Let’s begin with a remembrance. He should be amongst us today but he left us in April 2005. We wish to talk about Michel Damiano, head pro of The Golf Country Club in Cannes Mougins and professional French race driver. Who was he to you?
He was above all a friend then a great professional who honored his job as a player but also as a teacher. One thing is for sure we really miss him. I think that the number of French and foreign professionals that met him would agree.


Why does the French Coaching Championship have to be in Marrakech Morocco?
We wanted to offer the best of Morocco to our peers and their amateurs: The quality of the service, three magnificent golf courses and as much sun as you could possibly wish for. In January there aren’t many other destinations that can offer such a “deal”!


How would one prepare oneself for The Golf Coaching Championship?
This competition is organised only for the coaching members of The PGA. The qualifying results are placed in the league and are registered directly. We had to turn down 35 professionals this year due to lack of places.
The aim in this type of tournament is to play the pros in a way that will help them to advance in their job. It is indeed the perfect opportunity for professional coaches to get together and share their views on pedagogics. This could help to start seminars. This Pro-Am formula permits amateurs to follow their coaches more.


How does one teach golf? Should the golfer submit to certain techniques or is it the other way around?
When you see swings by Vijay Sing and Jim Furik you wouldn’t say that there is only a universal coach!! I believe that the art of good teaching is that the teacher should adapt to the student and not the other way round. Severiano Ballesteros, Jim Furik, Lee Trevino or Tiger Woods all have different swings, nevertheless they are all winners.


There are many youngsters emerging in France, Is it possible for them to achieve a high level without any structured training.
Nowadays I don’t think that people are playing better and that any back up from a team of specialists will bring you to your peak. On the other hand there are a lot more tournaments, all the moving from one place to another, the time differences and other constraints mean that the players have to be readily prepared to be able to recover.
In Spain there are “The 3 C” rules “Cabeza,Corazone and Cojones” to summarize this means intelligence and courage. Gary Player could have been a champion in another sport. We don’t make champions we just help them to become one. Take the famous expression “dying of hunger” it doesn’t prove its meaning of finding success because you are poor and hungry it would be ridiculous to say such a thing. Ian Woosnam is from a less fortunate class but there are also many others from a class a lot better off like Catherine Lacoste.


What are the “professional Circuits” Offered to French golfers and for each of them what is the necessary budget to participate?
In France pros have the possibility to play at The AlpsTour, challenge Tour, and The European Tour. A professional golf player should count about 1000 euros to play in France and 2000 for abroad.


Having completed the circuit have you put your knowledge and techniques into the coaching service and if so, how?
Before playing on the circuit I was coaching a lot especially in Chantilly at the Lys Golf Club from 1965 to 1976 and in Evian from 1976 to 1984 then at Chan taco. After that? I invested myself into my own company KALIKA then PASO. I had to make a choice I couldn’t do everything;


You had been a hero in a famous TV show diffused in the 70s/80s. What memories have you kept from this?
You have brought to mind some wonderful memories from my brief experience in the world of television. I had been offered the chance to appear in a story about a golf champion starring Claire Cyrielle. I wouldn’t want to hide anything so I’d say it was an excellent experience. However acting is a real job. My destined cinematography career ended after this one attempt. I had to make a choice. It was obvious I was better at golf than as a movie star.


China is opening up to golf and professional tournaments. Have you got any contact with the organizers?
An official tournament takes place in China and it’s part of the European circuit this means that the English werent waiting for us to go over and see the Chinese first. We need to wake up a little.This is what we have just done with the ASO group (Amuary Sport Organisation) which I am part of. I’m the events director, we have got 4 000 000 € for The Open France Tournament. As Alan Peyrefitte has said “When China wakes up” which is exactly what’s happening and golf won’t get away from them. Golf is going to
explode in Asia.