The Federation of International Pitch and Putt Associations (FIPPA) and European Pitch & Putt Association (EPPA) today (20th January 2008) reiterate that Pitch and Putt played internationally is defined as having the following key characteristics:
FIPPA and EPPA explicitly insist that Pitch and Putt and golf are separate sports. Most golf authorities and golf federations recognize this distinction, as witnessed by specific declarations by the R&A (29/7/98), the Italian Golf Federation (25/09/00), the EGA (8/10/02) and the English Golf Union (28/3/04). FIPPA and EPPA have always declared Pitch and Putt to be a separate and autonomous game. This is, and will remain one of our fundamental principles and a key point of our existence as a sport.
Founded in 2000, EPPA organises the European Pitch and Putt championships and facilitates international competition between its eleven members – Federació Andorrana de Pitch and Putt, Federació Catalana de Pitch and Putt, British Pitch and Putt Association, Asociacio Galega Pitch and Putt, Nederlandse Pitch and Putt Bond, Pitch and Putt Ireland, Euskadiko Pitch and Putt Elkartea, Norges Pitch & Putt Forbund, Pitch and Putt Association of Slovenia and the Swiss Pitch and Putt Association. The world body of Pitch and Putt, FIPPA, was formed in 2006. FIPPA has fourteen existing members (the eleven listed above along with the Australian Pitch and Putt Association, Federacion Chilena de Pitch and Putt and Japanese Pitch and Putt Association) and many more aspiring members.
FIPPA has officially launched the first set of printed international Pitch and Putt rules and has appointed an official panel of Pitch and Putt referees. Those Pitch and Putt rules are in all international Pitch and Putt competitions and championships.
FIPPA has launched a ten year calendar of world and continental championships and is also actively working on the production of appropriate criteria for a bidding process for the hosting of these major international events.
Pitch and Putt as an organised and independent sport developed mainly in Ireland since the 1940s. Traditionally in Ireland, the holes measure up to 70 metres (with a total length of maximum 1,000 metres) and the players may only use an iron and a putter. The game is played from raised artificial teeing surfaces using a tee and it has its own handicap system.
As Pitch and Putt developed in other territories, the distances and number of clubs are, in some cases, somewhat different as far as local competitions are concerned. Nevertheless for international competitions, compromise rules apply as per the Definition section – International Pitch and Putt defined.
In all cases Pitch and Putt has its own handicap system and applies the FIPPA Rules with the exceptions that are specifically approved in each country. The Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland has a comprehensive set of Pitch and Putt specific rules.
Extract from a letter from the Rules Committee of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrew’s (R&A) 29/7/98
“… the Rules of Golf Committee’s preference is for your rules to mirror those of the Rules of Golf insofar as it is possible …”
“… Obviously it will be necessary for you to maintain the condition restricting the number of clubs …”
“… the Committee is very supportive of your initiative and is in agreement with your views that Pitch and Putt is not only a good game in itself but is an excellent introduction to the ‘longer ‘ game …”
Extract from a letter from the European Golf Association (EGA) of 8/10/02
“… The European Golf Association is hereby glad to recognise the separateness of Pitch and Putt as a sport …”
“… the European Golf Association is supportive of your initiative and is in agreement with your views that Pitch and Putt is not only a good game in itself but is an excellent introduction to the game of golf …”
The European Pitch and Putt Association has a good relationship with golf but we have and want to maintain a separate and independent organization.