FCPP Federació Catalana de Pitch and Putt

FIPPA World Strokeplay Championship

1)      a)   FIPPA has decided to organise an individual FIPPA World Strokeplay Championship of Pitch and Putt every two years.[1] The present document outlines FIPPA policy for the organisation of such an event in general and for the organisation of the inaugural event in particular.

b)  The FIPPA World Strokeplay Championship of Pitch and Putt is open to any Pitch and Putt player in the world who meets the entry requirements below and irrespective of age, sex, nationality, race and religion.

c)  FIPPA will designate an organising committee of three members, comprising at least one member from the host association and one member designated by FIPPA.

d)  FIPPA will designate a competition committee of three members, comprising at least one member from the host association and one member designated by FIPPA.

e)  FIPPA Board will oversee the business of each committee and in case of disagreement will make all final decisions.

2)         Qualifying: At least 4 players will be accepted per association, after approval by the national Federation/Association, and could include reigning Strokeplay and Matchplay champions, current leaders of any ranking or handicap system and/or the winners of a qualifying event organised for selection purposes.   PPUI, FCPP and NPPB will be offered a minimum of 6 places (it is strongly recommended that some of these must be ladies).

The winners of all major international events of the preceding year will qualify automatically. Specifically for the 2009 championship, qualifying places will be available to:

Catalan Open 2008: Winner, Runner-up, Ladies Winner

French Open 2008: Winner, Runner-up, Ladies Winner

Swiss Senior Open 2008: Winner

San Marino Open 2008: Winner

Italian Open 2008: Winner, Runner-up, Ladies Winner

Australian Open: Winner.

Wild cards will be made available to players not qualifying via the foregoing criteria but who have shown outstanding merit in international Pitch & Putt in the preceding 3 years. In all events, the field will be limited to 72 players.

3)         Format: 72 holes Strokeplay, over 2 days with two rounds each day.

4)         FIPPA will not be responsible for the travelling or accommodation expenses of any individual player.  Organisers will make every effort to ensure that the overall package cost is contained at a reasonable level. Official accreditation will be made available to all qualifiers to enable them to seek financial aid to offset expenses (subject to FIPPA amateur status rules and the approval of the player’s home association.

5)         Inaugural event

            a)         FIPPA has entrusted the organisation of the event to AFPP. It will be held on the international Pitch and Putt course of "Les Goélands" in La Grande Motte, on Saturday and Sunday, 25 & 26 April 2009.

b)   The performances listed above in 2008 International Opens will qualify, as will the top 3 players in the 36 hole strokeplay qualifier for WCIII in Papendal.  FIPPA and AFPP will each dispose of wild cards, to be awarded at their discretion to players who have shown outstanding merit in international Pitch & Putt in recent years.  Such wild card nominations will be communicated by FIPPA/AFPP to the relevant home associations by 15 December 2008.  Home associations must communicate with the players concerned and confirm participation by 15 January 2009.

c) All qualifiers will have expressed their intention to take part before the home nation submits the applications to the organisers. These applications should include a brief profile of each player, outlining their experience in national and/or international Pitch and Putt.  Such applications must be submitted by 30 November 2008. 

e) The course is to be prepared in every detail to be exemplary for hosting such an event, with small greens and tee-boxes that can cater for all types of tee.

e) AFPP will ensure the implication of local authorities to ensure smooth logistics and good media attention.

f) Players will pay an entry fee.

g) AFPP will provide prizes and trophies worthy of such an event.  In addition to the World championship awards, classification prizes will be presented to the leading ladies and juniors (if relevant).  Juniors will be players who have not yet attained their sixteenth birthday

h) On Friday, 24 April a demonstration event, featuring a selection of international P&P players will be organised for promotional purposes.

i) AFPP will combine this event with the celebration of the 10^th anniversary of Pitch & Putt in France.

N.B. In order to ensure a field worthy of a global event of this nature, the organising and competition committees will select before 31 January 2009, the final list from the qualifiers and the "waiting lists" of those associations (other than PPUI, FCPP and NPPB) wishing to propose more than 4 players.