Graham Cunningham - Basque association reborn
Changes at Urduña course in the Basque region and a shift in emphasis in the ranks of Euskadiko Pitch & Putt Elkartea (EPPE) has led to the establishment of a new Pitch and Putt association - Euskadiko Pitch & Putt Federazio Elkartea (EPPFE). Basque international player, Graham Cunningham, President of the new entity, fills in some of the background.
fippa.org (Q.): Why was it necessary to form a new Basque association?
Graham Cunningham (GC): Towards the end of last year, the previous association, EPPE, informed the Basque players that they were dissolving the association. The players were clear that they wanted to continue playing as part of the FIPPA family, compete in international competition and with the FIPPA Handicap System. The solution was for us to form our own newassociation.
Q. At the moment, there is just one course – Urduña? Are there plans for more courses?
GC. In the longer term we would hope to add more courses. However, at the moment, we are concentrating on ensuring the stability of Urduña and increasing the number of players licenced with the association.
Q. What are the principal obstacles to build or affiliate more courses?
GC. The other existing Pitch and Putt courses in the Basque Country all belong to the Royal Spanish Golf Federation. I am planning on visiting them to ask them what obstacles they have to affiliation with us. As far as building new courses goes, we do not have funding. Perhaps, with increasedpositive publicity such as coverage of the Basque Open and with better relations with the Basque Government, we may be able to find some funding.
Q. What is the local Basque government view of Pitch and Putt?
GC. The previous association had found the Basque Government to be against the recognition of Pitch and Putt as distinct from golf. More positively, when we were making our
application to be registered as an association, they informed us that they were more open to including Pitch and Putt on their list of recognised sports. We will be approaching the
Basque Government to see what support they may give us.
Q. How many people play Pitch and Putt in the Basque country?
GC. Last year we had just over 60 participants in tournaments at Urduña and many others who came just to play. We also calculate that there are approximately 100 who play in tournaments in the “golf” Pitch and Putt courses. We hope to attract many of those players to our association.
Q. You have regularly represented Basque teams in the past. Will we see Basque teams in future playings of the Five Nations, European Team championship and World Cup?
GC.Yes. The asssociation was formed with this in mind.
Q. Basque Opens were held in 2023 and 2024. Do you hope to host Basque Opens in the future?
GC. We do. In fact, we are hosting one this year, from 29th to 31st May.
Q. What are your personal playing ambitions?
GC. I would love to regularly shoot below par and, perhaps more realistically, I hope to represent Euskadi in more international tournaments.
