EXCLUSIVE: PLAYER POWER
The newly-formed Oceania Golf Players Association is looking for a better deal for local Tour pros.
Stories of professional athletes banding together and taking on the organisations or leagues that govern their chosen sport are many. And now professional golf in this country is preparing for its own between players and administrators.
Born out of player frustration believing their concerns weren’t being heard, despite presence on the Tournament Players Committee (TPC), by the PGA Tour of Australasia, a group of players both men and women have come together to do something about it.
The newly formed Oceania Golf Players Association features some well-known names on its inaugural board, as well as some experienced non-golfers in the areas of players associations and the law.
Bryden Macpherson, winner of the 2021 NSW Open, is President, Ladies European Tour player Whitney Hillier serving as Vice President, while James Marchesani is joined as a player director by Australia’s second highest ranked player and major champion Hannah Green.
The discontent among local Tour players stems from their complaints regarding playing opportunities, prizemoney and structure, among others. A formally organised Proprietary Limited company completely exclusive to the Tour to address these is a concept that has not been seen previously. Particularly one with not only the support of Green, but a willingness from her to be a front facing public member of the board.
The majority player board, a guaranteed aspect by the OGPA’s constitution, is then made up of three professionals from outside the game, with the Chairman perhaps of most interest.
American Joe Sponholz, a Partner in L.E.K. Consulting’s Sydney office, has vast experience in professional sport, including previous work with players associations in the NRL (National Rugby League), NFL (National Football League) and NBA (National Basketball Association), as well as involvement in collective bargaining agreements.
Still in the early stages of its development, the OGPA is yet to have a formal meeting with the PGA Tour of Australasia, but has however created a website, social media presence and begun signing up members as it prepares to hopefully work in co-operation with those in charge of the professional game in the region to achieve its desired outcomes. Among them a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The full details of what the OGPA hopes to achieve are listed on its website (theogpa.com), however, of note is the group’s mission statement below.
• Unite professional golfers associated
THE DISCONTENT AMONG LOCAL TOUR PLAYERS STEMS FROM THEIR COMPLAINTS REGARDING PLAYING OPPORTUNITIES, PRIZEMONEY AND STRUCTURE...
with the Oceania region through a legally constituted player’s association;
• Represent its members for purposes of collective bargaining with the PGA Tour of Australasia;
• Improve working conditions and financial outcomes for its members;
• Work with the PGA Tour of Australasia and its affiliates to ensure the financial stability of professional golf in Oceania;
• Promote the sport of golf throughout the Oceania region.
Confident of its legal position and encouraged by support from the NFLPA (National Football League Players Association) and World Players United, the group is taking its time before engaging the PGA Tour of Australasia in serious talks. With an early meeting
THE PGA OF AUSTRALIA ADVISES AGAINST TOURNAMENT MEMBERS JOINING OR FUNDING THE NEW ORGANISATION.
request apparently denied by the players group, with members of the board left off the invitation.
Golf Australia magazine has obtained an email sent by PGA of Australia Chief Executive Officer Gavin Kirkman – to PGA male members – since the formation of the OPGA, which has been in contact with professional golfers inquiring as to their willingness to join. The communication from the PGA boss contains the following statements, whilst also referencing the Fair Work Act of 2009, an important piece of legislation likely to be referred to regularly in future discussions.
“The PGA of Australia does not endorse the new organisation in any way.
“Based on the very limited information available about the new organisation, the PGA of Australia advises against Tournament Members joining or funding the new organisation,” the email reads in part.
The OGPA is the first player’s association in professional golf, with other countries rarely seeing the local Tour and vocational aspects run by the same organisation.
Famously, the PGA Tour broke off from the PGA of America to establish itself as a separate identity with the unique interests of the touring pro as its focus. An end result that early reports around the local scene suggests is not a desired outcome of the OGPA, which takes vocational PGA professionals as members as well as full-time players.
Combining the interests of men and women professionals is also at the heart of the OGPA, continuing the positive growth achieved in Australia through events like the Vic Open and more recently innovative The Players Series events held earlier this year.
Having been constructed behind closed doors in the early part of this year before recently going public, the OGPA is still a developing entity and this story will have many more layers that will be covered by this publication via our website (www.golfaustralia.com.au).
However, with Macpherson, the son of Federal Court judge Debbie Mortimer and a player widely known for his intelligence and determination as President, supported by Sponholz’s experience and Green’s profile things are moving quickly.
– PGA OF AUSTRALIA CEO, GAVIN KIRKMAN, IN AN EMAIL TO PGA MEMBERS.