We were seeking genius, and that’s exactly what we found.
In early October, we just happened to be in the Ville Lumière and just had to get together with the man behind so many projects we’ve been ogling on Instagram. He’s one of the designers and hardcore golf enthusiasts who dream up visual identities and spaces infused with their love of fashion and sport.
An inspiring encounter with an inspired creator.
Sitting down with Pierre Greilsamer of WRKS Agency & Studio
WRKS is a global design agency that creates meaningful ideas to unlock the potential of brands, places and spaces. Over nearly a decade, WRKS has established itself as a creative force in space design. From an iconic beach restaurant in Biarritz, to a pop-up store in Macau, trade shows for Polaroid and Paris Fashion Week for Vans, WRKS has left its mark on so many projects around the world. And four years ago, we decided to combine everything we do and apply it to our newest passion: golf.
We launched Therapy Golf Club first, and that’s become a golf content production company and an online golf print gallery. Next came Paris Golf Gallery, the first showroom dedicated to the future of golf that curates the absolute best of the most current global brands during Paris Fashion Week in January and June (see you there from January 20 to 25, 2025!). And our new baby is Lost Balls—a streetwear brand inspired by golf to bridge golf and fashion culture from Tokyo to Paris. And we may or may not have something else in the works (wink, wink). Stay tuned.
How’s French golf doing?
Huge question! I think it’s changing, like everywhere else. If you look at the data, golf needs a refresh. You know what would make golf even sexier and more accessible? Shattering the performance prism we see it through. Golf will gain momentum if we take an interest in the lifestyle and aesthetics. Young players don’t want to dress like a tour pro at the driving range, and some brands have really understood that. This new wave of golf lifestyle that’s been around in the US for at least the past four or five years is just arriving in Europe and in France.
Are you feeling the community effect that’s happening everywhere? How do you want to contribute to it?
Absolutely! Community and culture are two key words that are fundamental to what’s going on. In France, there have been attempts by people who tried to be content creators or golf influencers, but the execution was often in devastating bad taste. The idea of a community driven by French perspectives that analyzes golf globally and through a lifestyle prism, well that’s actually Therapy Golf Club. So we’re growing at our own pace, organically. We’re not looking to buy fake followers, but at least we have an ultra-qualified community! Our next goal with the project is to engage our community through small, very grassroots in-person events like they do in running or skateboarding. Something you’re already doing very well with hiatus golf. So, how about a collab?!
There seem to be a lot of golf courses outside Paris. Are there any other areas we should know about?
It’s so easy in Paris because you have to get out of the city for splendid facilities like Golf National or RCF Golf de La Boulie in Versailles. It can quickly become a logistical challenge, and you almost have to set aside a whole day to go golfing if you live in the centre of Paris. But there are alternatives. When I lived in Paris, we played the 9-hole compact at Golf du Parc du Tremblay. Twenty-five minutes by scooter. There’s also a super fun 6-hole at Pitch & Putt. The other alternative is the recently opened Birdieland in the heart of the Marais, which is a bar with five Trackman bays and a cool food and drinks menu.
Outside Paris: Basque Country, where I’ve been living for the past two years. In terms of golf, it’s not like Paris. If you look at the French and Spanish Basque region in terms of demographics, the Basque Country is where there’s the highest number of golf facilities per capita! Biarritz, Bayonne, Saint-Jean-De-Luz, Ciboure, Arcangues, Saint-Sébastien, Zarautz, Souraïde...Not far from our WRKS offices in Guéthary, there are five courses within a 30-minute drive.
Europe’s largest training centre is at Golf d’Ilbarritz with unbeatable views of the surf spots!
What are some of your favourite golf brands? And what do you do best that everyone should know about?
Necessarily the brands that’ve trusted us, especially the ones we collaborate with at the Paris Golf Gallery during Fashion Week: Students Golf, Cph/Golf, ANTi COUNTRY CLUB. There’s also Manors Golf in the UK, whose first Paris pop-up we designed and produced at Printemps Haussmann. There are also brands making things happen way outside France like Walker and Left of Field—Australian brands we’ll be seeing at the Paris Golf Gallery in January. And of course, Lost Balls, which we’re developing with our partner in Tokyo.
What’s on your ultimate golf playlist?
The track we used for the edit on STUDENTS x BODEGA Field Trip Paris: Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”.
Your must-see in Paris that isn’t golf related?
Le Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature.
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And so off we went to Paris’ museum of hunting and nature, on the rainiest Wednesday we’d sloshed through in a very long time.
There, original museography combines paintings, drawings, sculptures, rugs, tapestries, silverware, ceramics, weapons, trophies, armour, furniture, objets d’art, installations, photos and videos with taxidermy mounts and interpretive elements. Designed as a belvedere opening onto the wilderness, the museum connects visitors with animals in their environments. A lot like golf, actually.
We loved everything about the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature. As we walked from hall to hall, it felt as if we were exploring vast horizons. The meticulously rendered details transported us, and the quality of the execution took us on a journey.
Definitely a MUST when you’re in town.
