FIPPA Newsletter - December 2008.
Welcome to this edition of the FIPPA Newsletter.
Matthijs Slomp
Mr. Birdie Mail
The NPPB boasts some very dedicated administrators. Mathijs Slomp is young but he is very passionate about his sport. A key member of the communications team at the WCIII, Mathijs spoke to Fippa News.
Q) How and when did you get involved in Pitch and Putt?
A dear friend of mine, Henk-Rik Koetsier, who also played for the Dutch Pitch and Putt team in EC2005, WC2006 and EC2007, had to practice during our holiday in 2005 in Catalonia. As a friend and always interested in sport I went with him to Papalus. That beautiful course where started my love for the game. That same year I went to Arnhem to watch Henk-Rik at the EC. I was so impressed by the standard of play. But because I played football, PITCH AND PUTT wasn’t more than just a nice game. But during my internship in South Africa the love for the game started again. Our home was next to a beautiful 18-hole golf course (designed by Gary Player) where we could play. I wasn’t any good, but liked it especially when I had to approach the flag. So back in Holland I started playing more in often at my home course Koekange. Here I came in contact with Pitch and Putt Support, the commercial organization of PITCH AND PUTT. At that time I studied Leisure Management and could start an internship at this company. Besides work for PITCH AND PUTT Support, I worked also for the NPPB. I created my own workplace and continued that also after my graduation. In those years I also suffered an knee injury, which prevented me playing football. That’s when I really started playing because I always want to play sport!
Q) What attracted you to it?
Like I was saying, in South Africa I played golf a few times but got to like it when the flag was in sight. Pitch and Putt is easy accessible and you don’t have to have a license or pay pricey fees. You can play with friends who have never played before and you´ll improve quickly. As a sportsman I always want to improve myself and with PITCH AND PUTT you can easily see if you did. (less putts, handicap, scores in round and tournaments).
Mathijs Slomp
Q) Do you play regularly and what prizes have you won?
A) I try to play competitions at my home course every Monday. In my first year I finished third, a good result (ranking on stableford points). During that season I also played some tournaments. I even played in the Dutch Strokeplay Championship when I had only been playing for 2 months, I finished 25th. This season I continued playing tournaments with my highlight at the B-National Strokeplay Championship. In the pouring rain I finished in second place. I’m very proud of that achievement certainly because there were players who are much better and have played for much longer. I also scored a personal record this year. Again in the pouring rain I pushed out a score of 49 with 8 birdies. With this I reached my goal for the season, to score under 50 once.
Q) For how long have you been involved with Birdie Mail?
When I began my internship in September 2006 I also got involved with the Birdie Mail. I don’t have a journalistic background and because of that it is not easy to produce a good magazine every time.
Q) Who receives it and is there a subscription fee?
BirdieMail is received by all NPPB members. They pay 25 euros per season and get the BirdieMail, get to play in tournaments and competitions and all their scores are stored in an online database. Players have their own personal code to log-on and see all details of their game and playing history.
Q) The communications at WCIII were excellent. How proud were you of your involvement?
I didn’t do much myself at the WC. But because I have access to the website I placed all scores and pictures online. Besides that I helped here and there but that was not a big deal. Many other volunteers worked hard all week and together they helped to organize a wonderful tournament.
Q) What could have been done better?
I would have liked to show live scores on internet and in the clubhouse, but unfortunately this wasn’t possible. The camerawork on the course was nice but I also liked it when this was accessible on the internet. We always try something new in Holland, we always want to improve. But sometimes it is better to focus on the important things and don’t let the new innovations lead us.
Q) Does international Pitch and Putt have a future?
Yeah, for sure. Pitch and Putt is such a great game for everyone. Everyone can play it on their own level, top sport or just for fun. But we have to keep growing, stagnation is declining as we say in Holland. We have to attract more players and organize good international tournaments. After seeing the level of Pitch and Putt at the WC and in Holland during national tournaments I’m convinced that PITCH AND PUTT is a top-sport.
Q) Who impresses you of the international players?
To be honest all the players impressed me. Not all by their play but by their kindness. All the players and officials I met where so nice and all had love for the same game. Looking at the game, the players from Ireland impressed me the most. The style of Paul O’Brien and the level of play of Ray Murphy. When I heard Ray didn’t played his best game I couldn’t imagine he could do better. Just as Rolf Kwant, Ray is capable of playing at his very best every time. They know exactly what they do and can repeat this constantly. You can win one round from them but in the end you lose because their ‘off-day’ is even better than our best day.
Q) What does NPPB need to do to grow Pitch and Putt in Holland?
The NPPB should write a good plan where the sport is leading. We have to create more sport within PITCH AND PUTT and attract more members. Commercially 20,000 people play on each course yearly but we have only 700 NPPB members. We have to make to sport more attractive and this has to start on the courses itself. We have to make people aware that Pitch and Putt is sport and not just a nice leisure activity. It’s not easy but with a good plan, people and finance, Pitch and Putt can grow big in Holland.
Q) Did you enjoy the experience in Papendal?
I really enjoyed the WC in Papendal, both the atmosphere as the game. I’ve heard people talking about a Pitch and Putt family with members from all over the world. Well, that’s true. I met players from Ireland to Australia and from Norway to Catalonia and all where nice. I also enjoyed the level of the matches. The matches of Rolf, Jan and Patrick against Catalonia I followed closely, it was superb to see what level they played that day. I will never forget Jan’s chip on the 18th in the foursomes. And after that the singles where the Dutch won easily. The atmosphere that evening was unforgettable. Maybe a nice comparison, just weeks before the WC I visited the KLM Open, the biggest golf event in Holland with Darren Clarke and Henrik Stenson, a great tournament but I’d rather watch the WC Pitch and Putt.
Q) What could EPPA and FIPPA do to better market Pitch and Putt internationally?
It’s not easy to point out one thing EPPA or FIPPA should do to improve Pitch and Putt internationally. But I think we have to work on our image. People should not see PITCH AND PUTT as little brother of golf but see it as a wonderful dynamic sport on its own. Because we are so different from golf we don’t have to be afraid of them. We could learn a lot from their organizations, how they organize tournaments and how they get golf where it is now. Maybe most important we should not be afraid to grow, maybe sometimes we are too conservative. But you can never forget why we want to grow! To show a great sport - which everyone can take part in – to the whole world!
(with John Manning)
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