Jean Lou Charon, President of the French Golf Federation - © David Raynal / Swing-Féminin

Six months after the Ryder Cup, are you satisfied with the impact on French golf?

Jean-Lou Charon: It was an exceptional event, totally successful, with beautiful weather. Not to mention the really special atmosphere, typical of the Ryder Cup, which many of our spectators were able to experience on this occasion.

Over the first three months of the year, we recorded an increase of 6% in terms of license creation. And after years of decline, the number is on the rise again among young people (under 19), with a growth of 7% in terms of licenses. These are very encouraging figures.

Finally, as we committed to after France was awarded the Ryder Cup, 99 small structures were inaugurated, and the 100^e will be in the course of the year 2019. These pitchs & putts or compacts in urban and peri-urban areas make it possible to best respond to the criticisms made on the practice of our sport, sometimes considered too time-consuming, too expensive or too difficult for beginners and occasional golfers when it comes to playing on a large course.

Golf tourism in France has also benefited from the Ryder Cup effect?

Jean-Lou Charon: Absolutely. Today, the national golf course is the subject of numerous requests, in particular from Asian tour operators. The great strength of golf in France is the diversity of its courses throughout the country, the cultural heritage of our country as well as a quality hotel offer. Many golfers appreciate being able to practice their favorite sport while learning and sightseeing. There are, for example, more and more events combining golf and wine, something that is developing a lot.

Are new courses going to be built in France soon?

Jean-Lou Charon: There is the Roissy-en-France route, near Charles-de-Gaulle airport, which should be inaugurated soon. The project for the two 18-hole course of Tosse, in the Landes, is also progressing and awaiting the administrative green light. Many 9-hole or compact projects are also in the pipeline, with priority given to welcoming young people and making them available to schools. Finally, 9-hole projects are being studied in the mountains, to attract golfers there in summer.

The French Open was, to everyone's surprise, “downgraded” by the European Tour and will take place at the end of October 2019. What is your feeling? Will the tournament take place on this date?

Jean-Lou Charon: I was obviously very disappointed when I heard the news, taken without consultation with the French Federation or with our partners. It is clearly not the best date, and not just for bad weather reasons. Personally, I do not want to have a French Open 2019 at a discount. We are in close contact with the European Tour to find the best possible compromise. Everything can still evolve, but as I speak, the tournament is still scheduled to take place October 17-20, 2019.

Among professionals, tricolor golf seems to be getting better and better among girls, a little less among boys ...

Jean-Lou Charon: Yes, Anne-Lise Caudal has just won her first victory in the Sunshine Ladies Tour in South Africa. Our French women are at the top of the game in world golf today. I am obviously thinking of Céline Boutier, who won on the American circuit last February. Céline, we know her will and her talent: she was world n ° 1 amateur and won the British amateur. She has everything to be one of the best players in the world.

For the men, it was a disappointment for us not to see a French in the European Ryder Cup team. Victor Dubuisson had health problems and Alexander Levy, after his great victory in Morocco, undoubtedly put a little too much pressure.

Very recently, golf stars such as Bruce Koepka or Rory McIlroy have complained about slow play. Can't we do anything about this scourge?

Jean-Lou Charon: You are right to speak of a scourge. It is a clearly identified brake on the development of the practice of our discipline. It's good that the best players in the world are starting to care, that hasn't always been the case. It is also important that our clubs take concrete measures. If you stay 5:30 on a course during a friendly game or even during a competition, you will rightly complain and lose some of the pleasure of this game. The new rules issued at international level on ready golf (the golfer near to play can hit the ball without necessarily respecting the order of play) are going in the right direction.

We stay in the news: this month, the French Golf Federation received a trophy at the Ecosports Awards linked to the promotion and protection of biodiversity ...

Jean-Lou Charon: It is a great pride. The environmental factor is very important for the federation and our clubs. This award highlights the in-depth work done on the richness of biodiversity in our clubs, but also our efforts in the management of water resources. It also makes it possible to twist the neck with this image of Epinal which wants that a golf course, that pollutes or that necessarily wastes water. This was undoubtedly true a few decades ago, but it is no longer the case today.

Interview by Franck Crudo