- Ryder Cup in Italy.
- Golf’s Italian potential.
- Challenges of golf popularity.
During a particularly tumultuous rush hour in Rome, the taxi driver ranks the sports that are more popular in Italy than golf. It is a lengthy trip. Which is fortunate because his list is extensive. “Football, tennis, formula one, Moto GP,” he begins, before the language barrier intervenes and we abruptly transition into mimicry. He concludes, after performing the actions for swimming and possibly volleyball, “E il golf!”
Welcome to Ryder Cup week in the Eternal City, and a fresh battle for hearts and souls. Over the next three days, more than 150,000 spectators are anticipated at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, 15 kilometres east of Rome, for the biannual competition between Europe and the United States. It is anticipated to be an enormous sporting and financial success once again. Nonetheless, one major question remains: Will it also revolutionise golf in Italy?
A charming conversation with the president of the Federazione Italiana Golf, Franco Chimenti, would convert even the most staunch sceptic. “It will be a momentous occasion. And I truly believe that a planetary event of this magnitude can change the course of golf in Italy.”
The Marco Simone is aesthetically pleasing. The course, which is owned by the fashion brand House of Biagiotti, has recently undergone a $15 million (£12.4 million) renovation. There are amphitheater-like vantage locations and enormous grandstands positioned throughout the course. And, on a clear day, St Peter’s Basilica can even be seen.
It will make for excellent television — the event is being transmitted live by state broadcaster Rai — as well as Instagram photos that do not require a filter.
Yet, when strolling through Rome, there is little indication of the Ryder Cup’s proximity, save for the occasional poster.
Wednesday’s edition of Italy’s most popular sports newspaper, Gazzetta dello Sport, also lacked prominence. Unsurprisingly, its Ryder Cup coverage was buried beneath multiple articles on Napoli, Juventus, and Inter, as well as the 40-year-old Chinese boxer Zhiel Zhang, Formula One, Moto GP, Andrei Shevchenko’s appointment as an independent advisor to Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a quiz, the Rugby World Cup, and volleyball.
“Ryder Cup, instructions for use: the secrets of the golf tournament that is as good as the Olympics,” read the headline on its main golf piece, followed by a well-judged Ryder Cup FAQ meant to be “a small guide to pretend to be an expert in front of the television and amaze friends even if you’ve never picked up a golf club.”
This is likely to include many Italians who will be attending the Marco Simone for the first time this weekend. Fans from 87 countries have purchased tickets, with the United Kingdom, the United States, and Italy making up the top three nationalities represented. And do not expect to be admitted simply by showing up. On the secondary market, one-day passes to the event are being sold for hundreds of euros.
Given that golf has never been a significant sport in Italy – Francesco Molinari’s 2018 Open victory being the only major victory for an Italian golfer – this is an impressive accomplishment.
However, among those who cover sports in Italy, cautious optimism is understandable. “In Italian, there is a proverb: ‘Se non ora, quando?’ If not now, when?” the Italian sports journalist Erika Primavera says when asked about whether the Ryder Cup will be a game changer.
There will be many individuals present. The weather and cuisine will both be excellent. Finally, there is Rome. The objective is to place golf on the map, and the federation has made significant efforts to encourage participation. However, I’m not sure if it’s enough because the sport is too costly for us.
Simone di Stefano of LaPresse is also in agreement. “We tend to be good at sports where it doesn’t take much to get started, such as football and swimming,” he says. “You need just a ball or a pool. But with golf, as with tennis, you must purchase apparatus and take lessons to become proficient.”
However, the Italian Golf Federation is determined to eliminate these entry barriers. To host the event, the country pledged to increase its 94,046 registered golfers, including 20,000 women, over 368 courses.
As Chimenti surveys his field of dreams, it is evident that he adheres to the adage “if you build it, they will come.”
“I have attended numerous Ryder Cups on European and American soil, so I know what to expect,” he says. “However, I am confident that this event will be outstanding. It will remain in the consciousness of everyone, including the players.” And, he hopes, the entirety of Italy.
