Gilles Potheau
Profesionnal golf teacher
Meet Gilles Potheau, Profesionnal golf teacher
Let's hit the golf course with Gilles Potheau, our pro.
A Marseille native and OM (Olympique de Marseille) fan, Gilles grew up in the city center, a stone's throw from the Old Port. He started playing golf and tennis at age 5, and winter sports hold no secrets for him!
After completing his general studies, Gilles developed a passion for golf! More than a passion, it was a calling! He enrolled in STAPS (Sports Science) and then attended the CREPS (Regional Center for Sports and Physical Education) in Montpellier to become a golf instructor. He worked part-time at Club Med Opio, a beautiful golf course, and continued his studies at the AIMG school in golf management.
The Domaine de Falgos (Pyrenees) welcomed him for his first position as a pro and sports instructor. Even back then, Gilles told his father, "My dream would be to be a pro at Frégate!"
With his State Diploma in Golf Proficiency in hand, Gilles worked in Agadir and became a Golf Pro at the Frégate Provence Golf Club in 2020.
"I took over the position at a pivotal time when the club was restructuring its teaching program, which was entirely focused on golf." A challenge for Gilles, who brought on board Thomas and Quentin, initially as interns, who quickly became part of the team!
"We're a very close-knit group, all born within a year of each other, but with the same passion driving us. One of our major projects is the Golf School (with 35 students in 2020). Today, we're delighted to share our passion with over 70 enthusiastic and dedicated children! We meet with them every Wednesday and Saturday."
"I have a blast with the school children or with individual lessons. Even though patience and a pedagogical approach are essential, they really repay us. We do our best to keep them interested, we're constantly reinventing ourselves. And when they're having fun and are proud of themselves, that's priceless for a teacher!" Gilles agrees with a smile.
"For students in individual lessons, we focus more on guidance and improving performance. I'm lucky enough to teach with the support of specific equipment to calculate the firing angle, speed, and distance using technical videos."
On weekends, I often go to the mountains, summer and winter. I need wide open spaces, to be in the heart of nature! My partner and I love to travel, and in 2025, we plan to go to Polynesia. But that's so I can always come back to my native south, which I don't think I'll ever leave!
At Golf de Frégate, we have two missions:
- to develop our golf school
- to make golf accessible to everyone
- attracting young seniors
Therefore, we are helping more and more students obtain their Green Card. "Frégate is an iconic course and one of the only golf courses to offer a true 9-hole course – Frégalon, fantastic for learning to play and improving your game. And let's not forget the setting and the weather; we are incredibly lucky!"
