Jose Maria de Anzizu - Reflections on the inaugural Catalan Open at Teia - 10 years on
Josep Maria de Anzizu, Catalonia
It's been 10 years since the original Catalan Open (hosted at Teia) and we wondered if co owner Josep Maria de Anzizu (former FIPPA President) be interested in sharing his reflections on the Teia operation for the FIPPA web.
How did the hosting of the original Open assist in the promotion of the course?
JMA: The idea to build a Pitch and Putt course at Teia started in the mid nineties, when the owners of St. Cebria won a contest organised by the Teia tennis club that had some land available. A lot of administrative problems delayed the construction and the course was only finished at the beginning of 2004. The idea of organising an international event was therefore seen as a good way to promote a rather expensive (near EUR1.5 m) investment.
Did the hosting contribute positively in the manner you anticipated or was the outcome different to expectations?
JMA: Yes, the outcome was very positive both at the international and at the local level. The course was seen as high quality, rather difficult one, with holes adapted to both the Catalan and the EPPA distances. We had more inscriptions than expected and, once again, the Irish players showed their superiority.
How successful has the Teia enterprise been?
JMA: Teia was one of what we could call the "second wave" Catalan Pitch and Putt courses, which means that other nearby installations already had their customers, so in spite of being located in the metropolitan Barcelona area, the beginning was good but slower than we thought. It was duringthe second year (2006) that the number of greenfees started to be important and cover our expectations. At least in comparison to other Catalan courses and because of the quality of the installation Teia has been doing reasonably well during the crisis that started in 2007-2008.
What other major events has Teia hosted and how have they contributed to the promotion of the course? (e.g. World Cup 2006)
JMA: Teia has organised some of the most important Catalan tournaments over the last ten years and its weekly events (Thursdays morning in winter and Tuesday afternoon with an evening meal in summer) attract a good number of players. But indeed the organisation of the World Cup in 2006 has been the major event so far. It demanded a very important organisation effort with the help of the secretariat of the Catalan federation and a group of local players that helped the management.
How has the course evolved and changed?
JMA: At the beginning we realised that some of the greens were too difficult (slope) and made some amendments in this respect. We also added some protections to make the course safer for the players.
How have the personnel involved evolved
JMA: Jordi Torrent Jun. has been the manager from the outset and there have been very few changes concerning the rest of the personnel (2 persons at reception and 2 in the maintenance). The cafeteria is now managed by ourselves to make sure that we provide the best possible service to the clients. Our new partner, Dolors Palahi, who promoted the Pitch and Putt ladies group in Catalonia and is now the President of the ACPP, is the person responsible for the cafeteria services.
Has your own involvement in the Teia project changed?
JMA:I was very much involved in the St. Cebria and Teia operations until I became President of the FCPP. At the moment and spite of my other activities I am in contact with my partners and play regularly in both courses.
What is the motivation for hosting the 2014 Open (nostalgia, symmetry, other reasons)?
JMA: The FCPP opened the possibility of any 18 holes Catalan course to apply to host 2014 Open and we thought that, ten years after organising the first one, it could be interesting for us to send our bid and we won the contest. We hope not to lose money and get, as in 2004, a good promotion for our installation.
How is the Relationship between Teia and the local community?
JMA: In spite of the number of licenses (near 14.000 at the moment) and occasional practitioners, Pitch and Putt is a very new sport in Catalonia and, generally speaking, not so many residents in small villages like St. Cebria or Teia are regular pitch and putt players. As other sports (football, basketball, handball, tennis, hockey etc) have a longer tradition in the area. This is something we should work on.
Do you play nowadays, will you play in the Open, how do Sant Cebria and Teia compare?
JMA: I continue to play Pitch and Putt regularly but participate in less tournaments than years ago and my handicap shows it... From a regular 0-2 handicap I am now at 4. But I continue to enjoy the game. St. Cebria is very close to our home and is a very convenient course for seniors...
How do you see the situation of Pitch and Putt in Catalonia nowadays?
JMA: Since 2007-2008, we are in the middle of a deep economic crisis that has influenced Pitch and Putt and other sports in many respects: less players, less income for the courses, less money from the government to support the sport. A few of our courses had to close down and a number of others are in difficulty. In spite of this and contrary to the situation in other minority sports, we continue being able to survive and wait for the eventual economic recovery. Good administration and the continuous support of thousands of players that have Pitch and Putt as their sport are the keys for this reality which, according to our authorities, is an example for other sport activities.
