Ueli Lamm - a view from an eclectic Swiss sporting enthusiast
Ueli Lamm is a close ally of Swiss Pitch and Putt supremo Brigitte Albisetti and is a devotee of international Pitch and Putt competition. But he is a former Swiss golf international and has a diverse range of sporting interests. Ueli gave this wide ranging interview to fippa.org.
Q. What have been your most memorable moments in international Pitch and Putt competition?
Ueli Lamm: For sure the World Cup 2012 at Royal Meath, Ireland when Switzerland took 6th place and I had three holes in one in the matchplays. Another good moment was at the Dutch Open 2012 when I finished 3rd Senior and had five birdies in a row in the last round.
Q. You achieved a 100% record in your individual matches when you represented Switzerland at the II World Cup in 2006. What are Switzerland’s prospects for the 2016 World Cup in Andorra?
UL: I hope that we can put a young strong team in for the WC 2016 in Andorra. In the past Switzerland had often to fight for the last places in international team events.
Q. Do you hope to make the Swiss team for that event?
UL: Next year my age will be near 70 and I feel that younger players should make the team.
Q. Tell us about hickory golf?
UL: I started playing golf in 1960 at the age of 12. Five years ago I participated in our Golf Club at the Swiss Hickory Championship. Since then I love to play hickory. It became a passion for me. It is really a great challenge to go round with only six or seven wooden shafted, 100 year old clubs, carrying them in a small canvas bag. You need much inspiration and feeling for half shots into the green. You have to think how you play your bump and run shot with a mashie instead of modern clubs where you have a club for every distance. There is no pressure to make a perfect shot every time. You play shorter tee markers to replicate the length of the courses from the years 1900 to 1930. It is far away from the high tech golf with Bubba's pink 300 yard plus driver and remote controlled caddy carts. It is pure, true golf - how it was 90 to 100 years ago. As Walter Hagen said: "You're only here for a short visit. Don't hurry, don't worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way. Enjoy the walk!"
Q. Where do you source the old clubs?
UL: Some of them I found in Scotland and in the US. When you take part in international hickory events there are always players trading clubs. You can also find replica hickory clubs in USA, Louisville Golf, Kentucky or by Tad Moore, Selma.
Q. What equipment brands do you use when playing Pitch and Putt? Pitching clubs? Putter? Ball?
UL: At the moment I am playing with a 52 and 56 wedge from Callaway, my 90 year old hickory blade putter - and Wilson Staff DX2 soft Balls.
Q. How does your international Pitch and Putt experience compare with your international golf experience?
UL: Pitch and Putt international competitions are more fun and you have to carry much less equipment!
Q. You have been an enthusiastic supporter of international open events. Do you plan to play in international opens in 2016?
UL: I hope that I can play in one or two international events in 2016. When you get older, travelling becomes not so easy.
Q. What could be done by FIPPA or the hosting organisations to improve the international open experience?
UL: I think how easily you can reach the venue and the date on the schedule of the year are always important.
Q. Congratulations on your recent win in the Swiss championship. How proud are you of this and your other win in that event back in 2010?
UL: Sure I am proud. But this year I was very lucky with the Matchplay draw.
Q. You were also Swiss Senior champion in 2014. How important is the senior (over 55 sector) to Pitch and Putt?
UL: At the moment there are not so many players here in Switzerland in the senior section. Maybe it will became more important in the future
Q. What does the future hold for Pitch and Putt in Switzerland?
UL: Pitch and Putt grows very slowly in Switzerland. We need to have more courses near the cities where everyone can play Pitch and Putt. The existing courses are spread far away across Switzerland and this makes it difficult to organise more competitions during the year. And all these courses are only 9 holes (just one course in Verbier has 18 holes) courses. Nine holers are not as exciting as 18 hole courses.
Q. Are you confident about the future of international Pitch and Putt generally?
UL: Yes, I am very confident. I think many golfers have don't find it fun to play a whole round of golf and spend 5 to 6 hours on a golf course. I think Pitch and Putt is a great oppurtunity for them. New Players will come when possibilities near cities can be offered.?
