An International Feast

The Ryder Cup, which will be held at Le Golf National on September 25-30, 2018, isn’t the only international competition heading to France next year.  The French-American Challenge for Fred’s Cup, contested since 1990, pits teams of men and women amateurs from the MGA/WMGA and the Ligue de Paris. It will take place at around the same time, and intrepid golf travelers will be able to enjoy both the drama of the Ryder Cup and the intimacy of the French-American Challenge in a single trip.

The Albatros course at Le Golf National was built in the late 1980s and was engineered to host big-time tournaments, with stadium seating throughout and water coming into play on many holes.  This is only the second time the Ryder Cup has taken place on European soil, and the crowds will be large and boisterous as the home team tries to take back the Cup. Registration for tickets has begun at www.rydercup.com, and it’s advisable to plan well ahead if you’re going to attend.

The French-American Challenge presents a much more intimate atmosphere for spirited if quieter competition; there are no gallery ropes, and spectators can walk close enough to the players to hear their conversations.  The Ligue de Paris has dominated the event, though the 2016 edition came down to the final hole of the final match.  The MGA has never won in France, but a strong Met Area cheering contingent could turn the tide.  Watch the MGA website, www.mgagolf.org, for information on the scheduling and venue, and make plans to be there for great golf in glorious surroundings.

Above: The MGA/WMGA and Ligue de Paris teams during the 2016 French-American Challenge at Stanwich. 

 

Extracted from the April/May 2017 Met Golfer Article "Vive Le Golf!" by Ray Tennenbaum