Continental Europe's Top 20 golf courses: Morfontaine, Biella and El Saler

6. Morfontaine   

Architect: Tom Simpson GF: Guests of member only

With its origins dating back almost a century, this traditional design to the north of Paris has recently benefited from a Kyle Phillips makeover. There is an excellent quintet of short holes and the course weaves its way through a picturesque forest. Private and refined, it is a wonderful place to visit with an exceptional course.

7. Biella   

Architect: John Morrison GF: €70-€110 W: golfclubbiella.it

Midway between Milan and Turin, this beautiful par-73 course, set in rolling hills flanked by the foothills of the Alps, is known as ‘Le Betulle’ because of its century-old birch trees. Rocky outcrops, streams and ponds all add to the enormous fun on offer. In 2006 the course staged the European Individual Amateur Championship, won by Rory McIlroy.

8. El Saler

Architect: Javier Arana GF: €48-€105 W: parador.es/en

Set in a nature reserve on the shores of the Mediterranean, El Saler was one of the first golf courses to be designed ecologically, specifically to be integrated into a protected landscape in as natural a way as possible. The terrain varies from linksland, reminiscent of some of the famous Scottish golf courses, to areas of typical Mediterranean pine forest.

El Saler, Spain, has been integrated into a protected landscape