Golf Ireland geared for the good of the game
There is a substantial risk to the popularity of the sport and it has become clear that golf as a game is not meeting the needs of modern Ireland.

For clubs, a vote for Golf Ireland will mean an increase in support from the governing body

What is good for the game of golf in Ireland?

In their quest for answers to that question, the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union developed a dream for what a new national governing body for golf could be. Following extensive consultation with clubs and other key stakeholders, Golf Ireland is now being proposed as one body for all golfers on the island of Ireland and clubs will vote on this proposal on January 19th.

As clubs have been all too painfully aware, membership has been in decline for some time while the average age of participants continues to rise. There is a substantial risk to the popularity of the sport and it has become clear that golf as a game is not meeting the needs of modern Ireland.

Bringing Ireland’s two golf Unions together was identified as an essential first step to meet the challenges facing the sport. In practical terms, future funding from both Sport Ireland and Sport Northern Ireland will be contingent upon golf having a mixed gender governance structure. Golf Ireland will fulfil the requirements of the Governance Code for Community and Voluntary Organisations, as recommended by Sport Ireland. The principles of this code are not currently being met by the GUI or the ILGU by virtue of their single gender governance structures.

For clubs, a vote for Golf Ireland will mean an increase in support from the governing body. The range of services currently provided by the Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI) will be delivered under the Participation and Club Support Department of Golf Ireland. These services will be enhanced and expanded, giving clubs greater resources available to help with the things that really matter: membership, governance and competition.

Clubs across the island of Ireland are now being asked for their approval so that Golf Ireland can become a reality. On 19 January 2019, each Union will ask their member clubs to vote on the Golf Ireland proposal. Naturally, clubs are wondering what a future with Golf Ireland will look like.

KEY QUESTIONS

1. What are the benefits that Golf Ireland will bring? The game of golf in Ireland will have an all-inclusive governing body for the first time, which is good for promotion; which is good for attracting capital funding; which is good for attracting commercial partners; which is good for the image of the game. Golf Ireland is good for the game.

2. Will Golf Ireland interfere with the running of our club? Clubs are the bedrock of golf in Ireland. Golf Ireland will support clubs and advise on best practice models to help clubs progress towards improved governance and management practices. Golf Ireland will not interfere with the day-to-day running of its affiliate clubs.

3. What changes will we see in our club? Clubs will only have to deal with one body in future when it comes to handicapping, inter-club events, club supports and game development. There will be no requirement for separate men’s and women’s clubs and each club will be free to decide whether to move to a single structure. Clubs will also be free to retain their existing structure.

As Ryder Cup winning captain Paul McGinley noted in his letter to golf clubs supporting the creation of Golf Ireland: “This is golf’s way of responding to the needs of golfers in modern society.”

As per the end of 2017, there are 395 GUI fee-paying clubs and 374 ILGU fee-paying clubs. All clubs currently affiliated to the two Unions will automatically be affiliated to Golf Ireland on its establishment date.

Golf has suffered a substantial drop in playing numbers from its peak in the mid-2000s. Although golf remains one of the most popular sport and exercise activities in Ireland, it is clear that the game must adapt. Dr Pete Lunn – author of a 2017 ESRI report entitled ‘Golf in Ireland: A Statistical Analysis’ – stated that:

“Golf is unusual among sporting activities in its appeal to older people and link to lifelong health benefits. But participation is declining and the challenge for those who promote the game is to find ways to engage the modern generation of younger adults and their families.”

The founders of the GUI and ILGU were sporting pioneers, putting in place structures that would be imitated the world over. Both Unions remain as ambitious as they were at the beginning and Golf Ireland, which has been many years in the making, is the result of a careful and courageous mission to meet the needs of golf and golfers in this modern age.

ENDS

Alan Kelly MPRII? Dip ESA?
Communications Manager

Golfing Union of Ireland
A: Carton Demesne | Maynooth | Co Kildare | W23 R8C6 | Ireland
T: +353 (0)1 5054000 | M: +353 (0)870 679 879 | W: www.golfnet.ie

Golf Ireland essential to save a game in decline

On 19 January 2019, the GUI and ILGU will decide their future. Each union will ask their member clubs to vote on the Golf Ireland proposal (see www.onegoverningbody.com for full proposal and club support material)

Golf has been in decline for more than a decade in Ireland.

Time’s up.

Golf as a game is not meeting the needs of modern society and across the globe, the game’s governing bodies have been fighting this challenge.

Today, Ireland stands alone as the only country in the world to have two separate governing bodies for men’s and women’s golf. Globally, golf has embraced equality and inclusivity. Through the proposal to create Golf Ireland, now the island of Ireland is poised to follow suit by establishing modern governance structures and embarking on a progressive strategy.

Three years ago the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union began work on the development of a new single governing body for golf in Ireland. Together both unions have proudly served Irish golf for more than 125 years but both bodies recognised the need for change in order to revitalise the game. After careful deliberation and extensive consultation with all of golf’s stakeholders, the GUI and ILGU delivered their proposal for Golf Ireland in August 2018. Clubs across the island of Ireland are now being asked for their approval so that Golf Ireland can become a reality.

Naturally, clubs and their members have been scrutinising the proposal. So what will Golf Ireland mean for you and your club?

KEY QUESTIONS FOR GOLFERS

1. What will Golf Ireland mean for me?

A secure future for the game you love. Clubs will benefit from increased support and funding; and you become part of a family-friendly, inclusive sporting organisation that meets the demands of modern golf.

2. Why do I need Golf Ireland? 

Clubs and club members have been hit hard in recent years. If we don’t act now, golf will remain in decline. We need to change the way we run golf for the good of the game. With the game restored to good health, golf can thrive again.

3. How much will it cost for me to be part of Golf Ireland? 

For the first two years of Golf Ireland, the costs are set in stone. Affiliation fees for adults will be fixed at €24 in Ireland and £20 in Northern Ireland. Fees for juniors will be €5 and £3.50.

As Ryder Cup winning captain Paul McGinley noted in his letter to golf clubs supporting the creation of Golf Ireland: “This is golf’s way of responding to the needs of golfers in modern society.”

At present there are 183,000 members of GUI and ILGU clubs across Ireland, which represents a fall of 25% since the mid-2000s. The founders of the GUI and ILGU were sporting pioneers, putting in place structures that would be imitated the world over. Both unions remain as ambitious as they were at the beginning and Golf Ireland, which has been many years in the making, is the result of a careful and courageous mission to meet the needs of golf and golfers in this modern age.

ENDS

Alan Kelly MPRII
 Dip ESA
Communications Manager

Golfing Union of Ireland
A: Carton Demesne | Maynooth | Co Kildare | W23 R8C6 | Ireland
T: +353 (0)1 5054000 | M: +353 (0)870 679 879 | W: www.golfnet.ie

Dear Member

The GUI and ILGU have published a proposal for a single governing body for golf in Ireland. Clubs will vote on this proposal in January 2019.

To give a better understanding on what the new body will do and how it will be for the good of the game, Pat Finn (CEO, GUI) and Sinead Heraty (CEO, ILGU) took part in a recent podcast where they answered questions from golfers about the plan.

We encourage you to listen to the podcast on one of the channels below:

Golfnet:  https://www.golfnet.ie/news/golfnet/3711/golf-ireland-ceo-interview-listen-now

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/golfingunionofireland/videos/1967725993293003/

Soundcloud:  https://soundcloud.com/guigolf/golf-ireland-for-the-good-of-the-game

If you have questions about the proposal that you would like the CEOs to address in a future podcast, please email your questions to    podcast@gui.ie

Many thanks.

Alan

Alan Kelly MPRII Dip ESA
Communications Manager

Golfing Union of Ireland
A: Carton Demesne | Maynooth | Co Kildare | W23 R8C6 | Ireland
T: +353 (0)1 5054000 | M: +353 (0)870 679 879 | W: www.golfnet.ie

NEW GOLF RULES JANUARY 2019

• Dropping procedure: When taking relief (from an abnormal course condition or penalty area, for example), golfers will now drop from knee height. This will ensure consistency and simplicity in the dropping process while also preserving the randomness of the drop. (Key change: the proposed Rules released in 2017 suggested dropping from any height).
• Measuring in taking relief: The golfer’s relief area will be measured by using the longest club in his/her bag (other than a putter) to measure one club-length or two club-lengths, depending on the situation, providing a consistent process for golfers to establish his/her relief area. (Key change: the proposed Rules released in 2017 suggested a 20-inch or 80-inch standard measurement).
• Removing the penalty for a double hit:  The penalty stroke for accidentally striking the ball more than once in the course of a stroke has been removed. Golfers will simply count the one stroke they made to strike the ball.  (Key change: the proposed Rules released in 2017 included the existing one-stroke penalty).
• Balls Lost or Out of Bounds: Alternative to Stroke and Distance:  A new Local Rule will now be available in January 2019, permitting committees to allow golfers the option to drop the ball in the vicinity of where the ball is lost or out of bounds (including the nearest fairway area), under a two-stroke penalty. It addresses concerns raised at the club level about the negative impact on pace of play when a player is required to go back under stroke and distance. The Local Rule is not intended for higher levels of play, such as professional or elite level competitions. (Key change:  this is a new addition to support pace of play)
• Elimination or reduction of “ball moved” penalties: There will be no penalty for accidentally moving a ball on the putting green or in searching for a ball; and a player is not responsible for causing a ball to move unless it is “virtually certain” that he or she did so.
• Relaxed putting green rules: There will be no penalty if a ball played from the putting green hits an unattended flagstick in the hole; players may putt without having the flagstick attended or removed. Players may repair spike marks and other damage made by shoes, animal damage and other damage on the putting green and there is no penalty for merely touching the line of putt.
• Relaxed rules for “penalty areas” (currently called “water hazards”): Red and yellow-marked penalty areas may cover areas of desert, jungle, lava rock, etc., in addition to areas of water; expanded use of red penalty areas where lateral relief is allowed; and there will be no penalty for moving loose impediments or touching the ground or water in a penalty area.
• Relaxed bunker rules: There will be no penalty for moving loose impediments in a bunker or for generally touching the sand with a hand or club. A limited set of restrictions (such as not grounding the club right next to the ball) is kept to preserve the challenge of playing from the sand; however, an extra relief option is added for an unplayable ball in a bunker, allowing the ball to be played from outside the bunker with a two-stroke penalty.
• Relying on player integrity: A player’s “reasonable judgment” when estimating or measuring a spot, point, line, area or distance will be upheld, even if video evidence later shows it to be wrong; and elimination of announcement procedures when lifting a ball to identify it or to see if it is damaged.
• Pace-of-play support: Reduced time for searching for a lost ball (from five minutes to three); affirmative encouragement of “ready golf” in stroke play; recommending that players take no more than 40 seconds to play a stroke and other changes intended to help with pace of play.

Antrim Golf Club

Advance Notice

Annual General Meeting

Will take place on   Monday, 3rd  December 2018

7.30 P.M.

at

ALLEN PARK

(Main Sports Hall)

In accordance with the Constitution and Rules of the Club, all Nominations for Officers and Members to the General Committee and Notices of Motion must be made, in writing, to the Honorary Secretary at least 21 days before the meeting.

Notices and Nominations therefore must be with the  Honorary Secretary no later than

12 noon on Monday, 12th November 2018.

Nominations and Notices received after this date cannot be considered at the Annual General Meeting.

Honorary Secretary

Please beware that we need to hollow cored the Greens at Allen park. This will take place from the 13^th September of 2 or 3 days.  We are also over seeding the pitches and  Greens at the end of September.  We have intentionally left these later in the year to limit any disruption in playing time but unfortunately we can’t put these off any longer.

The Greens staff will be rolling and sanding the Greens on the same day as they are over seeded and cored

Unfortunately Manns will be withdrawing the restaurant service at Allen Park during the week due to lack of custom and will only be opening on Saturdays and Sundays.  They will honour all existing bookings and will continue to take group/society bookings on a case by case basis.  Manns will be asking for bookings of no less than 15 people to make it cost effective.

This is unfortunate and disappointing news but no business can expect to run at a loss and sustain it for any great length of time.

Kenny Lee

GUI and ILGU Boards Agree Proposal to Form One Governing Body for Golf in Ireland

– Proposal arrived at following extensive consultation and discussions

– Clubs expected to vote on Proposal later this year, following briefings

Following extensive discussions and consultation, the Boards of the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) and the Irish Ladies Golf Union (ILGU) have approved a Proposal which provides for the formation of a single governing body for Golf in Ireland.

The ILGU and GUI will now prepare for EGMs of the organisations at which affiliated clubs will vote on the Proposal.

In the coming months, Information Packs containing important details regarding the new organisation  will be prepared and issued to affiliated clubs. The packs will include the Proposal and all information pertinent to clubs, in the form of an Executive Summary and Frequently Asked Questions.

The EGMs are expected to be held before the end of 2018, with the club briefings being held in advance of the vote date. The ILGU and the GUI will hold separate club briefings with their respective ladies and men’s clubs in advance of the vote date. The exact date(s) for the briefings and the EGMs will be agreed by the respective Boards, with affiliated clubs being notified in due course.

If the clubs of the ILGU and GUI support the proposal, a transitions phase will commence during which the GUI, ILGU and Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI) will be wound down and the new body will be established to carry out all activities currently undertaken by the three organisations.

For any further information on the project, please visit www.onegoverningbody.com or email  onegoverningbody@gmail.com

Issued by Sinead Heraty (CEO, ILGU) and Pat Finn (CEO, GUI)

ENDS

Alan Kelly MPRII Dip ESA
Communications Manager

Golfing Union of Ireland
A: Carton Demesne | Maynooth | Co Kildare | W23 R8C6 | Ireland
T: +353 (0)1 5054000 | M: +353 (0)870 679 879 | W: www.golfnet.ie

Kenny Lee

‌To celebrate 20 years of AIG’s support of amateur golf in Ireland, check out the ‘AIG Golfer Anniversary Sale’ that offers great discounts to GUI and ILGU Members. Members will get up to 20% off car insurance* and up to 50% off home insurance**.

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