When we chat, Gregoire Marche has just returned from the China Open in Shanghai and been whacked by the dreaded jet lag. To combat it, he did what he always does when he needs to relax: play golf.
"When coming back from the US or Egypt, sometimes you don't sleep on the flight and you have to try to stay awake and catch up with the right timing," explains the Frenchman.
"For me, playing golf is the best way. You need something which relaxes you. It's not too intense. I don't necessarily do a full 18 holes, but just go to the range or work on my short game."
That practice is most certainly paying off: his handicap is a mightily impressive 1.2, having played off 12 just 18 months ago.
The 35-year-old is a member at Golf Aix-Marseille which is handily situated between his home and his squash training base in Aix-en-Provence, southern France. Each day after training he goes to the range for an hour or two, and every five-hour gap in his schedule is filled with 18 holes with friends.
In early November, Marche entered his biggest golf tournament yet — a Grand Prix Ligue PACA (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur), part of a high-level amateur golf series that attracts players from all over France.
Ranked 78th out of a field of 84, it took him 12 holes to conquer his nerves as he shot a first-round 79, before settling on day two to card a 73. He missed the cut by one shot.
"I learned a lot, but I was so nervous. A friend said to me, 'Surely you are used to nerves from squash?' But golf is different. It's much more difficult to be relaxed and focused for every shot.
"Competitions are a different world from playing with friends. Normally, I can get close to par, and sometimes I even score below par. It's just tough to find the consistency."
Now aged 35, Marche intends to continue on the PSA Squash Tour until the LA Olympics, but his mind has inevitably started to mull over future career options. Playing golf is one of them, but he is well aware how tough that would be.
"I know pro golf is going to be so difficult, but I would love to try," he smiles. "I would need financial support from somewhere. I have good friends who are ex-pros or good amateurs and those guys can play pretty much every shot. It's just putting it together consistently and staying mentally strong. It's similar to squash in that way."
Marche started playing golf 12 years ago, but in the prime of his squash career, travelling and training didn't leave enough spare time to swing a club too often.
More recently, several factors have combined to give Marche more golf-shaped holes in his calendar.
Firstly, he split up with his girlfriend. After the heartache, came more freedom. "The relationship was not the easiest," he reveals. "At the time, it was very tough and it affected my squash. I even felt I was going to retire. I wasn't happy.
"But after a while I found a way to enjoy what I was doing again, just playing squash without too much thinking. I found the same joy I had before. I had my best season, 2021/22, and got to 11 in the world.
"Golf played a part in that too. Mentally it helped me a lot. I love being outside, meeting different guys at the club. Now I have a very good group of friends where I can talk about something else other than squash.
"Now I'm 35 years old and can't train as much as before, it's just not possible. Golf is the thing I can do on the side without pushing too much physically. Now I don't feel guilty if I don't play squash. I am managing my amount of time on court."
As a kid, Marche played tennis, table tennis, football, rugby and judo as well as squash. He encourages junior squash players not to specialise until they are 14 or 15, to build all-round flexibility, coordination and skills.
He feels his own foundation of transferable skills have helped him achieve such rapid improvements on the golf course.
"Obviously it's a ball game, so you have the same feeling of controlling the ball with your hands," he states. "The swing came naturally but many things are the same; how to control the ball and apply spin. I also feel it's helped my squash!"
Marche has shared rounds with fellow enthusiasts such as Paul Coll, Daryl Selby, Amr Shabana, Nicolas Mueller, Yousef Soliman, Karim Abdel Gawad and Mohamed Abouelghar whilst on PSA travels. He has played at the Olympic Club in San Francisco and Oakland Hills in Detroit, both of which have hosted Majors.
Golf is certain to play a major part in life post-squash for Marche, even if turning pro proves to be just a dream. He's not overly fond of coaching and a business venture in 2018 selling e-bikes and scooters didn't last long and is unlikely to be something he'll revisit. For now, his options are open.
"I have plenty of connections with many people I've met in my career," he says. "For now I just want to focus on squash for the next two or three years, keep my body healthy and stay motivated.
"It's not easy to find something for afterwards that I will enjoy as much and be as passionate about. It's a little scary, but I will stay optimistic."
