Saint-Omer

Overview: Le Val at Aa Saint-Omer Golf Club follows the rolling valley of the Aa near Lumbres. The parkland course combines open slopes, tree-lined holes, doglegs, water and greens set at changing elevations, producing a physical and strategic round. It has a distinctly inland northern character: the land rises and falls enough to alter club selection, while isolated trees and narrow landing zones punish a careless line without needing heavy rough everywhere.

History: The club’s first balls were played in spring 1990, and the course references identify Dutch architect Johan Frederik Dudok van Heel as the designer. That corrects the target Dave Thomas attribution. The facility grew to 27 holes with the 18-hole Le Val course and the nine-hole Haute Drève, and it later became a recurring host for the Saint-Omer Challenge Tour event and the Open de France Paragolf.

Did You Know? Le Val is listed at par 73 and approximately 6,218 metres, or 6,810 yards, from the championship tees. The course’s three par fives on the second nine help create the unusual par, while the 13th is noted for a blind approach descending toward a water feature.