Organized from August 17 to 21 by the Parcours 18 agency, Pro-am's Méribel crowns the former member of the Asian Tour, who is 11 points ahead of his pursuer, Jean-Nicolas Billot. No less than 32 teams of 128 players and 18 volunteers met on the first golf course built at an altitude of more than 1500 meters in France.

  • beautiful view of the Meribel golf course
    Golf of Méribel. © Sylvain Aymoz
He was able to take full advantage of the many par 4 drivables on the course. Lionel Weber crushed the competition this week, during the Méribel Pro-Am. With stratospheric maps of 62, 64 and 61 on this par 71, the Alsatian precedes Jean-Nicolas Billot and Christophe Brazillier by 11 and 12 points. All this over only three laps, the third day having been canceled due to fog. Lionel Weber pockets the 3 euros promised to the winner, to which are added the bonuses for daily birdies, for a global endowment of more than 3500 euros.

Winner in gross and net, the team composed of Christophe Brazillier and amateurs Serge Melchiorre (index 3,3), Robert Le Grasse (9,4) and René Talet (15,5) also hovered over the competition. Among the participants, we also note the presence of Sacha Theocharis, multiple champion of France in mogul skiing, who was associated with the Tahitian Teremoana Beaucousin (4th among the pros) and the founder of Swing Féminin, Thierry Plassais, author of the first eagle of his career on 15. On the other hand, let's throw a modest veil on the 4th member of the team - the author of these lines - who achieves another type of exploit: to miss one putt in two to less than a meter during the two last rounds. During the prize-giving ceremony which took place at the Cantine d'Alvar, in the heart of the resort, the first five teams in gross and in net were awarded. The winners won a Srixon cabin suitcase, a Magnum Pommery, an Ambassadeur des Sens gourmet box, as well as an Avene spa weekend.

Apart from the foggy and drizzy Tuesday August 20, the sun was at the rendezvous of the resort of Trois Vallées (largest ski area in the world) and the organizers take care of the players. Besides Juliette, Stéphane and Christophe from the Parcours 18 agency, 18 volunteers - most of them members of the club - were spread over the golf course to follow the leaders, regulate games or spot stray balls. Like the smiling Marie-Jo, sitting under a tree (and without a helmet!) At the fall of the balls from hole 17. Or even Marie-Anne, Jean-Pierre, Mouna, Philippe and Stéphanie, devoted to the restoration of players in mid - course. A great surprise. Ah blueberry tart and Mouna's fruit salad! The participants were thus able to enjoy, at the exit of the formidable hole n ° 9, a varied and high-quality buffet for about twenty minutes in a large tent, before returning to battle. Can not wait for next year !

Frank Crudo

* Partners of Méribel Pro-Am 2019: Méribel Tourisme, Anzi Besson, Avenir Dirigeant, Mediane Conseil, CEW Beauty Center, Horse Guards, Srixon, Ambassador of the Senses, Active Base, La Chaudanne hotel, Eterlou hotel, Delta Savoie concession.