The Vivendi Cup, which in 2010 forms part of “The Race to Dubai” on The European Tour International Schedule, is to be played at the outstanding Golf de Joyenval near Paris, France, from September 23-26.
The 2010 Vivendi Cup has a different format and new venue as a prelude to the following week’s Ryder Cup in Wales, unlike last year’s Vivendi Trophy with Seve Ballesteros, which took the form of a team event between Great Britain and Ireland and Continental Europe.
The Vivendi Cup will be a 72 hole stroke play tournament, with the first 36 holes played as a Team Pro-Am event involving one professional and one amateur over the Retz and Marly Courses at Golf de Joyenval.
The leading 65 professionals and those tied for 65th place will contest the final 36 holes over the Marly course for a prize fund of €1,250,000 with €25,000 allocated to the team event.
Golf de Joyenval in Chambourcy is one of the most exclusive clubs in the Paris region, just a 20 minute drive from the famous Arc de Triomphe in the city centre.
Both the Retz and Marly courses were designed by the American architect, Robert Trent Jones Snr and provide the perfect challenge for an event that will showcase the talents of Europe’s finest professionals while allowing their amateur partners to be competitive too.
Quality is the trademark of the Golf de Joyenval estate, which is located close to the Désert de Retz, an Anglo-Chinese landscape garden created on the edge of the Marly forest in the commune of Chambourcy.
The garden has considerable historical significance as a favourite destination of Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, and the USA’s third President, Thomas Jefferson.
George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour said: “We are delighted that such a prestigious club as Golf de Joyenval is hosting the Vivendi Cup in 2010. With the Pro-Am format and superb setting, the tournament promises to be highly competitive and also a glamorous prelude to The Ryder Cup the following week.”
Canal + Events Chief Executive Officer, Jean-Louis Dutaret, added : “After the amazing success of the Vivendi Trophy with Seve Ballesteros last September and, prior to the 2011 edition, Canal+Events sought an original new concept for 2010 and 2012 in a different location and format from the event played in odd years.
“In keeping with the format employed by Pro-Am events at Pebble Beach (AT&T National on the US PGA Tour) and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns in the UK, Canal+Events has decided to implement the same format in France for the first time.
“We are delighted to select the prestigious and exclusive club of Golf de Joyenval in the near vicinity of Paris. We expect a warm and friendly welcome for this first occasion when the Golf Club is open to the public. We aim to ensure that the Vivendi Cup in 2010 is the most exciting and rewarding European Tour event staged in France”.
François Rochas, Golf de Joyenval Association Chairman, said: “We are honoured to host this European Tour event with such prestigious sponsors as Vivendi and Canal +. We hope all the players and their guests will enjoy the beautiful environment and challenges of Golf de Joyenval so close to the centre of Paris.”
