Here is a snapshot of some of the highlights…

The gala dinner last night was exceptional one of the best meals most of us had ever eaten and the presentation of the teams was impressive and often moving. The dinner was presided by the regional sports secretary, a former lady world long jump champion and record holder of Cuban origin.

The annual general meeting of IPPA went well and we now have an ambitious strategic development plans which augers well for the future.

We have high hopes of attracting half a dozen supporting members in the coming weeks which will swell our ranks significantly, especially as many of these should qualify for full membership relatively quickly.

We are now securing our sound foundations as a bonafide, fully legally registered international sporting organisation with the recognition of major international bodies and IPPA will be having meetings next week with the R&A.

We are preparing a handicap management system which should prove a useful tool for newcomers.

The rich fixture list for 2010 has now been finalised and looks attractive. It includes 5 National Opens, a “commemoraive” quadrangular match, (France, Italy, Portugal and Spain) and a splendid conclusion with the Iberic Open in Portugal in November.

For 2011, we hope to include an official World Team Championship and a World Seniors Individual Championship.

Our annual report 2009 is now available and it’s an attractive document, clearly stating who and what we are.

IW: Was this competition a success? Does it deserve the title “Italian Open”?

IP: Yes, it was; yes, it does. From an organisational point of view, the team at Virginia Pitch and Putt club was well prepared and went to great lengths to ensure its success. From 6 in the morning till 11 at night, the ground staff, the office staff, the people in the kitchen and in the restaurant and all the voluntary helpers were available, helpful and always smiling. In the three days I was there, I never heard a cross word or a complaint of any kind.

IW: What about the standard of play?

IP: The scores may not seem outstanding but it is a demanding course which can soon turn nasty. Andrès Pastor’s opening 48 reflects a high degree of mastery and control. Under the pressure of the final round, he could only manage a 57 and just 3 players got round in par. It was good to have players from five different countries

IW: Is the course worthy of such an event?

IP: Being a 9 hole course makes it very difficult to run such an event. In every other respect, the course is a tip-top Pitch and Putt lay-out; it was beautifully prepared; and the two tee-boxes at least give the impression that you are playing 18 different holes. It poured with rain for 6 hours between midnight and 6 a.m. on Saturday morning and I arrived at 7 expecting to live another day like the one at La Grande Motte, which washed out a round of the World Championship. But no, we were able to tee off on time with just a few patches of occasional water, which dried out quickly.

IW: So the weather was not good?

IP, No, it was perfect; warm but not too sunny and with very little wind. Players and spectators had a great time.

IW: The high spots?

IP: Enrico’s sand save on the play-off hole which forced Andrès to sink a very tricky putt.
The look on Mark Fromings’ face when he received an autographed premier league football as best-placed junior. He also recorded the best score in Round 3.
Kissing a pretty blonde when asked to present the lady’s prize to Virginia of Virginia.
The gala dinner – Italian cuisine at its best + a wonderful atmosphere.
Excellent and convenient accommodation at a reasonable price. Etc, etc., etc. .

IW: The black spots?

IP: None at all. With events of this quality, IPPA has a bright future.

IW: What about IPPA’s future?

IP: Last week, we received official confirmation of our registration as an international sporting organisation. We can now start really making our presence felt in the world, especially in the golfing world. We have a meeting in Madrid in November to put the final touches to our strategic plan and we shall be making some important announcements. Watch this space!

From left to right; Alvaro Garnica Sainz de los Terreros RFEG, FernandoFragoso FPG, Mrs Hudson, John Hudson AFPP, Sören Rasmussen DPPU, Robert Uggla, RFEG, Jose Antonio Martinez las Heras RFEG, Carlo Farioli FIP&P (inset Elia Casali, San Marino)

The first meeting of the IPPA Executive was held at the beautiful Le Robinie course in northern Italy over the weekend of the 16th and17th of May.

Some of the topics covered included the creation of various Committees to assist the Executive in their work and the appointment of a Secretary General to co-ordinate the day to day operations of the new organisation.

IPPA signed off on the Declaration of Panathlon International on Ethics in Youth Sport.

The Executive also heard updates of competition proposals for the IPPA international event calendar and viewed the new IPPA website.

And this was a great time for a photo opportunity with most of the Executive at the meeting.

For the next 50 years or so, the sport remained typically Irish until, towards the end of the century, other countries in Europe started showing an interest and a desire for international competition at the highest level developed.

The most recent step along this path was made in April 2009, when two golf federations joined forces with four Pitch and Putt federations to form IPPA – the International Pitch and Putt Association. IPPA’s main objective is to provide an international structure to encourage the promotion of Pitch and Putt through the organisation of high quality competitions. What IPPA hopes to contribute are competitions that will get bigger and better; and in addition, thanks to the implication of golfing bodies world-wide, receive better media coverage and accordingly attract a much wider audience than in the past.

The synergy developed by active collaboration between golf and pitch and putt organisations will be of benefit to both codes and will add a dimension of openness and inclusiveness which ha been lacking in the past. The spirit of cooperation and the desire to “federate’ is symbolised in the logos used by the member associations, all derived from the same IPPA logo. One ambition is that the basic design of this logo will be used universally on road maps and as a road sign to inform drivers that they are in the vicinity of a Pitch and Putt course.

Pitch and Putt is a fine sport and it generates a warm “family” atmosphere – ask any of the regular players. IPPA’s job will be to make more people in more countries aware of just how attractive this sport can be. We have started with six founding members: Denmark, France, Italy, Portugal, San Marino and Spain, but we hope to have at least ten active members by the end of next year. Our ultimate ambition is to join GAISF and other major international organisations for sports federations.

We are all convinced that our sport has the potential to attain this goal relatively quickly. Italy’s track record alone is an indication of just how much can be done when the motivation is there. Just how quickly IPPA develops will depend not only on our potential but on our collective motivation.

Watch this space!

P&P aficionado