Golf Ireland

{{see also|Golf in Ireland}}

It is suggested that the origins of the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) were based in the desire by a number of golf clubs to create an Irish championship.{{sfn|Menton|1991|p=12}} There were 28 clubs already established in Ireland before the foundation of the Union, although they were known as 'greens' at that time.{{sfn|Menton|1991|p=6}} The organisation was established at a meeting in Belfast on 13 November 1891, which was attended by representatives of nine clubs, all of which were located in the province of Ulster. The founding clubs were The County Down, The County Club at Portrush, Royal Belfast, Killymoon, Dungannon, Aughnacloy, Ballycastle, Portsalon and North West Golf Club, Lisfannon.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

The GUI introduced a handicapping system in 1897 and this was thought to be the most far-reaching advance in the promotion of the game.{{sfn|Menton|1991|p=18}} At that time, individual clubs implemented their own systems, based on the scores of their most consistent player; using him as a back-marker and allocating other players shots accordingly. The GUI adopted a similar approach in developing the first universal handicapping system, and used one Thomas Gilroy as the back-marker. Gilroy was born in Dundee in 1852 and was played at Carnoustie Golf Club at the age of seven.Golf, Thomas Gilroy Biography, 17 February 1893. He was educated at St. Andrews where he received tuition from both Old and Young Tom Morris. He moved to Ireland in 1885 and was by far the most consistent player there over the next ten years, holding the course record for a number of the courses in existence in the country at that time.{{sfn|Menton|1991|p=36}}

The new handicapping system set out the range of handicaps in 10 classes from plus to 30 and laid down specific allowances for matchplay, whereby the weaker player would not be disadvantaged by the stronger. It also introduced the concept of using yardage measurements to establish the par score of a hole or course. This is the first time that the word par appears in golf, defined as the number of strokes in which a hole or round can be taken without mistakes.Low, John, J. (ed.), Nisbet's Golf Yearbook, 1905.

The original charter of the GUI prescribed that each affiliated club was entitled to send forward up to three delegates to every meeting. By 1911, 163 clubs had become affiliated to the organisation and this became impractical. It became necessary to draw up a new constitution which provided for the establishment of a 'central council' and four provincial councils. This new constitution was ratified in April 1913.{{sfn|Menton|1991|p=49}}

As of 2008, the four main officers of the GUI were the president, honorary secretary, honorary treasurer and the president elect. These four, along with two representatives from each of the provincial branches and the immediate past president, made up the 13-member executive committee.{{cite web | url = http://www.gui.ie/template1.asp?pid=27&area=1 | publisher = GUI Website | title = About Us | accessdate = 4 February 2008 | archive-date = 11 November 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081111080328/http://www.gui.ie/template1.asp?pid=27&area=1 | url-status = dead }}

As of 2018, the GUI represented 430 golf clubs and had 170,000 members.{{cite web|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-43740528 |publisher=BBC News| title = 'Worrying' drop in NI golf club membership | date = 14 April 2018 | accessdate = 1 August 2021 }}

The Golfing Union of Ireland (or GUI; the men's association founded in 1891) and Irish Ladies Golf Union (or ILGU; the ladies' association founded in 1893) operated as separate organisations for over 120 years. Following a consultation process which commenced in 2015,{{cite web|url = https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/golf-ireland-is-born-as-gui-and-ilgu-join-forces-1.3764412|publisher=The Irish Times | title = Golf Ireland is born as GUI and ILGU join forces | date = 20 January 2019 | accessdate = 1 August 2021 }} and after separate votes by representatives of both the GUI and ILGU,{{cite web|url = https://www.rte.ie/sport/golf/2019/0119/1024266-history-made-as-ilgu-gui-join-forces/ | publisher = RTÉ | website = rte.ie | title = History made as ILGU & GUI join forces | date = 19 January 2019 | accessdate = 1 August 2021 }} the two "oldest governing bodies in world golf" agreed to form a new joint governing organisation for golf in Ireland.{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/sport/golf/gui-and-ilgu-agree-on-proposal-to-form-unified-body-36963943.html | website = Irish Independent | title = GUI and ILGU agree on proposal to form unified body | date = 31 May 2018 | accessdate = 1 August 2021 }} The new combined body, "Golf Ireland", commenced in 2020, and held its first general meeting (and ratified its first board and association president) in February 2021.{{sfn|Keogh|2021}}{{sfn|McKendry|2021}} As of mid-2021, the Golf Ireland website stated that it is "the single governing body for golf in Ireland. Established in 2020 it continues on from the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) and the Irish Ladies Golf Union (ILGU)" and that it was "established to replace its two predecessors, the GUI and the ILGU" and to reflect their heritage in its documentation.{{sfn|Golf Ireland|2021}}

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book | last = Menton | first = William A | date = 1991 | title = The Golfing Union of Ireland, 1891 - 1991 | page = 14}}
• {{cite web | last = McKendry | first = Adam | url = https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/golf-in-ireland-set-for-fantastic-future-with-men-and-women-working-together-says-new-president-40141818.html | work = Belfast Telegraph | title = Golf in Ireland set for 'fantastic' future with men and women working together, says new president | date = 1 March 2021 | accessdate = 1 August 2021 }}
• {{cite web| last = Keogh | first = Brian | url = https://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2021/2/27/golf-ireland-ratifies-its-first-board-john-white-first-president | website = irishgolfdesk.com | title = Golf Ireland ratifies its first board; John White first President | date = 27 February 2021| accessdate = 1 August 2021 }}
• {{cite web|url = https://www.golfireland.ie/about-golf-ireland | publisher = Golf Ireland | title = About Golf Ireland | accessdate = 1 August 2021 | quote = Golf Ireland was established to replace its two predecessors, the GUI and the ILGU – the two oldest golfing unions in the world | ref = {{harvid|Golf Ireland|2021}} }}

{{refend}}

• [https://www.golfireland.ie/ Gold Ireland website]

{{National Members of the International Golf Federation}}

{{Sports governing bodies in Ireland}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Golfing Union of Ireland}}

Category:1891 establishments in Ireland

Category:2021 establishments in Ireland

Golf

Category:Golf associations

Category:National members of the European Golf Association

Category:Golf in Ireland

Category:Amateur golf