The Eiffel Tower welcomed The Ryder Cup to Paris this weekend as “le golf swingue au Troca” – an event aimed at raising awareness for France’s successful bid to host The 2018 Ryder Cup – is taking place in Paris.
Friday’s Opening Ceremony took place around the Trocadéro Fountains below the Eiffel Tower and was hosted by Jean-Lou Charon, President of the French Golf Federation, Jean Villermoz, Deputy Mayor of Paris and Pascal Grizot, Chairman of Ryder Cup France 2018, along with one of France's greatest golfers and tournament director of this week's Alstom Open de France, Jean Van de Velde.
Grizot was delighted with what is the first real public engagement exercise since France’s won the bid to host The 2018 Ryder Cup.
He said: “Every year we will try to offer something new and we want The Ryder Cup project to have a long life and lasting legacy. This weekend has been a great success and we really could not have a better location than here at Trocadéro Fountains in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.
“It was important for us to launch this project at such an iconic location, and also because the Trocadéro will be a huge meeting point for Ryder fans and spectators when the event takes place in five years’ time.”
The festival site is divided into two colours: a red zone and a blue zone, representing the American and European Teams that will contest The Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in just over five years.
Members of the public are encouraged to take part in various golfing activities around the festival site, with qualified PGA professional on hand to offer lessons and advice on all aspects of the game, as well as deliver information on The Ryder Cup itself.
A giant screen is broadcasting live action from the Alstom Open de France as well as Ryder Cup highlights throughout the weekend.
The three day event continues over the weekend and is open to the public from 11am – 7pm on Saturday and Sunday.
For a flavour of some of the activities at "Le golf swingue au Troca"click here for photos
