Alain Jeanjean, the founder of the Golfy Network. @Golfy

Golfy has been around for thirty years now. How did this adventure come about?

Alain Jeanjean: In the years 1985-90, there was an explosion in the golf market in France. At the time, I ran a company specializing in sports floors, which built stadiums, athletics tracks, etc. The French golf federation asked me to build practices, then pitch & putts in urban areas. But building golf courses is good, there still need to be golfers. I told myself that if the golf courses joined forces, we would be able to better welcome and retain players.

In 1990, you therefore launched the Golfy Network, which initially had 12 courses, then 50 in 1995, more than 100 in 2001. At the start of 2020, you have 174 golf courses throughout France, but also in Belgium and Spain and in Italy…

It's even 175 for a week, a new course in Belgium, the Royal Golf de Fagnes, has just joined us.

You set a limit on the number of routes for the Rnetwork?

We will not exceed 180 golf courses. First of all because we want to prioritize quality and become more and more selective. If there are any changes, we will replace one golf course with another from now on. In addition, we have a spider's web of golf courses spread throughout France and structured by region. Each of our regional managers can hardly manage more than 40 courses, because they have to provide training in the golf courses and enforce our quality charter, to which we attach great importance.

At one time, the RThe network consisted of courses located in Turkey, Morocco or even China. Is that why they are no longer present?

In fact, in 90% of cases, the golf courses in these countries are bought a global package by tour operators. This is not our case, we ask golf clubs to offer our members a reduction of 25 to 30% on their green fees. It was a bit complicated, the communication was not the same. So, we preferred to focus on France and some neighboring countries.

The number of members of the Golfy Network has also experienced impressive growth. They were 700 in 1991, they are 52000 today! Now, I guess you don't set limits. What are your goals in terms ofs of customers?

We would like to reach 60000 members within two to three years. Of our 52000 customers, 12000 have the Platinum * card. Most of them are CSP + who travel a lot on the Network. Our ultimate goal is to reach 20000 Platinum cards. About 60% of our clients belong to a club belonging to the Network.

What's new for the months and years to come?

To celebrate our 30th anniversary in style, we will be creating new events and developing the Golfystadors Cup during the week. The average age of our members is 60, so they play a lot outside of the weekends. The idea is to make people discover new courses and new regions in the always very friendly framework of Golfy competitions, with many gifts to be won. There will also be 175 green fees offered for the golfer who will have played the most different Golfy courses this year, trips to Mauritius or Spain can be won by drawing lots… In addition, we already have a partnership with Havas Voyages to make our customers travel to any country, turnkey. This year, we are launching a partnership with the Heritage group, which will allow members to play five golf courses in Mauritius in one week. We will also be organizing a Golfystadors Cup in 2021, from May 8 to 16. Mauritius is ideally located, on the way to South Africa, which is another golfing destination that I would like to develop.

With all your activities, do you find the time to indulge your passion for golf?

I am 19 of handicap. I take advantage of it as soon as I'm away, I have to play about 10 times a year, but it's not at all regular. For example, I have just returned from Mauritius, where I was able to play the XNUMX courses of the island. It can also happen that I do not touch a club for two months.

Of all the courses you've had to play, which are your favorites?

It's true that I must have done 700 or 800 already (laughs)! What I look at first in a golf course is its technicality. Then there is obviously the setting, the landscape. I love the PGA Catalunya (between Barcelona and the French border), the Gary Player in Essaouira (Morocco) is superb. Otherwise in France, I find that Granville is the most beautiful of our links, I want to mention the Royan course as well…

Interview by Franck Crudo

* With a subscription of 200 euros /year from date to date, the map PLatin in particular allows you to obtain a 30% discount on the golf courses of the network and many gifts. Golfy members also have a Loyalty program and système guaranteedes and reimbursement in the event of illness or injury. The icing on the cake, Golfy covers your consumption costs at the bar… if you make a hole in one during an official competition!

https://www.golfy.fr/cartes/