Staff WriterThe FedEx Open de France isn’t just dusting off its history books this September—it’s also planting a small forest. As part of a new “Eagles for Good” initiative, the tournament will team up with the Arbor Day Foundation to dig in—literally—by planting at least 500 trees on local farmland near Versailles when the event tees off at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche from September 18–21, 2025.
That’s right, golf fans. This year, an eagle on the course won’t just win roars from the gallery—it’ll sprout 25 more trees in nearby Noisy-le-Roi. If Jon Rahm or Rory McIlroy get hot with the putter, Versailles could end up greener than Augusta on azalea week.
Golf with a shovel on the side
The idea is simple: FedEx wants its title sponsorship to extend beyond shipping boxes and late-night deliveries. “FedEx engages thousands of FedEx team members each year in tree planting along with cleaning up local parks and waterways through our Picture Proof of Planting initiative,” said April Britt, Managing Director of Global Citizenship for FedEx. “We believe these acts of conservation can add up to make a big impact on the communities where we live and work, too.”
And they’re not new to the gardening game. Since 2005, FedEx has lent its logo and manpower to conservation projects across the globe, supporting everything from park clean-ups to reforestation.
Since 2014, their partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation has already seen more than a million trees planted across 165 projects worldwide. Versailles, you’re next.
Planting legacy alongside birdies
Championship Director Katinka Dufour knows that planting trees isn’t exactly what Seve Ballesteros had in mind when he was carving 3-irons into the Saint-Nom fairways back in the day, but she’s backing it all the way. “Our thanks go to FedEx and the Arbor Day Foundation for coming together and bringing the Eagles for Good initiative to life.
“The DP World Tour is committed to leaving a positive legacy and the planting of over 500 trees in collaboration with FedEx and the Arbor Day Foundation will have a meaningful impact on the Versailles landscape.”
Dan Lambe, Chief Executive of the Arbor Day Foundation, chimed in with the poetry you’d expect from a man who spends his days among oaks and maples: “We believe trees bring people together to do great things and we’re glad to walk alongside FedEx as they embrace their role in local conservation.”
In practice, these trees won’t just be eye candy. They’ll shore up soil, slow erosion, keep water clean, and give the land half a chance against the next drought. In short, they’re the kind of caddies the earth could use.
A new stage for an old classic
As for the golf itself, the 2025 FedEx Open de France will be historic in its own right. After two decades parked at Le Golf National—the Ryder Cup stage of 2018—the event now heads to Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche, a course dripping with prestige thanks to its Seve Trophy heritage and a layout that rewards both imagination and nerve.
Continental Europe’s oldest national Open is bound to deliver high drama, and this time, each eagle will echo off the leaderboard and into the local landscape.
Tickets on sale now
Tickets for The FedEx Open de France are already on sale, with both General Admission and Premium Hospitality packages available.
Golf history, environmental legacy, and maybe even a new forest—all in one September weekend. Versailles has seen revolutions before; this time it’s a green one.
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