Pitch & Putt has a great future in China
Words - Martin Whitelaw; Photos - Jose Maria de Anzizu

The course of nine holes in the technological university district of Beijing for the very first Pitch & Putt competition in China was in superb condition. Really remarkable when one considers that this area of China has been suffering from a prolonged and severe drought. The West Palace Pitch & Putt course had been especially modified to comply with FIPPA norms, and cleverly designed to be very challenging indeed at just under the maximum length of 1.200 metres over 18 holes. Being the first competition on the course, with all the little things that can go wrong needing to be fixed in an improvised manner, and with the added complication that for everyone this was to be the first competition where the players could hardly speak with each other. The locals could speak only the odd word of English, and the foreign players just managed to be able to say ‘hello’ in Chinese.

The group of Catalan players in front of the poster announcing the competition.

Ten local players turned up for the two-day event (54 hole Strokeplay). The high temperatures and humidity had the effect that players ended the first day quite exhausted. It was obvious, and I might add, to be expected, the local players were unfamiliar with the international Pitch & Putt rules. It was the first time they played the FIPPA course with three clubs, but by all accounts, everyone thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. No doubt but the West Palace will be keen to organise many more P&P tournaments in the coming months. We can expect to see several Chinese players at future FIPPA Opens and hopefully have a Chinese team at the next World Cup.

Martin inspects the course and agrees logistics with the local team

Two young locals, Fangji Liang and Liu Yian excelled with their precision pitching to the flag despite the fact that they weren’t used to using a tee, and ended the tournament with scores of 4 over par and 6 over par respectively. The Catalan veteran lady champion, Pilar Montero, ended in fourth place with 10 over, conceding third place to Jenno Wolters from the Netherlands who had the better last round of 56 strokes. Pilar was, nonetheless, enormously pleased with her beautiful trophy as ladies champion, with Oriosia Miguelez in 2nd. place, followed by Ms. Huangli Hua from Beijing in third place.

A partial view of the West Palace course

The prize giving ceremony was truly an emotional moment which captured and seeded enthusiasm for what is essentially for China a new sport. The representatives of the sports media were delighted with the event, the players received a special presentation of a diploma commemorating the first Pitch & Putt Open to be held in China, and the trophies awarded to the winners were rather special; beautiful hand-made vases – works of art.

The President of CPPA, Mr Wang Xiaozong, opens the prize giving ceremony with the help of an interpreter.

FIPPA, with this competition has planted a seed on Chinese soil. The interest for this sport, being less time consuming than golf and at a cost which millions of Chinese can now afford, is huge. This tournament has definitely laid the foundation stone for an emerging Pitch & Putt Empire …. “and so say all of us” !