More than seventy people braved the heavy rain and winter temperatures to support MonacoUSA’s pre-Ryder Cup event Tuesday night at Stars’n’Bars.
The 42nd Ryder Cup, where America’s top golfers compete against the best in Europe, will be held in continental Europe for only the second time in its history, at Le Golf National in Paris, from September 28 to 30, 2018.
Another historic golf tournament will take place a few months earlier, from June 15 to 18, and for the first time at the Monte Carlo Golf Club – the 2018 Monaco US Celebrity Golf Cup, which will bring Bill Clinton, Andy Garcia, Kenny G and some of America’s top football players, as well as 20 American businessmen paying to golf with the stars, to the Principality.
The link between these two major golf events is Susan Feaster, CEO of Ryder Cup France 2018 US Partners Club and Monaco US Celebrity Cup Chairman, who reminded MonacoUSA members and friends that “you are each an Ambassador to Monaco over the four days of events in June when Team USA and Team Europe come to the Principality.”
Ms Feaster also thanked Monaco US Celebrity Cup committee members Mike Powers and Henri Fissore, who were present, and spoke about the success of the first celebrity cup which took place in June 2016 at Royal Mougins Golf Club, where Team USA beat Team Europe 10-5 on a Match Play.
The tournament trophy will again be presented by HSH Prince Albert, who is the 2018 Honorary co-captain of Team USA, at an Awards Ceremony and Black Tie Gala on June 17 in the Yacht Club Ballroom.
The proceeds of this charity event will benefit the Ryder Cup Trust for the development of golf for youth, beginners, seniors and the disabled. In addition, a “Green Golf” gift will be made to the Prince Albert II Foundation for environmentally enhanced golf course construction and sustainability.
The networking evening was sponsored by Monaco’s only golf boutique and fitting centre, One Eagle, who set up an indoor putting green and provided an impressive fashion show, prompting “ohs and ahs” from many in the crowd who have never once swung a club.
A tombola was held with awesome prizes including private golf lessons at Royal Mougins with Stephane Damiano of Prime Golf Academy, a free swing assessment at One Eagle’s fitting centre and a bucket of EcoBioBalls, aka fish balls – non-toxic, biodegradable “eco” golf balls filled with fish food.
“What a cool idea for golfers who practice at sea,” commented MonacoUSA’s Executive Director Annette Anderson. Fish balls begin to dissolve after 24 hours, then fish begin eating the food inside after 36 hours before the balls fully dissipate after 28 days.
A great deal of energy went into the Ryder Cup discovery evening, as led by the inextinguishable Annette Anderson, Alicia Sedgwick, Master of Ceremonies of TEDxMonteCarlo who provided commentary for the fashion show, and the staff at Stars’n’Bars for their prompt and friendly service.
The 2018 Monaco US Celebrity Golf Cup kick-off was hosted at the Yacht Club of Monaco on July 4 by Susan Feaster and Monaco Life Publisher Eric Brundage. Article first published on February 14, 2018.
