Date change for vote on Golf Ireland proposal
A VOTE by clubs on a proposal by the GUI and the ILGU to form a single governing body for golf in Ireland has been postponed until 19 January.
Both organisations are in the process of briefing clubs on the Golf Ireland Proposal in advance of a vote by the clubs at the EGMs of both organisations.
It was originally intended to hold both EGMs on Saturday, 17 November.
However, as many clubs hold their AGMs in November and December, the GUI and ILGU realised during some early briefing sessions with clubs that it was preferable to defer the meetings of both the ILGU and GUI to ensure that club members would be fully informed as they arrived at club decisions on the Golf Ireland Proposal.
As a result, the Unions have agreed to hold the vote on Saturday, 19 January 2019 at the ILGU AGM and a specially convened EGM of the GUI.
Both the ILGU and the GUI have been buoyed by positive feedback from clubs at the initial briefings and further briefing sessions are scheduled to run until mid-October.
Single-gender golf clubs will continue to exist if the formation of “Golf Ireland” is approved by clubs in November.
However, “Golf Ireland” will work to assist clubs in putting more modern structures in place, including single-gender clubs that may wish to change.
“There is going to be leadership from Golf Ireland to support clubs who want to change,” said Pat Finn, CEO of the Golfing Union of Ireland, who has been working in tandem with Sinead Hearty, Chief Executive of the ILGU.
“And there is going to be significant support for clubs that want to change their governance structures.”
The organisations have jointly published a 26-page brochure and a separate 10-page pocket guide, complete with an Open Letter to clubs by Paul McGinley, outlining the proposal in detail and the importance of signalling to the public “that golf is a more equal, inclusive and family-oriented game.”
Clubs seeking further information or support should contact Golf Ireland Project Manager, Sarah Crowe: sarah@ilgu.ie.