FIPPA Newsletter - August 2006.
Welcome to the first FIPPA Newsletter.
Tim Wilson - son of Ron Wilson (RIP), Pitch and Putt pioneer
Tim Wilson was just thirteen years old when he played for Australia against Ireland in 1994. He shares his fond recollections of that trip and of his late father Ron (RIP), one of the pioneers of Pitch and Putt in Australia, Ron Wilson who lost a brave fight against bowel cancer on 27 January 2006.
The now 24 year old recalls, “My memories of Ireland are of the close bond that all Pitch & Putt people had with each other, the music – especially after the final round at the International in Fermoy. We had a great touring group. At every course we were welcomed in the same style and that was with open arms. I just wish the actual International was a little closer and we weren’t comprehensively beaten like we were, though it’s not about that for the Internationals, it’s about the friends you meet along the way."
In the 1980s, Ron teamed-up with Sean Lynch to form a company (World Pitch and Putt) to develop Pitch and Putt courses (to the Irish model) in Australia. Tim recalls… “Dad was initially a landscape gardener in Melbourne and ran his own business for around 10 years. He met Sean Lynch through my mother as Sean and my mum worked together near where the first Pitch & Putt was built in Dandenong, Melbourne.”
Ron's principal motivations in promoting Pitch and Putt? “Basically as a keen golfer, Dad thought Pitch and Putt would benefit all ages. His prime target was to get people as young as 6 playing with their grandparents as old as 80. He also marketed Pitch & Putt to the golfers in Melbourne who needed to improve their short game, as we all know this is the most important aspect of golf.”
In the mid nineties, Sean moved operations to North America in a bid to crack the US and Canadian markets. Ron remained in Australia. Tim plays down suggestions of a major difference between the pair. “Dad didn’t disagree with the move to Canada/US. However there were certain things that were not implemented that should have been.”
Ron and Tim played a lot of Pitch and Putt, occasionally as partners but never as famously as at Fermoy in September 1994. “I competed in many tournaments in Australia. We would only have competed in a few together."
The proud son speaks emotionally of his late father. “Dad was always a better golfer than myself. He was a pure talent at any sport he chose. We both won a few tournaments here and there, Dad didn’t compete in too many as he was the part owner of the course and thought it was best for his members to enjoy and win.”
Ron believed thoroughly in the Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland. “He thought very highly of the people and philosophies that they implemented. My Dad wouldn’t associate himself with things he didn’t have strong beliefs in. There were many people that were very welcoming to dad on all his visits, especially our trip in 1994.”
What of favoured courses? Tim muses, “I think Dad’s favourite course was Wagga Wagga in NSW. My father built three out of the four courses that were around back in the early days - Waverley, Wagga Wagga and Queenbeyan. Dad actually never individualized his favourite course in Ireland as they were all so different. Each course that he played on had its own unique beauties. I can tell you though he loved going to Woodvale.”
We wondered what Ron particularly liked about Ireland? “People often asked Dad that question and it was always consistent answer, the PEOPLE, and I concur, the people of Ireland are probably the most warm, kind hearted people in the world. Other things that Dad was awestruck by was the greenness of Ireland and the scenic drives from course to course. I think the Irish themselves take it a little for granted, it is a very beautiful country in all aspects.”
Tim was unable to attend the Irish visit to Queenbeyan in 1996 but Ron did. “Dad made the trip up. He said it was a great event and all the Australians had a great time as I am sure the Irish did as well.”
What went wrong with Pitch and Putt in Australia? “Well our course in Dandenong has now been replaced by a freeway. Waverley is being well run by Phil Shaw-Dennis (who played against Ireland in ’95). Wagga Wagga, I believe, is still running along and Queenbeyan has been closed down. A few bad decisions were made, I won’t put a sour taste on this interview.”
An emotional return to the Emerald Isle is in the offing. Tim plans to one day bring his wife to see Ireland. We wondered if she plays Pitch and Putt. “She doesn’t consistently but we have played a couple of games and she is quite good for only picking up a golf club a couple of times. She nearly beat me in one game – I think I may have cheated to ensure that didn’t happen. Only kidding!”
Tim is in no doubt that his Dad he would have endorsed the current efforts to globalize Pitch and Putt. “From what I have read on the FIPPA website, he would most definitely have approved. Indeed he would approve of any person or group that showed passion about the game.”
(by John Manning)
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