Marc Allione

“When I arrived at Frégate in 1991, I was very young: barely 23 years old. Initially, I joined the team of Richard Johnson, the golf course’s first Green Keeper (1991-1998). The golf course was still just a construction site, and we watched Ronald Fream and his teams laying out the courses. At the time, we were in the heart of a vast forest; only holes 1, 2, and 4 had been shaped, the rest was simply a hill. This involved major earthworks and shaping, followed by sowing and planting… On what is now the Bastides parking lot, there was the night watchman’s cabin, and at the top of Frégalon, near what is now the 5th green, was the golf course maintenance team’s technical building, consisting of two truck containers. These were the only facilities available to us.”

I'm not from a professional background. I trained as an industrial draftsman, and I simply seized a youthful opportunity offered to me by Jean Gaïa, the local representative of the company developing the site and this fantastic project. Since then, I've learned everything on the job. I'm a true nature enthusiast, passionate about the land, its fauna and flora, as well as the great outdoors and human nature. At the end of 1998, Jean-Marc Gohard took on the role of Green Keeper and offered me the position of his assistant! Another opportunity I jumped at... I truly feel at home here, surrounded by nature; it's become like my second home!

Today, we are a team of 12 passionate individuals. We work from sunrise until around noon or 1 p.m., depending on the season and events. What I particularly love about my job is the fresh air, the connection with nature, of course, but also the variety of tasks. No two days are alike. Having worked on the course for years, we've witnessed the evolution of the forest and the playing areas, and we're proud to see our work rewarded.

Our golf course has evolved considerably over the past 30 years. It's now more accessible, as Frégate was, admittedly, very technical in the past. Today, it's still a challenging course, but more approachable.

The technology has also evolved, of course! More efficient, the machines are much more sophisticated. The results are better, and the quality of the courses and the enjoyment of the game reflect that! The work remains complex, however, because we have chosen to protect the environment and we want to move towards zero pesticides. This task is very interesting for us and a real challenge!

Thanks to Jean-Marc Gohard, who constantly questions himself, seeks out the latest innovations, new technologies, and new, more natural and resistant seeds, we constantly face new challenges. He is a real driving force for the team; we are at the forefront of the profession here, and that's important to know.

I must admit that I have been incredibly fortunate to work and learn my trade with two great golf directors, Jérôme Billiard and Pierre Pouchain.

Finally, I would say that the pleasure of each day also comes from meeting our golfing friends first thing in the morning—a quick hello, a wave, a smile. I am very sensitive to human relationships, and over the years we have even forged bonds with some of them, and that is priceless! " says Marc, with a smile on his face.