FIPPA Newsletter - December 2007.
Welcome to this edition of the FIPPA Newsletter.
PADDY BROWNE - SAINT PADDY’S DAY, AGAIN!
Former Leinster Council Vice President Paddy Browne (Collinstown) had no idea what was coming when P.P.U.I. President Billy Lynch approached him at the October 2004 meeting of the P.P.U.I. National Executive at Sport hq. How would he like to lead the Irish European championship retention bid in Arnhem, Holland the following August? The Westmeath stalwart accepted and now just three years later, Paddy Browne is the most successful team manager in Irish Pitch and Putt history. What was his immediate reaction on being offered the mission? “I was flabbergasted!” recalls Paddy. “I didn’t know at all. It just came out of the blue. It was a big shock. It’s a great honour. A great privilege. To be just twelve months on the NEC and to be asked to be manager was something extraordinary.”
We wondered if genial Paddy had ever taken on the captain’s function in other sports. “I did in hurling and gaelic football. For Shamrocks in Mullingar and for Pearses the hurling club. But that’s going back to the sixties,” recalls Paddy, who was elected Officer without portfolio from Leinster to the newly enlarged PPUI NEC at the Anner Hotel Convention in December ’03. He wasn’t exactly unsuccessful in the captain’s role. “We won the Westmeath county junior football championship. In hurling, we won Feis Cups and leagues.”
Winner of the Captain's Prize at all three of the clubs he’s been a member of (Ballymore, St. Lomans and Collinstown), Paddy had never played Pitch and Putt for Westmeath or indeed managed a Westmeath team, He negotiated exposure to the non-playing captain’s role in Ireland before embarking on the European stage. “I managed Westmeath in 2005,” laughs Paddy, who has invested huge time at club level as Chairman of Collinstown. His son John, another leading player, actually managed Westmeath this past year.
Paddy Browne
How familiar was the Westmeath County Board Chairman with Ireland’s top players? “I knew most of the Cork fellas because we go down that way during the summer and we meet them at Scratch Cups and the like,” declares Paddy, who takes in Fermoy Open and a number of southern Scratch Cups with a large Lake County contingent every August. His considerable involvement in competitions administration since his elevation to Leinster Council and NEC had afforded considerable interaction with players in the top strata. “I know quite a few of them and of course I meet the rest at the All Ireland Strokeplay and Matchplay.”
What is the Paddy Browne style of captaincy/management? Is it the ‘thump the table type approach’, adopted by many coaches in football, hurling and soccer? “I’d normally be very quiet. I try to get the players geared up to go out and do their best but above all enjoy themselves doing it.”
And having got the job, he certainly took it seriously and has made it his own. His Ireland sextet breezed through the 2005 championship at Arnhem to take the title for the fourth time. And now Paddy is reflecting on the five-in-row following a superb win in the idyllic surroundings of Chia. “It’s fantastic to achieve the five-in-a-row that they so badly desired on a fine championship course.”
It wasn’t without the odd anxious moment, Paddy recalls. “We carried the pressure of never having lost this championship.” During the singles against Great Britain, the usual cheery Browne visage was bearing the odd frown line. But the Irish ‘old guard’ came to the fore. “Who better than Sean Downes to putt for you?” Paddy was heard to muse after the Co. Meath stalwart put yet another vital singles point on the board, against Ashley Hendricks.
“All of the foursomes could have gone either way”, says Paddy of the Sunday morning joust with the Catalans. “The Catalans are improving all the time”, contends Paddy, “and we really respect them.” Paddy is really proud of the reaction he got from the players, particularly the ladies team, for whom he was also responsible. The bond he struck with the ladies was clearly evident during the Irish celebrations
After the Chia championship, Paddy was obviously delighted to have retained the title but graciously praised the other countries on the progress they had made in their standards over the past two years.
He clearly enjoyed his late autumn trip to the Mediterranean. “The organisation and hospitality of our hosts in Sardinia was simply fantastic. Our supporters deserve great credit for their interest and backing.”
He makes no secret of his admiration for his dozen charges. “I’d like to thank the players, both Gents and Ladies, for the dedication and commitment they put in to retain the titles for Ireland.” Paddy is also deeply grateful to his National Executive colleagues. “Our President Frank Smith was very supportive all through the championship as was General Secretary Michael Murphy, who kept everybody in Ireland updated via the website.”
Paddy is upbeat about the future of the international game. “Already everyone is looking forward to the World Cup in Papendal, Holland next year.” Paddy wouldn’t be drawn on whether he will be at the helm. “That’s for another day,” he parries, modestly. One suspects that if Ireland calls, Paddy will be available.
Let’s leave the last words to Ireland’s captain Ray Murphy during his victory speech at the Closing Ceremony. Simple but telling. “He’s a great manager.”
(with John Manning)
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