Ryder Cup 2018: Greetings from Paris

For a group of 20 greenkeepers, it has been a long journey both in their careers and their travel to arrive at the prestigious Ryder Cup in Paris. The trip was sponsored by Martin Sternberg of Capillary Concrete.  While some may think of it as a working vacation, I can assure you it was so much more than that. Ten people from the United States joined another 10 people from FEGGA (Federation of European Golf Greenkeepers) to make up the team of 20. They are working alongside a team that includes 186 total volunteers.  

The U.S. contingent met at JFK airport in New York, along with Ted Fist, U.S. business manager for Capillary Concrete, and me. Some were taking their first flight out of the United States and had only recently obtained a passport. Of course, there were questions about customs, cultures, jet lag, and what to expect in a different country and at a tournament of this magnitude. It became quite apparent the GCSAA had done a fine job of narrowing down the applicants from the more than 600 who applied. I would later find out that FEGGA had a similar response and outstanding recipients of this honor to be a part of the Ryder Cup.

Le Golf National

The staff told me that it took several years of earth-moving to develop the massive mounds and contours around the golf course. Adjacent property is flat with corn fields. Yes, there are some water features, but not enough soil could have been excavated to provide the significant topographical changes throughout the golf course. The championship course was designed by Robert Von Hagge and opened in 1990. It is owned and managed by the French Federation, which has had a strong vision to grow the game of golf in France. Locals told me that it took two years of earth-moving when a local airport expansion took place.  Only after that material was on site did the specific molding of various features took place.

There are three golf courses on the site owned and operated by the French Federation. The vision of hosting the Ryder Cup allowed the Federation the ability to develop a variety of golf facilities in the country that range from practice to short courses and 18-hole facilities. They are on their way to having 100 such facilities open for golfers.

Additionally, the European Tour, which hosts the Ryder Cup from the European side (along with the PGA of America), will use the proceeds to administer their operations. Local information has it that tickets are going for $750 USD per day and that is only for admission. Viewing stands are massive here and triple-story VIP suites are available and sold out. The event will be a great economic boost to the local area as well as the game in France. TV cameras abound and it’s likely that TV rights for this event are through the roof.  

Bruce Williams, CGCS, is GCI’s senior contributing editor.