"Pitch & Putt"
There are many “short golf courses” all over the world, but Pitch & Putt as an organised sport had only developed in Ireland since the 1940s. A few years later the Irish constituted their own federation and established the regulations of the new sport. Following the Irish example, other countries had been introducing Pitch & Putt in their territories and developed its own associations.
In Catalonia, Pitch & Putt was introduced by an Irishman, Martin Whitelaw, at the end of the 1980s. Martin built the Solius course in the Costa Brava and –together with other five courses- promoted as well the constitution of the Catalan Pitch and Putt Association (ACPP) in 1994. This association started coordinating different competitions as well as a handicap system to equalise the results of players of different levels. The development of Pitch & Putt in Catalonia has been spectacular and has had, as a consequence the constitution and recognition of the Catalan Federation (FCPP) of this sport. The FCPP has 82 clubs and 16.000 licensed players. 1,362 tournaments were played in 2008.
At the international level, there are two Pitch & Putt organisations: the European Pitch & Putt Association (EPPA) and the Federation of International Pitch & Putt Associations (FIPPA). FIPPA members are associations or federations of Ireland, Great Britain, France, Italy, Holland, Norway, Switzerland, South Australia, Chile and –as associates- San Marino and Danemark.
The Catalan selection has occupied the second place in two European Championships and has been the winner of the two World Cups of Pitch & Putt that have taken place.
Come to find out Pitch & Putt to “Portal del Roc” !!!
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