FIPPA Newsletter - April 2008.
Welcome to this edition of the FIPPA Newsletter.
TIM TERRELL- APPA
OUR NEW MAN IN 'OZ!
Read views this time of a fresh face on the international Pitch and Putt scene. Tim Terrell has succeeded Eero Tarik as President of the Australian Pitch and Putt Association. Tim discusses the irrespressible Eero's legacy and how he sees development down under.
Q1. Congratulations on your election to be President of APPA. How proud are you of this achievement?
I became President of APPA at the same time as APPA’s new constitution came into effect, on 1 January, 2008. APPA was formed a little over a year earlier with an interim constitution. Much of 2007 was taken up with consultations with the Australian P & P community about how best to set APPA up so it was a properly representative body. As Vice President, I became heavily involved with this process, so it was with some relief that I attended the APPA general meeting in December 2007 that was to lock in the new constitution. It also elected the first Board. Eero Tarik had earlier indicated that he did not wish to continue as President under the new arrangements and wanted to take a break. I agreed with considerable reluctance to accept nomination as President for a limited period to bed down the new organisation.
Q2. What are your hopes and aspirations for your term of office?
Although there had been some pitch and putt development in Australia in the early 1990s, our pitch and putt community was largely operating in a self- contained vacuum until 2006. It took Eero to awaken us to the existence of international pitch and putt. He managed to convince us that we should spread our wings and join the international game. The first step was to set up a pitch and putt entity that would govern the sport in the Australian Capital Territory where competition was strongest. Then came the establishment of APPA and a State association in South Australia. But we still lack State associations in the big eastern States of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, not to mention Tasmania and Western Australia. Getting more State Associations established has become a major target. Beyond that, APPA needs to get its financial position more secure and establish regular sources of income to meet its costs. A State and National competition program has been put in place, but still needs some consolidation. This year the first national age group championship will be run and we hope this will support another area of need – development of junior pitch and putt.
Q3. What has the Australian Triple Crown done for Pitch and Putt in Australia?
The running of the Australian Triple Crown last November was the biggest challenge APPA has given itself. It was our first experience in the conduct of an international pitch and putt event and we were faced with a near vertical learning curve. The enthusiastic, skilful and congenial international contingent ensured the success of the event, and generally show-cased effectively Australia’s pitch and putt infrastructure. Terrey Hills is a stand out facility, Canberra International blessed with effective lighting for the night game, and Southern Cross a delight to play on. Disappointing, however, was the relatively small number of players, and we are keen to turn this around at the next Triple Crown in Adelaide in November, 2009.
Tim Terrell
Q4. Has the resignation of Eero Tarik from APPA and FIPPA set Pitch and Putt back in Australia?
Eero’s withdrawal from APPA and FIPPA came as a shock. His contribution to the sport in Australia in 2006 and 2007 was enormous and the amount of work he got through phenomenal. I had the benefit of working closely with him for most of that time so fortunately shared with him a good deal of the APPA corporate memory. Nevertheless, not having him around has left a hole it is very difficult to fill, although the reconstituted APPA Board has brought in a wide range of new talent that will serve Australian pitch and putt well.
Q5. How are preparations progressing for the next ATC?
The formalities for the conduct of the 2009 Australian Triple Crown have now been finalised by agreement between APPA and the Pitch and Putt Association of South Australia (PPASA). PPASA will be managing the running of the event on APPA’s behalf. The program format has been set, and will comprise a Matchplay leg, followed by a 9 hole competition and culminating with the 3rd leg – the Australian Open Championship. It will be run with both open and handicap divisions, recognising the importance of participation by players of all skill levels. Our experience in 2007 brought home to us that we are not yet at the stage where we can fill a course with open players.
Q6. How many non Australians will play in the Australian Matchplay and Open this year?
Regrettably, there have been no non-Australian entrants so far for either the 2008 Australian Matchplay Championships in April or the Australian Open Championship in November. In fact Australian entrants for the Matchplay have so far been disappointing, and we are currently watching the position closely.
Q7. What are Australia's chances at the III World Cup?
Our entries for World Cup III are full of optimism. James Rogerson and Stewart Genge are a formidable pair. James had the edge on Stewart in 2007, but Stewart turned the tables at the 2008 ACT Championships in February which he won comfortably. Marie Hutchison is looking to continue her matchplay form which gave her the event in Terrey Hills last year.
Q8. What does APPA need to do to expand and grow?
To expand and grow Pitch and Putt in Australia, APPA needs to bring in more conforming courses and clubs. Par 3 courses abound, but getting them to become competitive pitch and putt courses requires persistence. This is best done by State association rather than the national body – hence the need to get more Associations established.
Q9. Tell us a little about Tim Terrell away from Pitch and Putt?
Tim Terrell away from Pitch and Putt – lives in a suburban home in Canberra with wife Judy, 2 bichon frizes, fish ponds with koi and gold fish and a garden that we used to open for display but no longer do – the product of advancing years (now 78) and declining motivation. Our two children (Holly and Kim) and 5 grandchildren live about 10 minutes away from us in different directions. Before retiring in 1994 Tim was 2ic the Australian overseas aid program in the Commonwealth Government. Before that he spent 24 years as a kiap in PNG where he met and married Judy, and before that was born in India, where Dad was a tea planter. Made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1992.
(with John Manning)
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