The French Golf Federation (Fédération Française de Golf, FFGolf) officially submitted their bid to host the 2018 Ryder Cup.
The presentation in the Sénat has received the full backing from the two French golfers to have represented Europe in the Ryder Cup, Jean Van de Velde and Thomas Levet. Van de Velde, along with Rama Yade, France’s Secretary of State for Sports, accompanied the FFGolf as they handed over the bid book to Richard Hills, Ryder Cup Director, and other senior members from the Ryder Cup committee.
The FFGolf have detailed their plans as to how they plan to use the Ryder Cup as a catalyst to grow the game across the whole of France and beyond into Europe. There are already projects in place that aim to double the number of golfers in France and open the sport from the grassroots upwards to people from all social and economic backgrounds providing a meaningful legacy for the future of golf in France and Europe.
The French bid is bolstered by the Golf National course which is recognised as being a fantastic and established stadium course with superb matchplay holes, the last three of which finish over water.
This proven championship venue will continue to be enhanced to guarantee a compelling world class experience for players, spectators, press and partners. The location of the course and its infrastructure allows for easy access for up to 70,000 spectators and its proximity to Paris ensures easy international travel.
Golf National’s location will deliver a Ryder Cup on the doorstep of a major European cultural city, with Paris being able to lay claim to being the most visited city in the world. Golf National is also ideally located to visit many examples of France’s rich cultural heritage such as the Chateau de Versailles which will play host Ryder Cup dinners during the tournament infusing the event with “l’art de vivre à la française”, bringing French hospitality, flair and creativity to the event.
FFGolf aims to work with the Ryder Cup committee and the French government; utilising world leading experience in hosting global events to further enhance this prestigious tournament. Ryder Cup 2018 France will endorse European values and ensure that this is an event for the whole of Europe to celebrate in and benefit from and plans to be the most sustainable Ryder Cup to date creating a new environmental benchmark for all future golf events to follow.
The French bid has received unconditional backing from the French public authorities and Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the French Republic has given his personal endorsement: “The Ryder Cup is a legendary golf event. Staging the Ryder Cup on French soil would not only help enhance the value of France’s policy of hosting major sporting events, but would also play a part in developing the game in France. It is therefore with great conviction that I hereby lend my support to France’s bid to host the Ryder Cup.”
France Ryder Cup www.rydercup2018france.com