From our special correspondent at Pian Médoc,
The French professional golf championship is preparing to come back to life.
Organized by the company Kalika with the seal of the French Federation, the only one authorized by the Ministry of Sports to issue a national title, the four rounds of the 2022 championship will take place from June 13 to 18 on the Châteaux du Golf du Médoc Resort course.
"I strongly believe in this event because the title of Champion of France is highly symbolic"
, notes Bernard Pascassio, at the initiative of the project.
We will have to find the Jean Garaïalde trophy in the cupboards and dust it off before giving it to the next winner...
Staffing
With an endowment of up to 150,000 euros, the French professional championship will welcome a field of 90 players from 2022, distributed as such: the 40 best players in the national ranking at the beginning of June, 25 players present in this same ranking the previous year , while 20 invitations will be issued and 5 amateurs accepted.
The final list of players present will be known at the beginning of June.
“We chose the date according to the international calendar,
notes the founder of Kalika.
This falls during the US Open.
French players will be the main players.
We count on their presence.
But, for me, the tournament must be stronger than the players..."
In other words, the Jan-Garaialde Trophy, which was last played in 2009 and won by Gary Stal, is legitimate enough to attract best.
If the best French people do not come, the organizers will no longer take into account the dates of the European circuit next year.
“We intend to relaunch the event for a long-term lease,
specifies Denis Fabre, kingpin of this relaunch alongside Bernard Pascassio.
We don't make a move, we want to see it recorded over time and played at the Médoc Resort golf course for at least the next three years.
»
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If this relaunch is possible from 2022, the organizers owe it in large part to the arrival of a title sponsor: Maisons MCA (a construction company based in New Aquitaine, which has around forty agencies in the Landes, in the Pays basque…) led by Serge Melchior have made a commitment for the next four years
“To be champion of France is to be the best of the best”
, emphasizes Thomas Delage, director of communications, using the words of his boss, a fan of golf (index 2), member of Arcachon, club with which he was crowned French senior amateur champion.
“When you're a pro golf player, you have to take risks.
You don't work in administration!
»
Bernard Pascasio
“Without bragging,
resumes Bernard Pacassio, never stingy with good words,
the Ryder Cup was able to take place in France thanks to the endowment of the Open de France amounting to 4M€.
Incidentally, I have never paid any player to come, because I prefer to put the money in the endowment.
When you're a pro golf player, you have to take risks.
You don't work in administration!
My desire today is to help young French players.
“
And to continue:
” I received a little note from Raphaël Jacquelin which warms my heart.
He writes, among other things:
“I will be available for the French championship.
It gives me pleasure to come and play this tournament and to honor the efforts made to revive it.
»
I want the players to be proud to be champion of France!
With the challenge represented by the Golf du Médoc Resort course and a good staffing, I think we have the legitimacy to believe in it.
»
Vincent Paris, Bernard Pascassio and Denis Fabre Antoine Davot
While he hosted the Lacoste Ladies Open de France on his course for three years (which will be contested in 2022 in Deauville), Vincent Paris is delighted today to see the French professionals land in the Médoc.
“The question did not arise for long whether to go there or not,
explains the general manager of the Golf hotel complex which is regularly among the most beautiful in Europe.
Since the creation, there has not been a year here without a professional golf tournament, apart from the four years of work that we have carried out.
In addition to the Lacoste Ladies Open de France, there was the Men's French Open, Challenge Tour finals, stages of the Alps Tour or the PGA Schweppes Championship…”
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Appreciated by many French players (Havret, Pavon and many others) who have made it a privileged training spot, the Golf du Médoc Resort is also the ideal place for an event that promises to be a pretty annual golf festival. French professional.
"We plan to invite Jean Garaialde to present the trophy that bears his name in the company of the President of the Federation"
, notes Philippe Sabarros, called in reinforcement by Pascassio and Fabre within the organization.
In this vein, a blue white red border could appear on the sleeves of the winner - in the manner of what exists for the champions of France of cycling or skiing - just as could be initiated a departure of "French Legends" on the morning of the 4th and last lap of the event, like the starters of the Masters in Augusta.
“In 2023, we could have a field of 90 men and 50 women, with identical endowments.
»
Bernard Pascasio
In 2023, the French championship should also become mixed.
“We wanted this to be the case from 2022,
explains Bernard Pascassio,
but the calendar of the Ladies European Tour already had a date in mid-June
(Aramco Team Series in London, editor’s note)
.
Too bad for this year.
In 2023, we could have a field of 90 men and 50 women, with identical endowments.
This is our goal.
The endowment of the ladies would be the same as that of the gentlemen, in proportion to the female participation.
The project
is obviously supported by the title sponsor, MCA, open on the subject:
“If, in the long term, MCA can collaborate with other partners to develop the diversity of the French professional championship, concludes Hugo Delage, we will encourage it.
Golf is a mixed sport and carries values of equality.
»
Notice to... professionals.
