Golf "has always been something of an afterthought in France," according to Adam Schupak of the N.Y. TIMES. It "ranks around the fifth or sixth most popular sport in the country, and the country’s golf enthusiasts have long yearned for a native-born star." No French golfer has won a major since 1907. France has approximately 800,000 golfers, "but the sport suffers from a reputation of being primarily for the wealthy." France’s Ryder Cup initiative "was put to a vote" of French Golf Federation members, with 83% voting in favor of paying a €3 ($3.35) surcharge to "help underwrite the competition." As part of its Ryder Cup bid, the FGF agreed to pay an annual fee of €1.5M ($1.7M) for the next 12 years. It marks "the first time a nation’s golf community has funded as much as half of the Ryder Cup." The French "are trying to encourage interest in the sport." Research conducted by the FGF found that 6 million citizens -- roughly 10% of the population -- follow professional golf, and 12 million "say they would be interested in learning the game." Retired French golfer Jean van de Velde is optimistic that the FGF's "Small Structures" concept is "a step in the right direction." France’s Ryder Cup bid "contained a pledge to build 100 urban courses." Pascal Grizot, the president of France's Ryder Cup committee, said that 91 of those are now "up and running, and 110 more are in development." To attract young people, the FGF "has rolled out a school initiative to promote the Ryder Cup." Students receive golf lessons "as well as a golf leaflet that links their math, English and French lessons with the Ryder Cup" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/26).