What about the Ryder Cup My Michelle ?
France will soon be “The Big Thing … in Golf”. Indeed, the Ryder Cup will take place at the end of September on the course “Golf National” in the surbub of Paris. We know that France is a small country of golf. Even if some players (ex: Alexander Levy, Victor Dubuisson) shine at times on the various world circuits, this sport is hard to take. We can, therefore, legitimately ask ourselves:
- How will this global Golf event fit into the French landscape?
- Did the golf licensees answer to this event ?
- Is there a chance to see a French player in the team?
- Will the “Golf National” course be an advantage (for Europeans)?
- Or is the site easy to access?
The marketing efforts to make the Ryder Cup (in France), an event, are out of proportion !!
Nothing is more beautiful at the moment than the Ryder Cup paraded throughout France.…
But half of the public does not understand what it is. Is this the new World Cup? Is this the new Roland-Garros Cup? No it’s the Ryder Cup, a small cup for which the best golf players in the world will compete during 3 days in the suburb of Paris …
The president of the French Golf Federation, the Minister of Sports and the Great Guru of the Ryder Cup, Pascal Grizot do not spare their efforts to talk about the event. The success of their actions is mixed or the means of communication to relay them are not good. Certainly, for two years at each HNA Open de France (Rolex Series — European Tour), large operations are organized but their results seem limited.
It is true that more traditional media like RMC (french radio) have recently become interested in golf by, for example, promoting golf with the arrival of Justin Thomas at the HNA Open de France. Or France Info (french radio) which makes some golf chronicles in anticipation of the event.
Nevertheless, the number of licensees is declining and the development of our sport remains sporadic.
Until now, the most media action was the learning of golf by Yvelines schoolchildren next to the “Golf National” … It lacks ambition !! But it seems that the French Golf Federation is decided to change gear, a larger operation has been launched:
This Ryder Cup Golfs Tour will invest the city centers of 12 major French cities and will propose animations, around putting workshops and initiations to the swing. A free discovery operation for all ages! Young and old will be able to taste the joys of Golf !!
We are therefore witnessing a slight improvement … But will that be enough? To see on the after Ryder-Cup.
But at the same time, we should try to develop small golf facilities, to offer golfing activities to schools that are close to golf courses, find the next French Jon Rahm …
The latest outing, of the professional Michael Lorenzo-Vera, on the Ryder Cup in France is without appeal: “People do not care about the Ryder Cup. Honestly, nobody knows there’s going to be a Ryder Cup in France. Only the golfers know. “
We must face the facts. These are the private actors who do everything to pull the golf up. Examples are numerous: discovery days (free) of golf, organization of academy for beginners, competition organizations …
Of course, it is to do business, but the various commercial networks allow to golf at reasonable rates. Finally, Inesis (Decathlon — retailer specialized in sports goods) always produces quality equipment at unbeatable prices.
We must therefore ask the question of the actions of the French Golf Federation in this crucial momentum that will not be represented twice …
What about this famous tickets ???
So yes, licensees, we initiated, we were entitled to privileges on the famous tickets for the Ryder Cup. It was necessary to register on a site not really didactic which undoubtedly demonstrates the problems met by the Federation to communicate with the new digital tools … Put or not to put his picture … and wait. Once the GO of the federation, two surprises and size:
- Well aware and alert on our PC, queue … and this for a while, result of the races you miss a lot of the options on the tickets. Since in the meantime, you have to work and when you come back there remains the crumbs …. After a little survey, it seems that the only way to have the choice in the tickets was to stay behind your PC permanently … In short, do not work that day. Very convenient !!
- The second slap, it’s the prizes, Pascal Grizot and the organizers took the licensees for “Japanese tourists”. The average ticket oscillates between 120 and 150 €. Where does this money go? A large part of the licensees consider that these rates are prohibitive and will not come because of that … What a pity! We can also wonder what became the 3 or 5 € that all the licensees have contributed to each renewal of license which were planned to finance the Ryder Cup …
In short, the organizers have lost candidates en route (ex: the licensees) and for the other French (non-practicing), it may not have many elected. So yes, foreigners, and all the better for tourism will be present, there is no problem. But they are already addicted to golf …
A story to ponder, the family of Jon Rahm says he discovered golf through the edition of the Ryder Cup in Valderrama in 1997. Will there be plenty of small and small French edition at the National ? We must hope.
Broadcasting…
Who will broadcast the Ryder Cup in France ?! For US and UK we already know !!
The answer is simple: CANAL +> GOLF + !!! This represents a very small number of viewers and already seduced by golf …
The Ryder Cup is not yet in the plans of a public broadcaster. If France Television had the rich idea of broadcasting “golden” moments on its network, advertising of golf would be assured. But at the moment nothing …
Will there be a French player on the European Team ?
The presence of a French player is a significant success factor for this Ryder Cup. Indeed, what better than to identify with a french golf champion for young French …
But the possibility of seeing one, in the European team, seems to decrease over the course of the season. The chances of seeing Victor Dubuisson in this team have definitely vanished with his health problems. Admittedly, it remains Alexander Levy who makes a remarkable start to the season (5th victory on the European Tour) but he did not confirm in Major events as the Player (missed CUT), the US Open (CUT missed), the Open (CUT missed) … I say well, not yet, because it remains the only French chance … A good performance at PGA Championship and the place in the team will not be far.
Finally, there is no more suspense, since Thomas Levet was not retained as vice-captain by Thomas Bjorn. Indeed, the vice captains are practically all British or Irish the only intruder is a Swedish. These choices will most certainly be justified by the captain of the Ryder Cup but do without a Frenchman who played the Ryder Cup and win the HNA Open de France at the “Golf National”, it’s incomprehensible … And the European golf is not only British, there is also the Latin !!
The Americans and the course !!
Let’s not hide, since we know that the Ryder Cup will take place at the Golf National we hear anything and everything about the difficulty of this course. For some, it will be very difficult for Americans, the reasons, it is narrow, long and with a difficult rough …. Well, very well, why not, these are valid arguments.
The “Golf National”, it is without a doubt one of the most difficult French courses. But golf is played in other countries … So when you see a Brooks Koepka has mastered the course of the Forh Worth Invitational (2nd behind … a European) which is very similar to the National, we say that the myth will quickly fall … .Or during the last US Open …
In short, all that to say, that we are not sure that the “Golf National” course is a treat for the US team !!
Finally, the organizers of the HNA Open de France were looking forward to the coming of the Americans in 2018 (year of the Ryder Cup). Unfortunately, only Justin Thomas came to finish in 8th place … beating the course in the first three rounds and being in the par at the fourth … And the boy very politely replied that the course was not obvious.
Finally, the last few weeks have seen the arrival of a part of the US Team come to recognize the “Golf National” with their captain. A team-bulding exercise and a formal recognition of the course. The US Team is “ready”, it’s on !!
Access to the site !?!
If there is one point on which we are concerned, it is this one. To go every year, to see the HNA Open de France by public transport, it is the galley …. The RER C (suburb train) is really the most irregular suburban train and very often, there are incidents … After the shuttles, to go on the site, you can wait for a long time. All this with an average viewer of 20,000 to 40,000 over a week …
We let you imagine the problems with the 60 to 70 000 spectators expected not day during the Ryder Cup ….
Again, the organizers have tried to find the parade by setting up parking rates … no we will not say the price … Then, Pascal Grizot explained everywhere in the media that you should not especially come by car and use public transport …
There is still time to find lasting solutions but time is running out !!
The Golfiest
