FIPPA Newsletter - August 2008.
Welcome to this edition of the FIPPA Newsletter.
Patrick Luning (NPPB).
WORLD CUP III, October 15-18
One of the highlights of the 2008 season will be the third World Cup of Pitch and Putt at Papendal, The Netherlands. Patrick Luning of the NPPB spoke to us about the countdown to mid-October.
Q) Tell us a little about the preparations for the World Cup in Papendal?
A) The preparation of the WCIII is at full speed. We have two committees working on it. One committee is responsible for the championship. The other one is organizing a lot of events around the championship, for example the 10th anniversary of Pitch and Putt in Holland.
Q) How many volunteers will be involved?
A) We asked all the members of every Pitch and Putt course in Holland if they wanted to be a volunteer and we have had a good response. We hope it’s enough?
Patrick Luning
Q) Have you attracted many sponsors to the World Cup and to Pitch and Putt?
A) We have a new company within Pitch and Putt that is called Business and Events and they are bringing in a lot of sponsors, including some interesting famous artists as Jan Janssen (famous shoe designer) and we are still working on some big sponsors the names of whom I can’t give yet.
Q) What is your view on the current standing of Pitch and Putt in the Netherlands?
A) I think Pitch and Putt in Holland is developing big time in the sport as well as in the commercial way, and I hope we can give it an extra boost with the WC coming in Holland.
Q) Tell us about the Pitch and Putt Events Company?
A) The Pitch and Putt Business and Events is a company with a new and great concept to get business and Pitch and Putt together. We have developed a business group with some big members in it (for example Heineken, Golf USA etc.). And for these companies we will organize events where they can play and do business in the same time. And for the business we will use a lot of multimedia (mobile phone, big flat screens on the walls with commercials, live coverage from the course etc.)
Q) Tell us about the interactive scoring and the web TV coverage of the World Cup?
A) Two years ago we had the first Willie Parker Cup and during that match we had live scoring by mobile phones, and we will try to do this during the III WC as well. The idea is simple - if you score a birdie you type in a code and the 2 and when you press the button people in the clubhouse will see your score. And if you want it may also be sent to your friends’ and family’s phones. I can’t tell you a lot about the web TV because I am not a computer man. But there will be full coverage of the tournament with 3 or 4 cameras on the course and on top of the buildings around the course.
Q) Give us an idea of how the Papendal course will be set-up for the World Cup?
A) There won’t be a lot of changes to the course because when the FIPPA board had their meeting in Papendal they were happy with the way it was. The greens will be fast but not 13 or 14 on the stimpmeter! And the place will be magical for the players and the visitors.
Q) Do you hope to make the Dutch team for Papendal?
A) I am working hard and I hope I will make the team. It’s always great to play for your country and for the people that love the game of Pitch and Putt. I also think its one of our best opportunities to become champion so I really want to be part of this tournament.
Q) Has it changed your perspective on Pitch and Putt as a sport now that you work in it full-time?
A) When Pitch and Putt started here 10 years ago, I started to work in Pitch and Putt as well so the way we do it now is all that I know about it. For the future of Pitch and Putt there will be some changes. I think its going to be more commercial. That is going to help the sport up and up with big sponsors and better training facilities etc. Still I think it’s the best game I have ever played!!
Q) What social activities can we expect around the Pitch and Putt at Papendal?
A) Business and Events will organize a lot of things in the Papendal Congress Centre and there will be buses available for the players (and maybe the visitors) to go to the city of Arnhem, which is renowned as the best town in Holland.
(with John Manning)
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