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1. Ireland is P&P’s birthplace. For those who don’t
know the real story of Pitch&Putt, can you explain the origins of
this sport in your country and it’s evolution until today?
Organised Pitch and
Putt competition evolved in Co. Cork, Ireland in the 1930s. The
sport rapidly spread to the rest of Ireland through the efforts of
some visionary pioneers.
Sustained
development began in Co. Cork in 1937. The credit is given to Mr
W.A. Collins, at the time Manager of the National Bank in Cork.
Fountainstown is a small village on the shores of Cork Harbour,
about ten miles from the city. It was a popular holiday destination.
Fountainstown Sports Club in the 1930's comprised three Tennis
Courts, an 18 Hole Putting Green, Croquet Ground, Cricket Net,
Children's Playground and Pavilion. The very large number of members
constantly using the putting green suggested the possibilities of a
Pitch and Putt course to Collins. Within a year, Fountainstown had a
nine hole Pitch and Putt course.
The advent of World
War II in 1939 meant, inevitably, travel restrictions and rationing.
Many cars were off the road, so that travel to golf courses was
difficult. With heavy military demands on steel and rubber, golf
clubs and golf balls were in short supply during and after the war.
In this climate, the short game flourished. Hundreds of people of
all ages enjoyed Pitch and Putt at Fountainstown and it quickly
spread to Cork city, where courses were built in tennis clubs
(Altona), a factory grounds (Millfield), an enthusiast's (P.J. Bell)
back garden (Woodvale) and in an Army Barracks Sportsground
(Collins).
In the early 1940s,
the Irish Tourist Association sent representatives on a tour of
inspection of the Cork courses with a view to developing the sport
at seaside and other resorts (which they quickly did at Tramore and
Killarney). Politicians spoke glowingly of the sport's potential,
owing to the small amount of land necessary for a course and that
the game was in reach of the average citizen's pocket.
In
Cork at the inaugural meeting in December 1944, the Irish Amateur
Pitch and Putt Union was founded under the Presidency of W.A.
Collins. The union's Headquarters were in Cork. A Constitution was
drawn up and rules were drafted with arrangements made to run
competitions. Two of the Cups which were presented to the
fledgling Union - the Day Cup (for the Pitch and Putt Championship
of Ireland) and the Elvery Cup (for the ladies Pitch and Putt
Championship of Ireland) are still played for today in the
modern-day P.P.U.I. Mens' and Ladies' Championships of Ireland
were played in 1946. The founders of the game were looking to the
future even if they only had a few clubs at present.
Mr
W.A. Collins moved to Dublin and his influence led to courses
springing up on the east coast. The first course in Leinster was
Ferrard, near Baltray Golf Club in Co. Louth. The game grew rapidly
in Leinster and the eastern province moved to set-up their own
organisation in 1954 – the National Pitch and Putt Association.
Delegations from the two organisations (south and east) met at the
Hillview club in in 1960. The first meeting ended with an agreement
to set-up a Joint Sub-Committee of the two organisations to draft a
detailed Constitution for a united union, to look at and make
recommendations on all areas of difference and to propose the
arrangements by which unity could be achieved. The sub-committee's
work was finished in June 1960. The first Convention of the Pitch
and Putt Union of Ireland was held on Sunday 9 October 1960. It had
42 affiliated clubs - 28 in Leinster and 14 in Munster. The first
set of rules were produced in 1968.
Club development
came about in a number of ways:
-
Community groups founding a local amenity
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Factories building a facility within their premises
-
Sports and social sections of companies founding a course
-
Courses set-up on spare ground adjacent to football/rugby/GAA
pitches
-
Courses set-up within hospitals as a recreational facility for
patients and staff
-
Societies without a course setting-up a club and using an existing
commercial course
-
Courses began as a commercial green-fee only outlets and a club
was subsequently formed
-
Recreational outlets set-up by urban or county council
-
Courses within army complexes
The
Central Office of the P.P.U.I. was set-up during the '60s and
operated from a premises in South Frederick Street, Dublin. In 1972,
it moved to Suffolk Street for twelve months before switching to
Shandon Gardens, Dublin 7. Central Office moved in 1990 (to cater
for the constantly increasing number of players and courses) after
the P.P.U.I. successfully applied for space in the House of Sport,
an office facility for smaller national sporting governing bodies,
organised by the Irish Sports Council. Since then, again thanks to
the foresight of the Irish Sports Council, the Union's
administrative base is in a modern office complex in Park West,
Dublin 12.
In
1991, the Union appointed a full-time Development Administrator. At
present the PPUI employs 3 full-time staff, who deal with the
day-to-day operations of the Union. Major tournaments have been a
reality in Ireland for decades. The sport enjoys a huge following
with large galleries attending the major events, which are covered
on radio and television.
2.
Since Martin Whitelaw built in Solius (Catalonia) the first P&P
course, this sport has experienced a spectacular growth (more than
34 courses and more than 15.000 federated players). How do you
evaluate the growth of P&P in Catalonia from your country? Which are
the key factors for this unprecedented success?
There are a number of key factors.
First, Martin Whitelaw the founder, is a man of great vision and
drive. His determination to succeed and overcome obstacles
paved the way for others.
A social and cultural opportunity was ripe to be capitalised on.
Regular Golf was elitist in your country. Catalans wished to play a
golf related activity and along came Pitch and Putt, a
competitively-priced, well-organised sport within easy reach. Your
courses are beautifully designed, situated and maintained. Your
owners are entrepreneurial and creative. Your climate is
wonderful. This paves the way for year round play. Martin was
eventually joined by some erudite enthusiastic pioneers. The FCPP
website is consistently and excellently maintained as is your own
brilliant site and the other Pitch and Putt related websites. A
very logical and fair handicap system was developed from the start.
All of your development ideas such as rankings, competition
structures, publications and the like are carefully planned and
efficiently and inventively executed. The good clubhouse facilities
and practice areas mean that Pitch and Putt represents the complete
social package, before, after and during play. A fierce Catalan
patriotism and pride in your endeavours meant that the international
element of the sport has been important in your development.
Your professionally managed secretariat is the icing on the cake.
3.
Ireland and Catalonia mainly, were the promotors for the creation
of the EPPA and the FIPPA, the international organisms that look
after P&P in Europe and the World respectively. You are part of
them representing the Irish Federation. Can you tell us what
future projects are planned in a short and long term? Should we be
optimistic?
Without doubt, we should be optimistic! Have no fear. This
fantastic sport of ours is going global! Short term, we wish to
develop the current European Team Championship and World Cup by
organising them as efficiently as we can. We then wish to augment
these team championships by adding world and European individual
events. We wish to continue to encourage Pitch and Putt development
by facilitating international Opens and friendly international
matches between countries. We’d love to see a seniors programme of
international events.
We plan to capitalise on the recently published FIPPA rules by
training qualified Pitch and Putt referees in each of our member
countries. We are constantly on the alert for new development
opportunities. Canada and China are already part of FIPPA. Latvia
and USA will shortly join us. Portugal and Pakistan may not be far
behind.
Fernando Morgado is busy on
Latin America
development and we hope to form the
South America
equivalent of EPPA in 2010. We would love to establish Pitch and
Putt at the Special Olympics. It wouldn’t take much as we were a
demonstration sport at the 2003 World Games but it will necessitate
the other countries supporting Ireland.
Australasian/Asian and eventually African development is another
key project for us. We want to maximize the opportunities afforded
by the FIPPA website and continually advance it. FIPPA would like
to deliver a successor to the World Interclub League. We are
constantly examining software opportunities, such as Skype and video
conferencing for meetings, web cam for tournament coverage,
electronic methods of payment for championship entry and cash
transfers etc.
A long term objective would be a common handicap system throughout
the world of Pitch and Putt. This is not realistic at present but
will be in the future. Ultimately, we desire to have a
comprehensive Sponsorship & Marketing programme for Pitch and Putt.
We plan to seek to affiliate FIPPA to GAISF (when FIPPA has
sufficient member associations). Over time we believe there will be
a bidding process for tournaments, such will be the interest from
prospective host venues. Junior and Women’s championships at world
and continental level are also in our contemplation.
4.
On the sport level Ireland has probably the best squad in the world
and has had legendary players in it. Could you name some of the best
Irish players from all times and their merits?
Ireland has produced many, many fine exponents of the art of Pitch
and Putt.
There have probably been none better than Ray
Murphy, certainly with regard to accumulation of titles. No-one in
history has won more Irish individual championships than the
Templebreedy star. Winner of the Irish Matchplay in 1998 and the
Strokeplay in 2001, he has now won the last four Matchplay and
Strokeplay titles in a row – the so-called “double double”, which no
other player ever has come close to achieving. Of course, Murphy
has also achieved richly at team events – he has helped
Cork to seven Inter-County titles and hold s two European Team
championship medals.
The Stackallen legend, Sean Downes, first burst
on to the national Pitch and Putt scene as a member of the Meath
juvenile team that lost a play-off to
Cork in the 1981
National
Juvenile Inter-County championship at Parteen. Downes was on the
Meath team that finished second to Cork again the following year at
Athgarvan before finally finishing on the winning side at Athlone in
1984. By 1987, Sean had graduated to the adult ranks and played on
the first Meath team ever to win the Gent's Inter-County
championship (that was at Glenville). Two more successful campaigns
with Meath followed in 1996 and 1998.
The last decade of the millennium saw Sean
Downes stride like a colossus over the world of national individual
Pitch and Putt championships. Matchplay titles in 1992 (at Royal
Meath) and in 1995 (at Cloghogue) sandwiched back to back Strokeplay
successes in 1993 (at Irish Ropes) and in 1994 (at St. Patrick's).
A third Strokeplay title at Royal Meath three years ago meant Sean
joined Kevin Rogers (and now now Ray Murphy) on top of the all-time
Strokeplay Roll of Honour. His 132 total then tied the all-time low
aggregate for championship. Sean Downes has won the National
Matchplay (1992) and the National Strokeplay (2005) at the same
course - no man had done that before. The twelve year span between
his first Strokeplay win and most recent success is the longest in
history. Sean's seven shot win in 2005 is the highest ever winning
margin. Sean now jointly holds the low scoring aggregate for the 36
hole and 54 hole formats of the championship.
Gus Carolan, who started out with Glennane and
subsequently moved to Lucan, won the Matchplay championship at
Portmarnock in 1968, having been runner-up in the Strokeplay at
Ierne in '67. He subsequently took back to back Strokeplay crowns at
Mellows in 1974 and at Seapoint in 1975. He was still good enough to
beat a select field in the specially staged televised Talbot
Challenge Matchplay event at R.G.S.C. in 1983.
Kevin Rogers (Portmarnock) was undoubtedly
player of the sixties. He won the National Strokeplay Championships
of 1962 (in Rocklodge on his first visit to the course), 1965 (at
Hammond Lane) and 1967 (at Ierne). He was also runner-up in
the inaugural P.P.U.I. National Matchplay championship in 1961.
The late Joe Fitzgerald from
Waterford won the 1977 and 1981 Matchplay championships together
with the Strokeplay championship of 1982 in Pfizer. Some observers
contend that his 91 around Cloghogue in the 1982 Inter-County
championship, without having ever seen the course before, was the
greatest round ever played.
David Hayden, then playing out of
Old County was undoubtedly player of the eighties with a Strokeplay
success at Portmarnock in 1987 and two consecutive Matchplay crowns,
at Lucan in 1988 and at Lakeside in 1989.
Sean Harkins now of R.G.S.C., formerly of
Shandon, I.G.B., St. Bridget's and Ryston is a three-time winner of
the National Matchplay championship (at R.G.S.C. in '86, at Cement
in '91 and at Lakewood in '99). In an enduring career, he was also
runner-up at Collins in the 1995 National Strokeplay championship.
Many say there were few to touch charismatic
Joe Doyle (Carrigaline), winner of three National Matchplay
championships between 1969 and 1972.
Michael Forrest (Rocklodge/Carrigaline)
probably deserves to be player of the seventies on foot of his
unique (until Ray Murphy’s heroics) Matchplay/Strokeplay double in
1976. The mystery is why these were the only two National titles
claimed by the
Cork maestro. In 1983, he was runner-up in both championships (to
fellow Corkmen - John O'Leary in the Matchplay and to Donal Long in
the Strokeplay). He also lost the 1987 Matchplay final to Johnny
Campbell Senior.
Other wonderful players I have seen include
T.J. O'Riordan (Rocklodge), Liam O'Brien (Douglas), the captain of
the first Ireland team to play Catalonia, Templebreedy’s Frank
O'Donoghue, Anthony Malone (Lucan), Darren Collins (St. Anne’s), the
Collins pair John Walsh and Chris Scannell and Derek Courtney
(Glenville).
As for ladies, a young Clare Foley from the
Woodvale club in
Cork
city won the Ladies National Matchplay championship at the Plunkett
course on The Curragh in 1963. Later that year, she added the
National Ladies Strokeplay crown at Rocklodge. By the time (as Mrs
Clare Keating) she won her last Matchplay title (at Collinstown) in
1977, she had amassed no fewer than fourteen National titles, a
marvellous record that may never be equalled, let alone beaten.
The Cork legend bagged eight Matchplay championships and six
Strokeplay gold medals as well as losing two Matchplay finals and
twice finishing second in the Strokeplay. On three occasions ('63,
'64 and '73) Clare brought off the double of Strokeplay and
Matchplay in the same year. She won three Strokeplay titles in a row
('63-'65) and three Matchplay titles in a row ('75-'77).
Portmarnock’s Geraldine Ward is the modern
superstar of ladies Pitch and Putt. If anyone is to surpass Clare
Keating’s achievements, it will be Geraldine Ward. Geraldine
completed the feat of three successive Matchplay titles twice
(84-'86) and ('92-'94). Geraldine finally equalled Clare Keating's
record of eight National Matchplay championships at Stackallen this
year. For many years Geraldine lone Strokeplay crown was won at
Listowel in 1994 but in recent times, she has added another three
Strokeplay championships (2003, 2004 and 2007) for a current overall
score of twelve. Geraldine also holds the record for most winning
appearances in the Inter-County championship. Her win with Dublin at
Glenville in 2004 was her eleventh Inter-County winner's medal. She has also been prominent on the
international stage.
Shandon's Teresa McGuigan won eight National
titles, four Matchplays and four Strokeplays. She was also runner-up
in either Matchplay or Strokeplay on another nine occasions. Five of
those second places were to Clare Keating so if the Woodvale
virtuoso hadn't been around, Teresa would have many more national
titles. In truth though, the rivalry between Clare and Teresa was
the highlight of ladies' Pitch and Putt through the sixties and the
seventies. They were the two players that all the others looked up
to and aspired to emulate. Teresa also won three consecutive
Matchplay championships in '65, '66 and '67 as well as making six
winning Inter-County appearances for Dublin.
Margaret Hogan (Tullamore) has an astounding
record in national championships. She has won three Matchplays
together with four Strokeplays. Incredibly, she has also been seven
times runner-up in the National Matchplay along with another six
second place finishes in the National Strokeplay. She holds another
interesting record. She has won national championships in four
different decades. What marvellous consistency.
Ann Ginnane's reign at the top of ladies of
Pitch and Putt was brief but for a while in the early eighties,
prior to her premature retirement, she was the player to beat. Back
to back Strokeplay titles at Athlone (in 1980) and at Fermoy (in
1981) were followed by her only Matchplay title (at Catholic
Institute in 1982) and another Strokeplay championship at Lakewood
in 1983.
Mildred Murray (Shandon) won three National
Matchplay championships (in '78, '79 and '81) in addition to a
runners-up slot in the Strokeplay championship of 1977. Like Ann
Ginnane, the brief glittering dominance of Norma O'Brien was brought
to an end by an early withdrawal from the competitive stage. Norma
did the Matchplay/Strokeplay double in 1991 and added another
strokeplay championship in 1992 at home in Douglas. She also lost to
Geraldine Ward in a memorable Matchplay final in 1993.
The sadly missed Peggy Campbell (R.I.P.) was
the undisputed queen of Pitch and Putt in the early days of the new
millennium. Peggy won the 2001 National Strokeplay and added the
Matchplay and Strokeplay a year later, to win three Irish titles in
a row. Her performance at Glenville to win the 2001 Strokeplay will
never be forgotten. Her 28 under par three round aggregate
represents the lowest total in championship history.
Other great lady players are the youthful St.
Bridget's stars, Bernadette Coffey, Marian Byrne, and Chrissie
Byrne. Marian has won four national adult titles, a Strokeplay and
three Matchplays. Bernadette has three adult titles to add to her
three girls' strokeplay championships while Chrissie has won three
Irish titles, the Strokeplay in 2005 and the Matchplay in 2003 and
2006.
5. Can you explain what activities are the Irish P&P Union (PPUI)
organising? How many clubs are part of it ?
The Pitch & Putt Union of Ireland is the governing body of amateur
sport of Pitch & Putt in Ireland and is committed to promoting and
developing Pitch & Putt as a competitive and recreational sport for
people of all ages. There are approximately 125 affiliated clubs
with roughly 12,000 members, in 19 counties. The PPUI hosts
championships and competitions at National and Provincial level with
each County (or Regional) Board organising championships in their
respective areas. The Central Office of the PPUI administers the
hundreds of championships and open competitions that are held every
week of the season. It maintains the central handicap database and
the membership records. The PPUI is constantly seeking ways of
enhancing Pitch and Putt. Its defining principles are:
-
PPUI embraces all, respecting gender, race, abilities and age
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PPUI believes in fair play and respect for rules
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PPUI supports and implements the Code of Ethics and Good Practice
for Children's Sport in Ireland as published by the Sports Council
-
PPUI condemns the practice of doping in sport and we support the
drug testing and educational initiatives of the Sports Councils
-
PPUI is absolutely committed to the strong social aspect to our
sport
PPUI’s principal objectives are:
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To have a lean and efficient administrative structure
-
To consistently increase income through sponsorship, marketing and
other means
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To enhance the profile of our sport through every available medium
-
To broaden participation and increase membership
-
To raise playing standards through quality coaching and other
means
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To continue to take a pivotal role in the international
development of our sport
-
To constantly seek ways of delivering a better service to members.
Some of the current projects include:
-
Coaching Pitch and Putt in schools
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Training prospective Pitch and Putt coaches
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Working with municipal authorities to develop Pitch and Putt
-
Promoting Pitch and Putt with affinity groups such as Active
Retirement, farming, Special Olympics and ladies organisations
6. If a Catalan player visits Ireland and wants to play at any of
the P&P courses what steps would you recommend ? Let’s say that the
player lands at the Dublin airport on a Friday afternoon and leaves
on Sunday.
It really depends on whether the player arrives on an ad-hoc
unannounced trip or whether he or she makes contact with me or the
PPUI beforehand. Only by making contact with us first, can we
organise access to the top private members clubs around Dublin like
R.G.S.C., Shandon, Portmarnock, Glenville, Old County, Ierne, Lucan
and Erin’s Isle. Because these courses are so busy, the clubs only
allow green fee access to those visitors who arrange times in
advance and play with a member.
In Dublin, the ad-hoc traveller can visit Ring Commons in
Balbriggan, along with DCBS and CPM, both of which are situated in
Clondalkin. All three, particularly DCBS and CPM, are within easy
access of the city centre.
There are also some excellent courses in Dublin’s neighbouring
counties of Louth, Kildare and Meath.
In Louth, Seapoint is a wonderful links course while Cement is a
fine layout near the centre of Drogheda. Kildare has some excellent
courses – all close to the town of Newbridge - St. Bridget’s (7km
away), Ryston (3km), McDonagh (the 2003 European championship course
- 3km) and Athgarvan (5km). Meath has Castletown, Navan, Gaeil
Colmcille in Kells and the seaside course at Laytown.
Thank
you John!
Octubre'06. Marc
Lloret, Jugador de Pitch&Putt.
Març'06. Xavier Ponsdomen
