The Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union have published the final detail of the proposal to create a single governing body.
In a letter to all golf club members across the country today, the Presidents and Chairs of the two bodies have invited the golf community to study the proposal ahead of a vote which will be put to each organisation’s membership in November.
“The Discussion Group came together in November 2015, with a brief from the two Unions to set out what a new governing body for golf in Ireland might look like,” said the letter.
“Since then we have been listening to the views of club golfers all around Ireland, to representatives of clubs and to officials and staff members of both Unions. We have also looked at how golf is administered in other countries and we sought input from representatives of other sporting bodies in Ireland.”
“We were also very mindful of the fact that Ireland is the only country left in the world to have two single gender governing bodies for golf.”
“All of the conversations, submissions and presentations we have been part of have helped us to form a very clear view of how we should shape our new governing body so that it can deliver the best possible outcome for the future of golf in Ireland. We now firmly believe that the establishment of Golf Ireland gives us the best chance of securing a bright and prosperous future for golf.”
The proposal is introduced by Paul McGinley who writes that “The GUI and ILGU have worked side by side for many years, most notably in recent times through the establishment of the Confederation of Golf in Ireland in 2013.”
“Golf has learned, as in every other walk of life, the value of men and women working together. We accomplish more when we join forces.”
“Now is the right time to build on that strong relationship. Golf Ireland will result in reduced costs, a pooling of resources and an increase in the support services available to clubs. This will enhance the game by building an environment in which golf can grow.”
The full document runs to 24 pages and covers all the key areas of why the new structure needs to be put in place and the fine detail of what it will mean.
It is a major move for the sport, one which brings it into line with all others in terms of having a single governing body not based on gender and it is positioned in such a way that full acceptance from both organisations is expected to be given.
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