Grégory Havret, Alexander Levy, Raphaël Jacquelin, Romain Langasque, but also the Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and the Russian Maria Verchenova, as well as the Scottish Alistair Low and Pascal Grizot, President of the Ryder Cup 2018, will be among the participants, pros or amateurs. , of the 5th BMW Val d'Isère Winter Golf Cup which is played on snow, from March 23 to 26 in the Savoy ski resort.

  • Maria Verchenova, charming ambassador of Winter Golf in France and abroad - Photo: © Philippe Guilhem
For the famous snow golf competition launched in 1999 in Megève by Philippe Guilhem and the pro Jean-Luc Biset (then available in Val d'Isère from 2013), welcoming such a field of exceptional players is a real pleasure. . It is a long fifteen-day break in the European Tour calendar - during the World Match Play Championship in Austin, Texas, then the Augusta Masters in early April - which makes it possible this year for golfers from the caliber of the five pros of the men's circuit. For them a nice break of oxygenation and relaxation before preparing for the Hassan II Trophy, which will take place from April 13 to 16 in Rabat.With Raphaël Jacquelin (four victories on the Tour), Grégory Havret (three victories, in addition of his unforgettable runner-up place - 2nd - at the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach), Alexander Levy (three wins) and Nicolas Colsaerts (two wins in addition to his title with the European team during of the Ryder Cup in 2012), no less than twelve European Tour titles will weigh on the snow in the Manchet Valley and the ephemeral 9-hole concocted just above the Olympic Face of Bellevarde by the teams of Planet Events and the technical services of Val d'Isère.

The presence of Romain Langasque is another nice token of recognition for the organizers. Current French number 3 in the world ranking (168th) behind Victor Dubuisson (99th) and Alexander Levy (100th), the winner of the British Amateur in 2015 is 22 years old (he will have them on May 18), the most beautiful hope in golf French masculine. Familiar with Val d'Isère, and willingly skier, Romain Langasque is competing in his first Winter Golf Cup, for which one of his own partners, BMW, has been a long-standing supporter. But the Azurean will have already had information on the unique atmosphere and the pleasure of playing on snow from his elders on the circuit, with whom he says he has fraternal relations.

Raphaël Jacquelin was one of the very first pros to test the formula on the Mont d'Arbois golf course in Megève, it was in the early 2000s. He knows all about the famous “whites”, snow areas pampered by hand and which replace the greens. Impeccably smoothed fairways with snow groomers. Or course edge powder that acts as a rough or water obstacle depending on its density! Over the years, he has also come across a wide range of sportspeople: David Ginola, Alain Boghossian, Guy Forget, Gwladys Nocera, Florence Masnada, Abdelatif Benazzi, Jean-Michel Bayle, Karine Icher, Eric Boisse, and so many 'others ... All seduced by this golf of feeling, which never fails to be strategic, unusual and friendly.

For this 2017 edition, beyond the main sports celebrities that are the rugby player Thomas Castaignède, 54 selections under the jersey of the French team between 1995 and 2007, and the snowboarder Mathieu Bozzetto, twice winner of the general classification of the Cup of the world, Olympic medalist, four times selected at the Games and also one of the ambassadors of Val d'Isère, these are really the names of golf which take the most power at the same time as they will go up in altitude. Really a choice platter.

Pascal Grizot, the President of the 2018 Ryder Cup, will also be present on Friday March 24 for the France / United Kingdom Challenge by Ryder Cup & BMW. A first tournament in the form of match play and, we hope, just a match between the Frenchies and the gracious subjects of his Majesty! Among the latter, we find the Scotsman Alistair Low, President of the Scottish Golf Union from 2002 to 2008, an important member of the Royal & Ancient since 1968 (he was elected Captain there in 2011/2012) and a regular at Val d'Isère. him too. We are here in a story of passion for the world of high-level golf as well as for the world of skiing and the mountains.

Whether during the France / United Kingdom Challenge on March 24 or for the second tournament on the program that will be the BMW Winter Golf Cup on Saturday March 25 and Sunday March 25 (four balls best ball), the arrival of Maria Verchenova in Val d 'Isère will also participate in the sporting, friendly and international image of the meeting. The Russian Ladies European Tour, winner of the Evian Championship qualification in 2016 and Olympic record holder on a lap with a final card of 62 during the last Games in Rio de Janeiro, is quite simply the new ambassador of Winter Golf Cups around the world.

After Megève, a stage that has been going on for 17 editions, Val d'Isère, which celebrates its 5th edition this year and which is considering the organization of a golfing event in March 2018, six months straight before the launch of the Ryder Cup in France, Philippe Guilhem, its creator, declined the concept in Aspen, in the United States, and in Crans-Montana, in Switzerland. Along with other ongoing projects in which Maria Verchenova is expected to play an active role. What the Muscovite would probably never have imagined when she participated in her first BMW Winter Golf Cup as a guest during the January 2016 stage in Megève!

Nathalie Vion

Practical information: the two formulas

Challenge FR / UK by Ryder Cup & BMW - March 24

(120 € registration on March 24 or 250 € with dinner on 23 and gifts, places still available)

Thursday March 23
From 17 p.m .: Reception of participants at the Snow Eagle
18 pm-20pm: Street Golf in the center of the village
20 p.m .: Dinner at the Blizzard

Friday 24 March
8:30 am / 9:XNUMX am: Golf competition - Match Play
12:30 p.m .: Lunch and prize-giving at Les Clochetons

BMW Winter Golf Cup - March 25 and 26

(1600 € for a team of two for the three days, dinners, lunches, golf and gifts included, limited places)

Friday 24 March
From 18 p.m .: Reception of participants at the Snow Eagle
20 p.m .: Dinner at the Taverne d'Alsace

Saturday March, 25
8am / 30am 9st round golf competition - 1 balls best ball
13 p.m .: Lunch at La Folie Douce
20 p.m .: Dinner at Signal

Sunday 26 March
8am / 30am: 9nd round golf competition - 2 balls best ball
13 p.m .: Lunch and awards ceremony at the Barmes de l'Ours

Note:
In both cases, players who register for a fee will rub shoulders with athletes, media or personalities invited by the organization.

On March 22 and 23, before the two official formulas, there are two mornings of free course for people staying in Val d'Isère and wishing to experience it for themselves, with a registration at 40 €, golf with reception breakfast at Les Clochetons mountain restaurant.