayon, prompting him to design and build a links-style course at Mérignies, outside Lille. Naturally, the original landscape being flatter than flat, the challenge required ambition and panache. The outcome has proved a resounding success¨The idea was to shake up the standard golf system to bring a wholly different golf course experience. Hundreds of thousands of m3 of earth were trucked in then sculpted to re-create the lines and movements that make the unique charm of the links experience.
You tee off with a straightforward hole 1, where even the water behind the green is nothing to be afraid of, as a huge bunker will catch any ball that overshoots. Straight in at hole 2, you get the picture, as the principle becomes clear. Tortuous fairways, imposing mounds; you need to take a good look at how you’re going to play it, where to head for to prepare the next shot…After all, that’s what you’re here for! Michel Gayon leads you on, setting the pace through meandering fairways, while making sure there’s a playable shot for every golfer, regardless of handicap. The typical example is the classic hole 6, with a huge lipped crater bunker set slap bang in the middle, greedily inviting the long driver. What do you do? Go left, go right?
Niched just behind, a series hazards await the brash golfer who would have us believe a good player just has to hit hard and far!
The approach shots look tougher than they actually are. Sure, there are bunkers, but look carefully and you understand they are only really there to catch those wayward shots that drift too far left or right… Your approach shot just needs to hit the middle of the green… and stay there, as the danger lies at the fringes. This is a links course, so the sloped edges will carry you back off the green!... So think again. Play sharp, patient, careful, and you can dominate the course. Well, maybe…