Claude-Roger Cartier, an Honorary Life Vice President of The European Tour and an influential figure in French and European golf, has died aged 93 following a long illness.
Cartier served as President of the Federation Française de Golf from 1981-1996, latterly holding the position of Honorary President.
He was at the forefront of the development of the Le Golf National, the long-term host venue of the Alstom Open de France and the venue for The 2018 Ryder Cup.
Cartier also played an important role in the growth of The European Tour, providing vital support to John Jacobs upon the Englishman’s appointment as the first Tournament Director-General of the Professional Golfers’ Association.
He helped Jacobs in the task of uniting Great Britain and Ireland with the continent of Europe, supporting the vision of a united Europe for the professional circuit, which would later become The European Tour.
As a senior figure in the early meetings of the European Golf Association and the Players’ Tournament Committee, Cartier helped shape virtually all the important regulations which set the foundations for The European Tour over the following three decades.
He was also among the first to campaign for golf’s inclusion in the Olympic Games, which ultimately led to the announcement that golf will rejoin the Olympics in Rio de Janiero in 2016.
His contribution to European golf was formally acknowledged in 2010 when he was accorded the accolade of Honorary Life Vice President of The European Tour by George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour.
Ken Schofield, who as Executive Director of The European Tour from 1975-2004 worked closely with Cartier, said: “Claude Cartier’s huge influence and support to John Jacobs was instrumental in the European men’s professional game achieving an immediate and continuing unity for virtually half a century.
“His legacy is the strength today of French golf, his proud country becoming a Ryder Cup host, and unquestionably golf’s return to the Olympic Games. His was an immense presence.”
