FIPPA Newsletter - December 2008.
Welcome to this edition of the FIPPA Newsletter.
Brian Webster
International Player, Club stalwart and greens expert
Next summer will mark the twentieth anniversary of the day that Brian Webster first walked through the gate of his local Pitch and Putt club. "I was ten when I joined," recalls the genial Tipperary native, who has been a member of Larkspur Park in Cashel since 1989.
Brian's biggest moment in Pitch and Putt internationally was his participation in Euro 2005 at Overbetuwe. "The European championship was a great experience altogether," recalls Brian. "I'd never played in anything like that before. The other team members made me feel very welcome." And Brian Webster is yet another fan of the genial PPUI administrator who acted as manager on that occasion. "Paddy Browne was an absolute gentleman. It was wonderful to see the standard of the other countries, how well organised the Dutch are and the quality of the courses."
Brian Webster's life revolves around fairways and greens one or way or the other. Bewitched by lure of the clubs and ball game from day one, he qualified as a greenkeeper and today is Head Greenkeeper at Dundrum House Golf Club in Co. Tipperary. 
Brian Webster
Brian remains keenly interested in the international element of our sport and was an enthusiastic supporter at two of Ireland's key encounters in 2008 - the World Cup in Holland and the Willie Parker Challenge back home. He was impressed. "The running of all the events is improving every year as is the standard of the courses. But the real change has been in the quality of the opposition. In particular, the Catalans and the Dutch have upped the ante. Nothing is certain any more. Time was when an Ireland team was pretty sure of winning but nowadays the boys have to produce their best to win, which is great for the game. It's fantastic to see so many countries playing too."
Dundrum House Golf club, just thirteen kilometres from Brian's Cashel base attracts many visitors, tempted by the pristine greens and rolling fairways fringed by tall trees. He has quickly risen through the ranks to be Head Greenkeeper at a course designed by Ireland's Ryder Cup hero Philip Walton. He augmented his studies by working from a very young age as greenkeeper at Larkspur Park Pitch and Putt club. "I started caring for the greens at Larkspur, when I was seventeen or eighteen," recalls Brian. He still does so today - a true vocation on a volunteer basis. And the greens at Larkspur are held by many to be the best in Ireland. That opinion has seen Larkspur host some of the PPUI majors in recent years like the Men's Strokeplay in 2006 and the Inter-County last September.
Brian's opinion of Irish Pitch and Putt courses? "To be quite honest, the standard of the majority of courses is poor. A lot could be done to help clubs improve. It really is essential that clubs improve the quality of their facilities, greens and courses to attract and keep more members." Pressed as to what is it that clubs don't do, Brian was succinct. "It's basics really. They need to devise a basic programme and stick to it. There are a lot of dedicated volunteers around but they just don't have the knowledge. Doing the wrong thing is as bad as doing nothing! The PPUI should definitely examine the possibility of providing a guide on the website - a monthly programme. A basic programme done right will keep greens at a reasonable standard."
Brian belongs to a select group of players. One of his great days domestically was at his beloved Larkspur Park. Aged 15, he fired 94 to win the Irish Boy's Strokeplay of 1994. Many of his fellow winners of that championship leave the game - for a variety of reasons - graduation to golf, studies, work, emigration, waning of interest. Brian Webster is keener now than he was a decade and a half ago. A contemporary of World Cupo winner Paul O'Brien, he believes that Pitch and Putt needs to do more to retain the youth market. "I'd love to see Under 19 or Under 23 competitions," says Brian who has helped Tipperary to adult Inter-County honours just as he did alongside Paul O'Brien in the Irish juvenile Inter-County in that memorable year of 1994.
How impressed was Brian with the design of the Papendal course? "It's superb. I played in the Willie Parker there in 2006 and it was just trees. To go back this year and see the transformation was unbelieveable. It was so professionally done - a flat piece of land - there was obviously an architect involved and lots of moving of earth! It just shows the level that the Dutch are at. Then again, it's easier to start from scratch. Many of the Irish courses have evolved from fields and that makes it more difficult."
Brian redesigned the eighteenth hole at Larkspur Park and the green surrounded by water has caused much heartache and drama through the years. What are the elements of good Pitch and Putt hole? "Holes that make the game exciting. I would draw ideas from holes I've seen elsewhere and also from great golf holes. Holes should look good, be playable, but also punish the poor shot," is Brian's expert assessment.
Brian also found love on the fairways. He and his wife Margaret married on 30 September 2004, just four days after they had finished fifth in the National Mixed Foursomes on a course prepared by Brian.
Brian Webster is still on the right side of 30 (just) but he has stored up a wealth of experience, both as a player and as a greenkeeper. His enthusiasm for our sport and his pet project (Larkspur Park) shine from his every pronouncement. He and his ilk are to be cherished as they epitomise and are vital to Pitch and Putt.
(with John Manning)
|
