R&A name first French captain

New golfing history was written on Wednesday when Pierre Beckmann was named Captain of the R&A.

A new chapter of golfing history was written on Wednesday when Pierre Beckmann was named Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews for 2012 – 2013.

The Frenchman, whose appointment followed his nomination by the R&A’s past captains, will become the first-ever captain of the R&A from from France and indeed, from all of Continental Europe, when he takes up office on September 21 this year.

Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Paris in 1957, Bechmann has been highly active in recent times, especially in his home country where he was amateur golf’s representative on the Executive Committee of the French Golf Federation and where he also sat on the Championship Committee of the European Golf Association.

A lawyer and member of the Paris Bar, Bechmann has been President of his home club, Golf de Chantilly, since 2010.

He is a former member of the R&A’s General Committee, and has served on the Championship and Rules of Golf Committees as well as The R&A Coaching Panel.

In 2008/09 he was Captain of Royal St George’s Golf Club.

Bechmann presently lives in Chantilly and plays to a handicap of 9.

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