FIPPA Newsletter - December 2006.
Welcome to this edition of the FIPPA Newsletter.
News from Australia
Pitch and Putt in Australia, has endured many false starts in its short history since the late 1980's.
Recently, a new chapter in that history began when the Australian Pitch and Putt Association was formed and now pitch and putt down under will attempt to catch up to its European counterparts and begin a period of growth in the sport.
Like some other areas of the sport globally, Australia has many hundreds of thousands of people who play a round of pitch and putt annually. Most never take it up competitively.
Australia also has about 1,500 players who play regular competitive Pitch and Putt and we are now in the process of bringing these players together into regional associations as well as into APPA so that it gives us a base for moving forward.
There are 10 identified Pitch and Putt courses in Australia, and many dozens of Par 3 courses which could easily introduce a shorter set of tees for Pitch and Putt competition.
(National Womens Champion - Sarah Atley.)
We, in Australia, believe the future is bright for this sport and over the next 12 months will be bringing in many changes to the sport.
Rules of Pitch and Putt
As of January 1, 2007, APPA will be introducing the FIPPA Rules of Pitch and Putt for all major national competitions and encouraging individual courses to gradually move to the international standard rules for all games.
Uniform Handicap system
As of January 1, 2007, APPA will be introducing the FIPPA Handicap system and establishing a nationwide handicap based competition for all registered players. APPA will be encouraging individual courses to gradually move to the international standard system.
Australian Triple Crown
APPA has already begun receiving entries from international players for the Australian Triple Crown, to be held in Sydney and Canberra from November 15-25, 2007. This will be an epic battle with the best international players fighting it out with the best from Australia. The Triple Crown will involve three events- the Australian Matchplay Championship, the Australian Night Championship and the Australian Open.
Entry details for international players can be found here...
Australian National Championships
Held recently at the Waverley course in Melbourne. 120 players from around the country fought it out in hot conditions - the mens and womens winners, James Haining and 16 yr old Sarah Atley, both came from Corinda in Brisbane and have won direct entry into the Triple Crown to take on the world's best.
In 2007, the ANC will be held at Southern Cross the weekend before the Triple Crown starts and international players will be welcome to try their luck.
Further information about Australian Pitch and Putt can be found at our website
Eero Tarik, President, APPA - Australian Pitch and Putt Association.
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