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Ecological management consists of implementing maintenance practices that respect the environment and biodiversity. It finds its origin in the principle of differentiated management which consists in making a compromise between the relatively strict and constrained management of municipal spaces and the naturalistic management of reserves, oriented towards the protection of the natural environment.

Program and Registration: click here

How to reconcile sports practices on turfed grounds and environmental challenges?

The Regional Biodiversity Agency in Île-de-France, and the ANVL (Association of Naturalists of the Loing Valley and the Fontainebleau Massif), encourage managers of green spaces in Île-de-France to do evolve their practices to take better account of the environment by providing them with a practical guide to ecological management.

It is in this context that Jonathan Flandin, in charge of urban ecology at the Regional Biodiversity Agency in Ile-de-France, will speak during this conference.

The practical guide to ecological management: click here

Île-de-France at the time of swing

For the first time, France is hosting the Ryder Cup at the end of September at Guyancourt National Golf. The opportunity for the Regional Institute for the Development of Sport (IRDS) to take stock of the practice of this sport.

France had 410 licensees in 000, in 2017th place in Europe, after Great Britain (4), Germany (680) and Sweden (000). In 640th place in the world, it is well ahead of the United States and its 000 million practitioners, followed by Japan and Canada.

The region with the largest number of licensees

Île-de-France has 94 * licensees, including 359 non-Ile-de-France residents (foreigners or neighbors). In addition, 3 residents of Ile-de-France practice in other regions. The typical regular player ** is a man (610%), not very young (13% are 636 years old and over), of high social level (71% CSP +), and practicing in a sports association (63/55).

The explosion started in the 80s: from 19 (000s) to 80 licenses (106)

In 30 years, the number of licenses has increased fivefold. Two reasons: a prosperous period of construction (1984-1995) which improved the network of the region, and the appearance of chains which democratized the practice, because open to all and less expensive. In recent years, the practice has declined slightly (94 licenses in 000), in France and in the rest of the world.

Photo: DR

An important offer: 106 golf facilities and 320 Ile-de-France clubs

The first golf course in Ile-de-France dates from 1901, it is the golf de la Boulie, in Versailles. Today the region has 106 golfing facilities: 67% are large golf courses (9 or 18 holes), 24% are independent practices and 9% are small independent structures. They represent 4 hectares of closed “natural” spaces. Four Ile-de-loisirs Ile-de-Loisirs have facilities.

Île-de-France now has 320 golf clubs. 94 evolve within a golf structure. 226 work without specific installation.

The Ryder Cup prepared for almost 10 years

In 2009, the “100 small structures in 10 years” plan was launched to support the enthusiasm generated by the hosting of the Ryder Cup in 2018. Subsidized by the CNDS, seven Ile-de-France facilities were built including the Golf du Parc du Parc. Tremblay, Daily Golf de Buc, Golf de Maisons-Laffitte…, and two are nearing completion at Roissy in France and Thiverval Grignon.

An opportunity to expand audiences

It remains for the Federation to diversify its audiences: to rejuvenate, feminize, develop disabled sports, golf tourism, etc. Like any international sporting event, the Ryder Cup should bring additional visibility to the discipline, and attract new licensees.

* FFgolf data

** IRDS survey on sports practices in IDF