36 years ago, Richard Lazurowicz hit his first putts on the brand new Haut-Poitou golf course overlooking the heavenly setting of the Saint-Cyr lake. “I am the second oldest member”, welcomes the former president of Medef de la Vienne today.
In this capacity of vice-dean of Saint-Cyr golfers, Richard Lazurowicz has just added that of owner of this same golf course on May 1, 2024. For years this rubber ball enthusiast has dreamed of taking the reins of the courses where he and then his children learned to play.
Holding familiale
The change of majority in Grand Poitiers in 2020 (the community, through the Syndicat Mixte du Seuil du Poitou, had been the owner of the golf course with Grand Châtellerault since its creation), then a warning report from the Chamber of Auditors precipitated things.
The golf course was for sale. The holding company created by Richard Lazurowicz, in which his sons are partners, made the best proposal (a little over two million and the takeover of employees).
A golf course that aims to be environmentally friendly
From now on, it is the Kolf company (the Dutch name of the ancestor of golf, in the 13th century) which oversees the two 9 and 18 hole courses, over 85 ha, and the La Table du Golf restaurant. At its head: Xavier Lazurowicz, son of Richard, former professional player and until now instructor at Saint-Cyr.
The first task of the buyers will consist of giving a serious facelift to a magnificent tool in its green setting but which no longer completely meets the expectations of international golfers, nor environmental imperatives. Richard Lazurowicz’s objective: to quickly enter his golf course in the prestigious ranking of the top hundred golf courses in France.
Better manage water
“We are going to do a lot of decorating and remodeling work to make everyone happy, golfers, visitors and restaurant customers,” promises Xavier who will be able to rely on the expertise of his brothers, Rémi, restaurateur in ParisRomain, designer, and his wife Karine (with a K, like Kolf), decorator and graphic designer.
“The priority will be the land”, Xavier, however, specifies. We will have to improve the routes and carry out a hydrological study to optimize water management. Neighbors of the Saint-Cyr leisure center but also of the ornithological reserve managed by the LPO (Bird Protection League), the new owners intend to make their contribution to the preservation of biodiversity by reserving natural spaces wherever the practicing sport will allow it.
A hotel in project
The other priority will be to quickly expand the team of seventeen current employees. A second professor is expected at the end of August, intended to compensate for the withdrawal of Xavier Lazurowicz, taken up by his managerial activities.
In the longer term, four to five years, the buyers plan to open a hotel on the farm which currently serves as a workshop for gardeners. By then, the Haut-Poitou golf course should have reached financial equilibrium. Xavier’s close knowledge of the small world of golf should facilitate this objective.
Get started for free
The new owners of the Haut-Poitou golf course are keen to break the elitist image of this sport. Once a month, they will offer free introductory sessions in small groups of twelve people. First meetings on May 25 and June 28, 2024. By registration.