FIPPA Newsletter - October 2006.
Welcome to this edition of the FIPPA Newsletter.
Erik Jorritsma, Holland, player, course builder and administrator.
FIPPA.NET recently interviewed Dutch Pitch and Putt businessman, player and administrator and EPPA Vice President, Erik Jorritsma.
How did your remarkable career in Pitch and Putt begin, Erik?
"In 1994 I went to England to find out if the relationship my brother had
begun with an English girl was serious enough for me to agree on. The fact
he temporarily lived in one house with his parents in law proved the
relationship would sustain. They lived in Preston and my brother took me and
my girlfriend Pietrix to Lytham St. Anne's near Blackpool to play a round of
Pitch & Putt. We had great fun, I remember I played a round of 95 and I
pitched high in the air by falling backwards of the tee during my swing! I
was amazed I could play the game I had watched on TV several times; to me it
was a 100% golf experience. And only 23 strokes over par 72 in my first
round of 18 holes, I was sure of my talent... That evening in the house of
my brother's new parents Pietrix and I didn't stop talking about this game
and the fact we had never seen this in Holland. It would be a pity not being
able to play this again and although 4 pairs of eyes stared at us as if we
were slowly going mental; that is when our little page in Pitch & Putt history
started."
And the highlight of your playing career?
"I should mention my only win ever in a tournament, the first Italian Open in
Rome. But I think of a more personal highlight, I claim to be the first one
in Holland who played under par. It was a round of 51 and for that time it
was the perfect round. I will never forget the feeling, so certain of my
grip, swing, chips and putts. Later I played better scores but I never felt
more in control. Sad isn't it..."
Not at all - I think we all understand that feeling!
Erik, you have created a significant Pitch and Putt business presence in
The Netherlands.
What are your business aims for the future?
"Right now there are 13 courses in our country. There is a lot more interest,
but we never chose quick growth. Slow but solid is what we do. We
started more or less in the North of our country, we expanded to the East,
and now we work mostly on projects in the South and West. Our first priority
is having courses nationwide. I realize it must sound funny for some of you
who live in a country with cities as big as our whole country!"
Do you aspire to take your successful Pitch and Putt business
interests to other countries?
"Well, yes. But as I replied in the previous question; we go for solid growth
and the first priority is nationwide in our own country. Of course it would
be possible and logical to see what we can do abroad after we achieved the
first goal. If you had asked me back in 1998 when we started our first
course, I probably would have said YES in capitals. But now I know what it
needs to keep your head above water to start with and also in my life the
cliché happened: family, friends and good health are most important. For
example; in the last few years pitch&putt friends like Harm Luning and
Willie Parker passed away. For a big part I was doing it for those people,
working hard and built more and more courses to give people what I think is
the best in life: a round of Pitch & Putt. But I realize I can only play a
modest part in this if I combine it with love and time for my own family
which they deserve and I need as well. (Did I tell you about my lovely and
talented children?)"
Erik, the Netherlands has become one of the powers in this sport.
Where do you see Pitch and Putt in the Netherlands in 5 years time?
"Internationally that all depends on the level in other countries. Here the
players become better and better rapidly. But other countries might have the
same, so we could end up 4th in a WC again but with a higher level overall.
Nationally I expect a growth in members. That is more important than
anything else. The sport - which we initially started as an idealistic
surplus to the company- is having a solid base as well. There is an online
handicap- and ranking- system, competitions are well organized and
frequently held. The only thing is - only a few hundred players are members.
Yet. The association is ready to welcome thousands in the near future. In
the beginning I was course-owner, coach and president of the NPPB. After a
while members asked if they could run the association. But we all agreed
after trying that this was not the best way either. This year players and
course owners decided to work together to have the best of both worlds. You
need each other to make it a success. Players are very interested in playing
and know most about the game; course-owners are very interested in more
members and know most about growing. I have great confidence they all
succeed in this. (They, because I am only involved on the background as an
advisor, it will be their success)"
There have been many changes in Pitch and Putt over the past 10
years, especially with the introduction of the EPPA/ FIPPA standards.
How do you view those changes?
"Positive. From a personal point of view I like history/tradition and keeping
the original (Irish) sport alive, from a business point of view I think you
should never shut your eyes for development. I think it was the President of
EGA (European Golf Association) who said to John Hudson (President of EPPA
at the time) we should concentrate on running proper competitions instead
of wasting to much time on compromise rules. Set them as we did, grow and
if there are members who in the successful end miss the original Irish
touch; they are free to suggest an extra competition with two clubs with a
maximum of 70 metres per hole. "
Erik, the Netherlands was a founding member of FIPPA earlier this year. What
are your hopes for FIPPA and the growth of the sport over the next decade?
"A decade is a long time, we started in 1998, only 8 years ago and as you
noticed I even think we grew slowly. Let this be an inspiration for new
countries. But in a lot of countries pitch&putt already exists, so for those
it should be easier to develop. To me starting FIPPA is a fresh start in
many ways. The EPPA did the pioneering; FIPPA can make a flying start (Dutch
expression). There is experience in running competitions, the first sponsors
are found and you started an excellent website, the home of FIPPA. I hope
the difficulty of tournaments 'overseas' with higher costs for those who
compete will end up retaining the same atmosphere pitch&putt is famous for. "
Ok, you will have seen many players over the years. Who is the best Pitch & Putt player you have seen?
"I have seen many players and some of them were at their best level right
that moment which made me think he or she was the best I ever saw. I name a
few: John John Walsh (county championship in Cork), late Peggy Campbell
(demo WC in Monte Carlo), Mark Millar (EC Lloret de Mar), Ray Murphy
(often), Laura Tessera (first Italian Open 1999), Antonio Trasforini (first
French Open match play), Marc Lloret (EC Papalus), David Sole (WC Teia 2006),
Robert Penzes (French Open Montpellier), Jean-Patrick Lorgeu (EC 2001) and
from Holland Rolf, Patrick or our new young national record holder over 54
holes with -28; Henk Rik Koetsier. All very impressive players and in
potential the best player. And to conclude; that's what makes this sport so
special, we are all in potential the best. Maybe we shoot the impossible 36
one day? If we do it on the same day Eero, we would be known as the best
players in the world. People would pay us to play against each other. Sorry,
that's my wild imagination..."
(ed - me, 36 - I don't think so! !)
What is your favourite course to play on, Erik?
"Pfff, difficult to answer. I co-designed some courses, played a lot abroad,
but what was my favourite? My first round is always the best on a new
course, after that I start thinking which is bad for my game... So courses I
played ones I like most! Maybe the favourite course I played was a 9 holes
course near Rome, Italy. It was after the Italian Open at the Real Golf club
in Rome, I was invited with Stephen O'Leary, the young Irish winner that year.
A few competitors had their home course about 45 minutes drive from Rome. I
can't remember the name of the course I am sorry to say. (Stephen, can you
help me out here?) But the greens were exceptional and the atmosphere the
best in the world. It looked like a back garden with in the corner
wine-rakes. In between the rakes were 3 of the 9 tees. There were trees,
bunkers, water, everything on just a few yards. It was certainly not the
best lay out or design, but the BBQ under the trees made it the best
pitch&putt experience ever."
Thank you for your time Erik.
"My pleasure!"
(with Eero Tarik)
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