Frenchman Dominique Larretche received The John Jacobs Coach of the Year Award at this year’s Confederation of Professional Golf Annual Congress Gala Awards Dinner, celebrating a long and illustrious career in the field of coaching.
The award, presented at this year’s host venue, Hotel Vila Galé Lagos in Portgual, looks to acknowledge the efforts of coaches who are exemplary of the same standards that have put the great John Jacobs OBE in the history books as one of the greatest coaches of all time to professionals and amateurs alike.
Larretche was nominated by the PGA of France a having these traits and exhibiting these standards as one of France’s best coaches.
Beginning his coaching career at the age of 20 at International Golf Club du Lys near Paris, France, Larretche worked as a coach at numerous courses across the country, as well as being involved in many coaching and teaching programmes, including one such programme that is used across 30 different clubs and 50 golf professionals.
His success as a coach has lead to multiple Amateur success with a great number of French players, as well as in the professional ranks coaching winners across all tours, including recent success with European Tour player, Victor Dubuisson, who shot a record-breaking 62 on the Old Course at St Andrews in this year’s Dunhill Links Championship.
As well as being noted for his coaching, Larretche has had a hand to play in administering the game, with a spell as President of the PGA of France in 1997 and 1998, and is well-known for his commentating on the PGA Tour, Ryder Cup and major championships for Canal+ Television.
Larretche was presented with his award by retiring Honorary Confederation of Professional Golf President, and longtime friend, Jean-Etienne Lafitte, saying:
“It is a great honour for me to receive the John Jacobs award – I am very proud. It was thirty years ago when I was a young coach and I had the opportunity to spend 3 weeks with John Jacobs…it was a great experience for me. One day John said to me ‘Dominique do you like golf?’ I said I liked golf it’s my passion it’s my life. ‘Learn it. Learn, Learn, learn’ he said. I learn with my team…in teaching…and as a commentator…I learn from the best players and coaches in the world – it’s fantastic for me.”
Larretche also noted the influence of his friend Lafitte and dedicated the award to the Confederation of Professional Golf past Honorary President.
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The Confederation of Professional Golf Annual Congress Gala Awards Dinner also included the presentation of the following awards:
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Tony Jacklin CBE
- President’s Grow the Game Award – Peter Ball
- Special Recognition Award – Leif Ohlsson
- Christer Lindberg Bowl – Glenmuir
- 5-Star Professional Award – John Barnett
For updates, information and news from the Annual Congress 2012, visit the Annual Congress Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.
The 2012 Annual Congress was supported by Glenmuir, Associação Turismo do Algarve, Hotel Vila Galé Lagos, Onyria Palmares Beach and Golf Resort, the European Ryder Cup Development Trust, and Rolex – For more information on our partners, visit http://bit.ly/SkAMWD.
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