FIPPA Newsletter - December 2006.

Welcome to this edition of the FIPPA Newsletter.

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Catalonia - LA NIT DEL PITCH AND PUTT.

Many of you will recall the extraordinary television pictures beamed from Barcelona during the 1992 Olympics. Competitors in the Olympic Diving events performed their heroics outdoors against the spectacular backdrop of the Barcelona skyline, reaching for miles and miles under Montjuic (Mountain of the Jews).
The imposing building of the National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia (INEFC) lies but a few hundred metres from the Olympic Diving Pool. The Olympic stadium itself is also nearby. An indication of how far Catalan Pitch and Putt has progressed in its short history is that the 2006 Nit del Pitch and Putt (Pitch and Putt Night) should be held in the glittering banqueting hall of the National Institute of Physical Education (Barcelona’s sports university).
The Institute (where the Olympic wrestling was held in 1992) boasts its own spectacular views. Aperitifs before the 2006 Nit del Pitch and Putt were taken on a terrace overlooking the Institute’s Astroturf football, rugby and volleyball areas. Beyond glinted the night lights of Barcelona’s great metropolis.

The Nit del Pitch and Putt has come a long way from its first celebration some seven years ago. The chosen venue was outside central Barcelona and on the appointed night the weather gods chose to send the snowiest and iciest conditions Barcelona has seen in recent memory. Barely 50% of the intending attendees were able to make it.

No such problems this year on Friday November 24th when 230 Catalans (and one international guest) gathered in the neoclassical minimalist surroundings of the Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya to celebrate the most memorable year yet in the annals of the Federacio Catalana de Pitch and Putt.

A hundred or so glittering trophies adorned the podium. A large screen beamed images of the II World Cup held so successfully in Catalonia at Teia last March. As the dessert of a sumptuous dinner was served by the attentive caterers, special awards recognizing service to Catalan Pitch and Putt were made to Ignasi Donate (former Director of the Catalan Sports Council), Francesc Narbona (Pitch and Putt player), Hernan Morgenstern, (magazine editor), Quim Riera (webmaster) and John Manning, (Assistant Secretary General FIPPA).

Then Joan Perich’s evocative video of World Cup II to a soundtrack mixing Beautiful South with the Los Angeles Philharmonic was played as a cue to FCPP President Jose Maria de Anzizu making special awards to the successful World Cup team of David Sole, Marc Lloret and Fernando Cano along with long serving coach Xavier Ponsdemenech. The World Cup trophy was ceremonially presented to Xavi amid tumultuous applause.

Meal over, Toni Lloret was Master of Ceremonies for the presentation of prizes for all the major Catalan events of 2006. Each member of the FCPP Board was invited to present a selection of the awards – for the Catalan Strokeplay championship, the Catalan Matchplay championship, the Inter-Clubs, the juvenile championships, senior events, fourball championships and the prestigious rankings listings.

The FCPP runs a tight ship and it’s clear that Jose Maria and the salaried staff – Toni, Lluis, Consuelo and Martha - all work very well together.
Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of the jacket (appropriately in Catalan cream!) to the country’s No. 1 ranked player Jordi Saborit.
FCPP Sports Commission President Victor Muscadet and Jose Maria de Anzizu rounded off the evening with stirring speeches.

Jordi Saborit must have needed a truck to carry home all his trophies. He and 230 other satisfied Catalans departed late into the Barcelona night. This is a success story that displays no sign of slowing down.
Full details of Catalan awards can be found at the associations website

A short 6 minute video of the evening can be found here at Ricardo Camo's excellent website

(by John Manning)