Can you please tell us about yourself and your sport?
My name is Nicolas Pussini, I’m 39 and I live in Troyes where I work for Contact Hôtels, a group of 300 independent hoteliers. For the past seven years, I’ve been playing footgolf, a sport that’s still in its infancy, having been created in 2009. And I’m a two-time world champion with the French national team, two-time reigning French champion and I recently won the second Masters in the sport’s history.
Can you explain the basics of footgolf?
Footgolf combines the striking techniques of soccer with the structure of golf. Players use a ball to cover distances and direct it with precision. As in golf, each hole has a set number of shots, and a course consists of 18 holes. Good technique is therefore essential.
This sport is particularly accessible: anyone can play, have fun and hit the hole, whatever their age.
What attracted you to footgolf, and how did you discover the sport?
From an early age, I played soccer, and from the age of 20, I started playing golf. The idea of combining these two sports has always appealed to me. In 2014, a footgolf competition took place near my home in Auvergne. Unfortunately, as I was injured, I wasn’t able to take part. It wasn’t until 2017, after my move to Touraine, that I finally had the opportunity to try footgolf. It enabled me to meet new people and discover this emerging sport.
Since your beginnings in 2017, what have been your main achievements that have marked your journey?
After starting in earnest with an intensive training phase in 2017-2018, on synthetic pitches, I was lucky enough to take part in numerous tournaments in France and abroad. These competitions enabled me to gain a lot of experience and led to my selection for the first World Cup in 2018, where I finished 4th.
I then took part in the Worlds with the French team – in inter-team competition – where we finished first. These victories helped me gain recognition. Over the years, I’ve carved out my own path, learning from my successes and failures, which has enriched me considerably in terms of experience.
What qualities do you think are essential for success in this sport?
The mind plays an essential role. It takes mental strength to stay focused for four hours on a course. Then there’s physical preparation, recovery and tactical work. A footballer needs to know how to adapt to the course he’s playing on.
What are the main challenges facing footballers today?
Recognition. We strive for greater visibility, not least by working closely with the local media. However, when resources are scarce, this becomes quite difficult.
How is your partnership with the French Football Federation helping to promote footgolf in France despite its recent beginnings, and what are your current development plans?
We’re still at the beginning of the process of gaining recognition for footgolf in France. Our partnership with the French Football Federation (FFF) has given us official recognition and support in promoting our sport and all sports involving a ball. The FFF is structured to support young people interested in ball sports. Although it helps us enormously, our aim is to create our own federation, as we currently operate as an association.
Despite this, we’re still growing, and I’m personally involved in this growth. We’re in the process of opening a footgolf course near Troyes, and we have a network of corporate partners. We’re working on a joint solution to promote the sport, either by fully integrating the FFF, or by retaining our independence through the Association Française de Footgolf.
Which countries are considered formidable rivals?
Slovakia is incredibly strong. They have the women’s world champion, are world champions in the veteran category (over 45) and the winner of the Open de France 2023 is also Slovak. They have formidable players, very well trained, with an excellent mentality. Argentina are also formidable; we narrowly beat them in the 2023 World Cup.
What are your personal goals and those of your team for 2025?
In 2024, our main objective is the Euro, which will be held in December. We’ve been European runners-up on three occasions. Personally, I’d like to become French champion again, despite a complicated start to the season. Fortunately, over the last few months, my hitting has improved.
By 2025, there will be new world championships, both team and individual. Our aim is obviously to get back there and win again. For us, that would be the ultimate achievement. Personally, I have the opportunity to become world number 1 by the end of June 2025. To do that, I’ll have to take part in international competitions, including at least one on another continent.
How does analyzing your past performance help you improve your game, and how can this analysis be applied in the context of revenue management?
Analyzing my past performance mainly involves self-evaluation. We seek to understand why we failed at certain times, and how we can prevent such situations in the future. I find that this parallel applies perfectly to Revenue Management.
For example, at a festival last year, I had sold my rooms six months in advance, but I could have adjusted my prices upwards at the last minute. By revisiting my decisions and questioning my strategies, I can decide this year to delay the start of room sales and possibly increase my prices according to demand and market trends.
How do you see footgolf evolving in the years ahead?
There is a new committee within the international federation, of which I am a member of the rules committee. Current projects aim to further structure the sport in terms of rules, supervision and competitions, in order to standardize the sport regardless of the country where the competition takes place. This standardization will contribute to the development of the sport.
How do you manage to juggle your different responsibilities as a footgolf player, sales manager at Contact Hotels and sports manager for the footgolf association, while maintaining a good sporting performance?
It’s not always easy, but fortunately I have an extraordinary employer. Since I started working for Contact Hôtels, I’ve been able to arrange my business travel so that I can take part in national footgolf competitions at weekends. For example, this Friday I’ll be in Nantes for a competition, then the following week I’ll be touring the Brittany region. That’s how a typical week can unfold, combining my work and my sporting commitment at national level.
As for my role within the footgolf association at international level, it requires less time, currently around 2 to 3 hours a month. On the other hand, international competitions require more time. Last year I spent 15 days in the USA, and this summer I’ll be juggling between Sweden, Scotland, England and Belgium for competitions throughout August. That’s why I need support, and I’m very grateful to my partners who are helping me to finance this season.
What would you say to someone who's interested in footgolf but hesitates to take the plunge?
There’s really no reason to hesitate. Footgolf is an incredibly accessible and fun sport, suitable for all ages, from 10 to 90. It’s this diversity that makes the sport so extraordinary. Whether you come alone, with friends or family, it’s an enriching experience to share together.
So don’t delay, visit footgolf-france.fr, find your nearest course and get started!
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