SM. Sean Minogue is one of the longest serving and most diligent administrators in the sport of Pitch and Putt. He is also a player that is blessed with some considerable ability. Justifiably recently recognised (see citation attached) for his outstanding voluntary service by the Federation of Irish Sport, the genial Tipperary man reflected with fippa.org on the latter award on the tricennial anniversary of his trip to Australia, with the intrepid Irish international side of 1996.

 

fippa.org (Q.): Congratulations on your Volunteer in sport award. Describe the process. Who applied on your behalf? 

Sean Minogue (SM.) My son John nominated me.  I think he was looking at the amount of €200 that goes to the club of the winner! The nomination process is open to anybody who wishes to nominate a person and then a judging panel from the Federation of Irish Sport goes through the nominations from various sports and selects the winner in each county. 

 

SM. The main role of the Hon Auditor is to ensure that the accounts presented to the members at  national convention are correct. It involves meetings with the paid Auditor and the President, Treasurer and in latter years the CEO. In the last 2 years it has also involved meetings of the (Finance Audit and Risk (FARC) sub-committee at either the Pitch and Putt Ireland office in Dublin or in Naas. It also involves phone calls and emails re the accounts and being available to discuss the accounts and to try and assist in looking after the finances of the Pitch and Putt Ireland. I have been lucky enough to work with five different Presidents, each of whom have shown their dedication to Pitch and Putt Ireland and trying to ensure the body is on a good financial footing. I have to praise also all the work carried out by the Treasurer of the past 22 years (Breda Brophy) who has put in countless hours on the accounts and in reality has been an unpaid worker for Pitch and Putt Ireland over this time.

It is a role that I enjoy. I have had great interaction with many people over the years. It gives a great insight in to the vast amount of time unpaid officials actually put in to the running of Pitch and Putt.

 

Q. You retain a phenomenal enthusiasm for Pitch and Putt. What is its main appeal?

SM. The main appeal that I can see about Pitch and Putt is that it can be played by all ages. To me there are two different types of players. There is the competitive player of which thankfully in Ireland we have many in both in Gents and Ladies. There are also  competitive juvenile competitions although I think we could improve this area. There is a second type of player then in what I describe as a social player. There are players that just want to go and play 18 holes whether it be with their family or friends. Sometimes it might be an Active retirement group or a few Ladies (or Gents) just taking an hour in the morning to meet and enjoy a game. The other big advantage that Pitch and Putt has is that anyone can play a game in an hour after work during the summer evenings. To play golf takes 4 to 5 hours, but Pitch and Putt is much quicker to play so it is much more family friendly.

 

SM.  I think somebody like Tadhg Harrington would be much better qualified to answer this but yes they do as in Pitch and Putt, if you watch any of the top players, you will see their strike is upwards where as in golf you are trying to get the ball to go further. I firmly believe though that playing Pitch and Putt would assist any golfer with their short game and it is interesting to know that Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington and Graham McDowell all played Pitch and Putt in their youth.

 

SM.  The main memory is of the three different course in Melbourne, Wagga Wagga and Canberra. I was surprised with the standard of facilities in Wagga Wagga in particular which had a head professional and 17 practice bays which were floodlit and could be used at night.  Other memories are the eight hour trip from Melbourne to Wagga Wagga with the great Sean Breen as driver and Derek Courtney as chief entertainer. Of course the highlight was the international and the playing of the Irish national anthem at the opening ceremony. The friendship of all the people we met. Seeing Derry McCarthy being asked to hit shots for an Australian film crew during practice to show backspin and asking do you want me to show you different lengths of backspin and proceeding to hit three different shots perfectly showing exactly what he said he would do with all of us watching in awe. 

 

SM.  Sadly, as it was 30 years ago, a number such as Eamonn Birchall and a great friend Billy Lynch have sadly passed on. Unfortunately, a few people who were on the trip no longer play but luckily enough I would meet a number of others and I would also stop to chat with any of those on the trip when I come across them. It was great at the recent convention to come across Aidan O'Brien and Terry Hayes who were on that trip and whom I had not met for some years. Incidentally, my partner in fourballs when  we played in Australia, Pat Greene, was the winner of the volunteer award for Louth in 2024. 

 

SM. Lots of very good players. Some great facilities. I was particularly impressed by the set up in Wagga Wagga with professionals involved and the facilities were very impressive. Lovely course in Queenbeyan which, sadly, I believe is no longer in existence.  I could see the problems they have in trying to organise championships with the vast amount of travel time involved. In some cases it could mean a round road trip of 16 hours before playing a competition whereas in Ireland it is generally just a couple of hours each way for championships.

 

SM. I have nothing firmed up at the moment but depending on family commitments hopefully I will get to travel later on in the year as I really enjoy the international competitions and the chance to see new courses and meet people.  There is a great camaraderie between Irish players that go on these trips as well.