FIPPA Newsletter - August 2006.
Welcome to the first FIPPA Newsletter.
Jean Claude Richard - Italian Open winner 2005/2006.
Frenchman Jean-Claude Richard successfully defended his Italian Open at the beginning of June.
Why was he there in the first place is straightforward. “First of all I think that the least you have to do is to defend your title.” However, there are other reasons too, some underlining the wide ranging appeal of Pitch and Putt.
“I have a special affinity for Italy - all my titles have been won in this country. Then there is the possibility of mixing sport, culture, sun and good food!"
The secret of Jean-Claude’s latest international success? “For me, my victory is due to the achievement of making not one bogey on those tricky greens during the last round. I tried to play safe like Nick Faldo at the (1987) Open!”
After modestly apologizing for comparing himself to the six times major winner, Jean-Claude is again self-effacing in assessing the quality of the other contenders for the fifth Italian Open crown. “My rivals in fact were not great in number due to the missing Irish players but the young man who finished 2nd (18 year old Vanni Rastrelli) was impressive because of his great putting.”
“The Centanni course is a tough one and tiring because the holes are all either uphill or downhill. The greens are tricky because they don't hold pitches too easily. Some of the downhill holes are very narrow so it's difficult to stay on the greens. Except for the Irish players of course!” Jean-Claude stresses the importance of the course to the result. “About players and without flattery for me the best are Irish. I think that the Irish fell into a trap at World Cup II because for me, Teia is a really long course. The advantage is that it was an 18 holes course and I prefer to play on an 18 holes layout!” (Centanni is a nine holer.)
The reigning champion commends the Italian experience. “The event was perfectly organised as usual. The resort team is very kind. They’re always smiling and the food and the wines are perfect!”
Not by any means was this Jean-Claude’s last visit to Italy. “Of course I will defend my title and I will also play the senior open in October in Rome. I like to play international competitions because you can meet very interesting people even if I also play and enjoy domestic team competitions.”
Jean-Claude’s assessment of the fledgling international Pitch and Putt organizations is direct. “About EPPA, I think it's clear that it already has a solid past experience so its future is absolutely evident for everybody. About FIPPA, it's a little bit more difficult because of some different conceptions of the game of Pitch and Putt but it is absolutely necessary if we want this game to grow across the world.”
We queried the source of Richard’s legendary powers of concentration. “For concentration I think it's a natural thing I have developed during my long practice of competition before golf but I often run after it!”
We put Jean-Claude on the spot and asked him to sum up his good friend – French supremo and former EPPA President John Hudson. “It's very difficult for me to say much about him because I often play golf with him! Seriously, I am sure that if he was not what he is Pitch and Putt in France and probably in the world would not be what it is today. He deserves a big award!”
Jean-Claude plays golf off a 4 handicap and still prefers to play golf. “Though Pitch and Putt is really a sport I have really begun to enjoy so...”
(by John Manning - translation by John Hudson)
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