Last week, the leaders of the European Tour announced the outright cancellation of the French Open, scheduled for July 2-5 at the Golf National. A real shock for fans of the little white ball, deprived of the flagship professional tournament of the season. The decision of the European Circuit came after the speech of President Emmanuel Macron, who announced a gradual deconfinement from May 11, specifying that "major festivals and major events with a large audience cannot be held until at least mid-July ". A red cross on the French Open, therefore, but an announcement also heard with desire and hope by the 410,000 confined licensees of the French Golf Federation and the 15,000 professionals in the sector, at a standstill. What if the routes become accessible again? And if the game resumed for amateurs from May 12?
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Like many other outdoor sports (cycling, sailing or horse riding), golf seems to be possible while respecting the health constraints imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. As long as clubhouses, pro-shops and restaurants remain closed, many players think they can enjoy a game by accessing the field directly, without violating safety rules. If their imaginations dust bags and canes around mid-May, the reality could be very different.
"It is far too early to announce any resumption of the game for amateurs," said Christophe Muniesa, director general of the French Golf Federation. We are not there at all, but rather at the stage of reflection and exchange. We are hovering over the idea of playing golf without endangering ourselves or putting others at risk. Knowing that playing golf in a diving suit is not an option… ”
No lobbying
If they are working today on a recovery scenario, the leaders of French golf want to be cautious with regard to any form of hasty triumphalism. They therefore consider their reflections beyond their own sporting discipline. In their minds, there was no question of lobbying the Ministry of Sports - which could be interpreted as forcing - for the sole benefit of golf. Jean-Lou Charon, president of the FFGolf at the end of his mandate, is also general treasurer of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), a trusted man of President Denis Masseglia for many years. Suffice to say that he defends a multi-sport and inclusive approach vis-à-vis the public authorities.
"It is not by vociferating, or by making the golfer appear as a selfish or capricious being that we will be heard and that we will succeed in achieving our goals," said Charon and Muniesa in an open letter to the licensees, the April 16.
"We already know that the prefects will retain a certain freedom of interpretation of deconfinement measures"
Christophe Muniesa
In recent days, they have held several meetings by videoconference with interlocutors from different countries where deconfinement is already underway (Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, etc.). If the objective is to make the practice possible, it was question of how to adapt the concept of barrier gestures in the context of the game, in addition to social distance. Among many others, the idea of eliminating rakes in bunkers was thus suggested, in order to eliminate risky takeovers. “In our sport, notes Christophe Muniesa, 47 countries are members of the European Golf Association (EGA). We want to share good practices and useful documents on adapted rules, actions of federations or associations and professional groups. We want to be able to initiate joint, concerted and responsible action. "
Under the eye of Brussels
The leaders of French golf have also chosen to call on several specialist consulting firms to support them in their reflections. If outdoor sport were to resume during deconfinement, the challenges would be both health and sport, of course, but also economic and legal, difficult to anticipate. Not to mention the "healthy, reasonable, concerned and applicable" dimensions demanded by observers from the European Commission, who have a panoramic view from Brussels.
"We already know that the prefects will retain a certain freedom of interpretation of the deconfinement measures," concludes Christophe Muniesa. It might thus be possible to play golf in a department in the north of France without this being possible in a department in the South. The important thing for us is linked to the global issue: in the coming weeks it is a matter of providing objective elements which are unambiguous. "