How my alarm clock could have the audacity to awaken me with such unthinkable crassness I will never know. But it did. Which is more than you can say for Slambino??s device, because the sloth slept right through it (how very un-NYC?). Our visit to Luzarches had been a short one but a happy one. Alas it was time for our American friends to return to the world of conference calls, while we set Snoop Dawg??s sights on Golf de Chantilly ?? our second and final stop in France. After the dream yesterday that was Golf de Morfontaine, Golf de Chantilly had big boots to fill.
The farewell was not as emotional as it might have been, because the lads are coming down our way in March. To play a couple of games of golf, of course.
Before long we found ourselves in the gorgeous town of Chantilly, scraping around for the golf club. In typically French manner it was to be found tucked away in the most discreet of hiding places, more or less like a secret garden. Like Ireland, the locals know where they are going so there??s no need for adequate sign posting.
I buzz the buzzer and explain in my best French that we??re teeing off at 9.00am with Monsieur Bob Roux. The gate opens. Bien. When we reach the office a disenchanted but striking young lady is sitting by a computer; and she glances my way. I ask whether Monsieur Roux has arrived ?? ??non? is the truncated and a tad frosty response. At this point I??m wondering what I??ve done to offend the officious official. (Still no idea).
Well, I??ll go and have a putt then, while we wait for Bob, I suggest. ??Bon.? 15 minutes later we??re wondering whether Monsieur Roux is going to turn up, so I return to the scene of Frosty Encounter Number One. This time the Madame is on the blower, and beckons me over: ??Monsieur Roux, pour tois.? (At this point I??ve neither met nor spoken to Bob before; the fixture was arranged by mutual pal: Alfie Melville of North Berwick).
[Following very brief small talk]: ??Jamie, it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to play today.? I see. (By now it??s 10 minutes past our scheduled tee time ?? which is largely immaterial because there??s hardly a soul in sight). ??I have too many surgeries and it??s impossible for me to play.? OK, no worries ?? I take it we won??t be seeing you and Isabel for lunch then either? ??Non, OK, aurevoir.? Ha! Don??t you love the French? Had the Madame not called I??m not sure that Bob would even have turned his mind to golf. When you can??t play, you can??t play, right? Unaccompanied it is then.
We sit down in the breakfast area; order a few baguettes with miniatures of Bon Maman strawberry jam; and café au lait pour trois. No Alfie and no Bob ?? just like that, our four ball becomes two. Silver lining: we can nip around quickly and get on the road to Den Haag early.
At Golf de Chantilly there are two courses: the more serious of which is Le Vineuil, a Tom Simpson layout (he also did Morfontaine and Ballybunion, to name a couple). Fortunately that??s the course we??re assigned, and before long we??re on our way (Bart??s on admin duties in the plush sitting room).
What an absolutely beautiful course it was too. Reminded me a lot of Somerset Hills in New Jersey, which is very much a favourite; the type of course you could play every remaining week of your mortal life. Some of the best greens we??ve been fortunate to play on ?? both in terms of conditioning and design. A stronger course than Golf de Morfontaine, and quite different in character. Quite Tillinghast-esque, in fact.
I??d say we were catching it at the best time of year too; the deciduous trees looking decidedly autumnal but still full of vie.
On the 5th hole we are waved through by a couple of jolly gentlemen ahead. ??Bon continuation? we are wished as we pass ?? what a lovely way of saying ??have a good round.?
Having been so pleased with Golf de Chantilly I thought I??d leave the club a present. That is to say I left my sports jacket hanging up in the locker room and didn??t realise until we hit Amsterdam the next day. I fired an email to the club but no reply has been forthcoming ?? probably because my correspondence was en Anglais, pas Francais. Maybe it??ll still be hanging up next time I??m there??
JP
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Jamie,
You leave your jacket there... and two pairs of trousers here?
Hope it's warm by the time you guys get home at this rate!
Posted by Brian Haworth, 29/10/2010 7:10pm (3 years ago)
Chisholm Park
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