FIPPA Newsletter - October 2006.
Welcome to this edition of the FIPPA Newsletter.
John Hudson - FIPPA Vice President.
Now one of our most experienced Pitch and Putt administrators, France’s John Hudson was President of EPPA from 2004 to 2006. He enjoyed the ride. This is how he reviewed his reign for fippa.net. “EPPA continued to grow; virtually all of our competitions went off to everyone’s satisfaction; I had the privilege of working with a group of charming, motivated and competent colleagues; I visited new places and made new friends; the foundations for FIPPA were laid. Our visit to St Andrews was memorable.”
Not much disappointed him during that timespan. “Our overtures to Russia, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, etc., achieved very little. I should perhaps have done more to attract new members, but our resources are so limited that we cannot afford to over-reach ourselves. With patience and perseverance, we shall continue to grow, as the prospective candidatures from Canada, Poland and others clearly show.”
The progress of Pitch and Putt in France has been slow but steady. “With patience and perseverance, we shall continue to grow! We are the only country where the game is developing along two separate avenues: AFPP and FFGolf. If managed intelligently and with mutual respect this development should be beneficial to both parties. Persons and personalities will probably prove important here but our relations are now on a healthy footing and I am confident that we can continue to grow together, even if our aims diverge in many respects.”
AFPP’s supremo outlines some of the organisation’s pressing priorities for 2006/07. “2006 has been the best year ever for AFPP in most areas and the signs are that 2007 will be even better. We are now playing on over 20 courses throughout France and many more are being built, extended or planned. This takes time, but it is obviously the most crucial element if the game is to develop durably. More and more “local circuits” are being set up and this trend will surely continue. Again, given the size of France, this aspect is fundamental.”
Internationally the signs are good too. “We have done reasonably well and we hope to make a good showing at the Tri-Nations event in Catalonia. The “Challenge International” in La Grande Motte gains in popularity each year and we have received many gratifying compliments from this year’s participants. The “Coupe AFPP”, our national equivalent of the Euro Team Championships, has now reached full capacity and next year we shall need to introduce a format with a premier and a second division to cater for the growing numbers.”
There is no specific formula for AFPP to generate more members. “Ironically, we have never really sought to grow our membership; we just assumed that it would develop automatically. Now that we know that we shall have to grow and exist separately from FFGolf this must be our priority in the coming months. The means are self-evident: an attractive programme and good communication. Watch this space!”
AFPP's (and John Hudson’s) philosophy on international development is clear. “The international scene is our “raison d’être”, so we are 100% in favour and keen to participate in whatever ways we can. The clever use of an Internet element, introduced by Eero Tarik, has been rapidly successful and is a pointer to the direction we should be taking on the international scene - a few top level ‘physical’ encounters with high media coverage and a lot of ‘virtual’ competitions to make our presence permanently felt throughout the world. FIP&P’s overtures to their Olympic Committee, if crowned with success could also provide a stimulus on the international scene, especially if other countries were to follow their example. Golf has never managed to emerge on the Olympic scene, but our version would stand a much better chance. FIPPA: “We are Pitch & Putt”!”
Aware that that many feel France should build actual Pitch and Putt courses rather than adapting existing longer courses, John is proud to provide a progress report. “This is now happening. We shall also continue to adapt existing courses, as the demand is growing so fast that people do not want to wait for new courses to be built. Owners of existing short courses also see this as an interesting complement to their normal activity.”
AFPP's relationship with the French Golf Federation is uneasy but cordial. “There is now a gentlemen’s agreement to work separately but constructively. They consider Pitch & Putt to be a useful introduction to golf, which is possibly true, but is obviously not one of our objectives. We are represented on their Pitch & Putt Commission and we keep them informed of our activities.”
The French experience renders John well-placed to evaluate how relationships between Pitch and Putt and golf will evolve in countries developing Pitch and Putt and seeking to join EPPA and/or FIPPA. “EPPA, and then FIPPA, decided from the outset that membership excluded golf federations and PGA’s, in order to preserve the identity and separateness of the shorter code. By asserting our independence and by communicating unequivocally, this situation should not pose a real problem for newcomers. This does mean however that our own rulebook is now a major imperative. When FFGolf claim that Pitch & Putt is golf, we have to agree that we use golf clubs and golf balls on courses and greens resembling those of the longer game. However, golf is certainly not Pitch & Putt and we must be in a position to demonstrate that.”
John has played Rugby Union and Rugby League to a high level. Is there any way to the compare competitive appeal and intensity of rugby with Pitch and Putt? “I wouldn’t even try! Pitch & Putt has a much wider appeal than rugby and can be played at any age. To be played at a reasonable level, both sports require a lot of skill, training and practice, but I think the comparisons stop there.”
We invited John to tell us about his portfolio of responsibilities as FIPPA Board Member and how he is tackling these? “Competitions and a handicap system. They are fundamental to the successful development of FIPPA and I shall take these responsibilities seriously. I also have a moral debt to Willie Parker in this area and he certainly won’t let me fall short. Mervyn Cooney also asked me privately to stand in for him whenever his professional commitments prevented him from travelling to represent FIPPA. I shall do this in Rome during the Seniors Open and am prepared to do so again in the future. Our human resources are such that we must all strive to pull together and give each other a hand whenever and wherever necessary.”
Lack of encouragement from FFGolf scuppered France's bid to be host nation for the III World Cup in 2008. This disappointed John but overall, he is upbeat. “Seeking financial aid from sponsors and the media without at least their moral support would have been an uphill task. Chile seems to have all the necessary backing for this major undertaking and it is in FIPPA’s interests to organize a major event outside Europe.”
John candidly summed-up his own game. “Terrible; my future is definitely behind me. Two days ago, I played in the same competition as my wife and two grandsons, virtual beginners . . . . and I finished third! My chipping and putting are pitiful and reflect the time I spend practising these essential skills. I fear no-one, (except my youngest grand-daughter), at Sudoku so I think my future lies there!”
John’s wife Michelle is obviously a great support and an avid Pitch and Putt player herself. John sum’s up her involvement in Pitch and Putt thus. “Total and totally appreciated; we’ve been working and playing together for over 45 years now and it’s still as enjoyable as in 1960, when she was looking for someone to teach her how to play . . . bridge!”
To the FIPPA Secretary General goes the credit for getting John Hudson involved in Pitch and Putt. “José Maria de Anzizu happened to visit the compact golf course of which I was President and he spoke to me of the amazing development of this sport in Catalonia. One of our daughters lives near Barcelona, so it was easy for us to visit Solius, St Cebrià and so on and to see what was happening there. We decided to take a team to Chelmsford for the first European championship in 1999 and we all took to this wonderful game immediately. In the first match I played, I had the pleasure and honour of losing to Pilar Montero which was a great start to my career!”
The French and John Hudson are justifiably proud of the success of the French Open. “Christian Auzière has devoted a lot of time and energy to developing the event and each year he comes up with interesting innovations, which ensure the popularity of this competition. We enjoy organizing it, the players enjoy coming and the club and the sponsors want to continue, too, so I can only see it getting bigger and better.”
As a member of the French team in 1999, John Hudson’s is optimistic about France's chances in Euro '07 at Chia. “We hope there will be as many as 12 teams next year and France will be disappointed if they don’t get back among the medals. We have plans to introduce a squad training system which ought to help and we have a special advisor on head-butting techniques.”
John is British born. We were keen to hear his perspective on Pitch and Putt in Britain and what can to be done develop there. “The game actually started there but was never considered as a competitive sport, more as a leisure activity and a community amenity. This explains its generally negative image; a Pitch & Putt course is a good place to walk the dog or to send the wife and kids while Dad hacks his way round the neighbouring golf course. However, the potential is enormous and the facilities are there; sooner or later, the Jacksons, Powells, Deebles, Lovells, et al are going to get the message across and the sport could explode.”
John’s view of fippa.net? “Eero has done a fantastic job in a very short time. This is FIPPA’s shop window and we must give it all the attention it deserves.”
(by John Manning)
|
