Ryder Cup Eurostar rendezvous at London St Pancras

London golf fans had the opportunity to meet the Ryder Cup at London St Pancras International this week to celebrate the appointment of Eurostar as an Official Supplier of the 2018 match.

ondon’s railway stations know all about important guests.

King’s Cross is where Harry Potter departs for Hogwart’s, Paddington is where a famous little bear arrived in England’s capital city, and on Thursday St Pancras International played host to the Ryder Cup.

With less than a year to go until the 42nd Ryder Cup at Le Golf National, France (September 28-30, 2018), golf fans and commuters had the opportunity to have a rendezvous with one of sport’s most iconic trophies.

Last week the trophy had been at the other end of the Eurostar line, in Paris, enjoying the Year to Go celebrations, which saw European and United States Team Captains Thomas Bjørn and Jim Furyk engage in a range of promotional activities including hitting balls off the Eiffel Tower.

But back in London the Ryder Cup’s appearance was part of an event showcasing France as the perfect destination for international golfers before, during and after The 2018 Ryder Cup.

Gwénaëlle Maret-Delos, Managing Director of Atout France UK & Ireland, the France Tourism Development Agency, which hosted the Ryder Cup Rendezvous event, said:

“There are 600 golf courses in France including some of the most beautiful courses in Europe. While France is the most visited country in the world, it remains less well known as a golf destination. The 2018 Ryder Cup, broadcasting from Le Golf National to the world, will no doubt encourage more golfers to choose France, our golf courses and, of course, our ‘après-golf’, for their golf holidays.”

In 2016, France welcomed 82.6 million international tourists, including 11.9 million from the UK via convenient train, ferry and air links. Figures for the first half of 2017 indicate a 5% year-on-year increase in the number of visitors to France from the UK.

Among the most popular golf regions for UK golfers are Normandy, Brittany and Provence, as well as the Paris region. Le Golf National is just 21 miles from the centre of Paris.

The number of golfers travelling to France could be boosted further after Eurostar was not only announced as Official Supplier of The 2018 Ryder Cup, carrying representatives of the European Team to Paris next September, but that golf bags will now travel free of charge.

Richard Hills, Ryder Cup Europe Director, said: “Le Golf National, Paris and France is ready for The Ryder Cup and will be a wonderful host for the 42nd edition of this match, which has become one of the greatest sports events in the world.

“In just under a year’s time, representatives of the European Team will set off from London St Pancras International and travel by Eurostar train to Paris. I have no doubt fans and golfers will be making their own journeys to France in the coming months, to play on the country’s beautiful courses and support the team next September.”

It’s certainly the case that the 2018 match will have a stunning city on the doorstep and Golf365 discovered earlier this year that the country is a wonderful golfing venue.

The Eurostar would be a fine way to arrive in the country ahead of this fantastic Chateaux and Chablis golf trip in Burgundy.