“I didn't invent anything, I was already playing this type of competition in Florida. It was for me an excellent preparation for the big tournaments and the opportunity to earn some money », Confides Marc Farry. Former winner on the European circuit (the BMW International Open in 1996), the French player even had the opportunity to share the game of Tiger Woods in Germany. "I had overdriven and beaten him by a point that day, it didn't have him too much", he jokes. Now a consultant for the Golf + channel, Marc has been organizing the Pay and Play Golf Tour in France for four years, which brings together professional players over the age of 44. "It's more difficult to play competitions when you're that age", he emphasizes.

The format of a pay and play is simple: the players themselves participate in the endowment, here at 70%. “The entrance fee is around 280 euros, in the United States it is sometimes three times more expensive for this type of tournament. " The rest of the prize-money and the prizes are provided by the partners *, such as Jean-Claude Forestier, who has just hosted two of the last three events on the circuit in Normandy, on his golf courses at Léry-Poses and Vaudreuil. The winner of the tournament over two rounds then wins part of the stake (around 3000 euros for about twenty participants), in a friendly atmosphere, the players enjoying meeting regularly.

Some of the big names who have already participated - or will participate - in the Pay and Play Golf Tour include former Ryder Cup players Sam Torrance (also Ryder Cup captain, 12-time European Tour winner), Constantino Rocca (famous for having entered a 20-meter putt on the last hole of the British Open 1995 and forced John Daly to the play-off), Mark James (also captain of the Ryder Cup) or even Philip Price, executioner of Phil Mickelson during the 2002 edition. Philip Golding (winner of the 2003 French Open), as well as the French Jean-François Remesy (double winner of the 2004 and 2005 French Open) and Christian Cevaer (double winner on the European circuit) are also regularly present . In addition to Champ de Bataille, Léry-Poses and Vaudreuil a few days ago, the golf courses of Morfontaine and Chantilly-Vineuil should host one of the eight events scheduled for this year, on a date to be determined.

Frank Crudo

* The partners of the Pay and Play Golf Tour: Hervé Prieux and his teams at the Champ de Bataille golf course, Jean-Claude and Véronique Forestier and their teams at the Léry-Poses and Vaudreuil golf courses, the Petit Forestier company, Didier Moinel Delalande and Le Mathurin Hôtel & Spa Paris, Paris-Madeleine , Titleist France, Château Minuty, Château Kirwan Grand Cru Classe Margaux.

RESULTS

Battlefield (May 17 and 18, 2021)

1 / Jean-Pierre Sallat

2 / Andrew Marshall

3 / Christian Cevaer

Léry-Poses (May 21 and 22, 2021)

1 / Christian Cevaer

2 / Philip Golding

3 / Frédéric Grosset-Grange

Le Vaudreuil (May 25 and 26, 2021)

1 / Frédéric Cupillard

2 (tied) / Christian Cevaer

2 (tied) / Marc Farry