Golfers, Golf Clubs and District Golf Associations often ask: Why have a Queensland Golf Union?; Why capitation fees are payable to the Union?; What do golfers get in return from the Union?; How is the Union structured?; and How does it spend the funds?

•  Why have a Queensland Golf Union? (ie. a State Administration body)

The Queensland Golf Union is a non-profit organization (originally established in 1914 as the Queensland Golf Association) run by golfers, for the benefit of golfers and for the good of the game. The Union is committed to participating in activities that benefit everyone who plays the game and implementing policies to ensure golf's future.

The Union was formed because golf clubs saw the need for a central body to coordinate such matters as administering the application of rules, determining course ratings, conducting State Championships, setting competition conditions, handicapping (more recently) and representing the interests of golfers in a wide variety of legal, industrial, financial and administrative issues.

Imagine if each and every golf club had its own rules, determined the par of its course in its own way, set its course rating according to its own views, handicapped at the personal whim of one person and changed the conduct of its affairs as often as it changed its management committee or office bearers.

We may end up with a situation where:

     •   A handicap at one club may not be recognised at another club
     •   Inter-club, inter-district and inter-state competitions may not exist
     •   The rules of golf could become "rafferty's rules"
     •   There would be no consistent way to resolving disputes

The Union actively promotes and encourages the playing and enjoyment of the sport of golf. It communicates, coordinates and unifies the activities of District Associations and their affiliated clubs. It monitors the wide range of social economic and political issues that exist in the community to ensure that a favourable business environment for golfers and golf clubs is maintained.

The capitation fees paid through District Associations contribute to the Queensland Golf Union's operations and represents each golfer's investment (equivalent to the cost of one good quality golf ball) in the future of the game they play.

How is the Queensland Golf Union Structured?

Currently there are some 251 affiliated golf clubs in Queensland with a membership of approximately 63,000 male golfers. To effectively support the administration of golf for such a large number of clubs and players spread across our State, 13 Country District Golf Associations (1 Delegate each) and the Brisbane District Golf Association (3 Delegates) - (14 Districts in total) have been established. There are also three Patron Clubs; Brisbane, Indooroopilly and Royal Queensland Golf Clubs (1 Delegate each). A total of 19 Delegates represent the membership of the Queensland Golf Union.

The 14 District Golf Associations, all of which are individually Incorporated, that make up the membership of the Queensland Golf Union (at 1st January 2004) are:

•   Brisbane District Golf Association Inc. •   Central Highlands Golf Association Inc. •   Central Queensland Golf Association Inc. •   Central Western Queensland Golf Association Inc. •   Darling Downs Golf Association Inc. •   Far North Queensland Golf Association Inc. •   Gold Coast District Golf Association Inc. •   Moreton District Golf Association Inc. •   North Queensland Golf Association Inc. •   North West Queensland District Golf Association Inc. •   South East Queensland District Golf Association Inc. •   South West Queensland Golf Association Inc. •   Sunshine Coast & South Burnett District Golf Association Inc. •   Wide Bay District Golf Association Inc.

2004 QGU Advanced Junior Training Clinic

District Associations play a key part in the organisation of golf in Queensland. They are the local "eyes and ears" for monitoring the consistent application of the policies and standards of the sport. They also play an important role in promoting the sport of golf and encouraging the development of junior golfers. Strong and efficiently run District Associations are an essential part of the administration of golf in Queensland.

Each District Golf Association and the Patron Clubs elect or appoint their Delegates each year to represent their interests and the interests of all golfers. Each year the Union holds an Annual General Meeting and three Delegates Meetings. Delegates at the Union's Annual General Meeting elect the Management Committee for the ensuing year. The Management Committee is made up of the President, Vice President and six Committee Members (three of the six Committee Members retire by rotation each year). Figure 1 below gives an outline of the Union's structure.

Sub Committees do much of the business of the Union. The following subcommittees are an integral part of the Union's operations:

- Finance - responsible for over viewing the Union's budget, income, expenditure and investment    portfolio.

- Development and Marketing - responsible for the development of the Union's policies as well as planning the future direction of the Union.

- Turf Research and Environmental Issues - responsible for fostering research into contemporary issues of turf management as well as maintaining an overview of the impacts of environmental issues on the golfing industry.

- Match - responsible for establishing tournament conditions, entry details and the conduct of all State events.

- Rules of Golf and Rules of Amateur Status - responsible for monitoring the application of the Rules of Golf including the conduct of Rules of Golf Seminars/Accreditations. Also responsible for the assessment of players' reinstatement to amateur status.

- Course Rating and Handicapping - responsible for monitoring the application of the Australian Handicapping System and ratifying the assessments of the Australian Course Ratings for affiliated member Clubs.

- Junior Golf Development - responsible for fostering the development of junior golfers including the Junior Development Squad and the Talented Junior Identification programs.

- Selectors - responsible for squad and team selection for the State Team, State Colts Team and State Junior Team plus other representative teams. Also responsible for planning and over viewing the training programs for these teams.

These subcommittees meet on a needs basis and their chairperson submits a report to the Management Committee meetings for consideration, discussion and endorsement. The decisions of the Management Committee are distributed to District Associations and Clubs through regular mail outs. The minutes of all Management Committee meetings are circulated to District Associations, Patron Clubs and Delegates to the Union.

The Management Committee reports to the Delegates Meeting three times per year. These Delegates Meetings allow for the raising of contemporary issues affecting the operations of District Associations and Clubs that may require the development of a new policy direction.

Queensland State Team 2004 Australian Interstate Teams Champions

•  What is the Role of the Queensland Golf Union's Management Committee

The Union's Management Committee is responsible for the day to day operations of the Union. The Management Committee meets in Brisbane every month. Management Committee members may be required to attend sub-committee meetings, represent the Union at District Association Meetings, attend and/or serve as a Rules Official at major tournaments, attend team coaching activities and manage State Teams. The demands on their time are considerable.

While members of the Management Committee serve in an honorary capacity they are reimbursed for their travel, accommodation, meal, and out of pocket expenses incurred when representing the Union in any official capacity.

•  What Does the Queensland Golf Union Office Do?

The Queensland Golf Union employs a full time Secretariat to support the Management Committee and District Associations in the administration of the sport. The Secretariat currently comprises a Chief Executive Officer, Manager - Golf Operations and an Administration Officer.

The staff members provide a week day service throughout the year for affiliated District Associations and Clubs in all parts of the State. They provide a point of contact for answering enquiries and providing guidance on all golfing matters ranging from rules queries to industrial licencing and funding grant applications. They provide an essential linkage to organisations such as the Australian Golf Union, Government Departments and the Corporate Sector.

The Queensland Golf Union Secretariat is also responsible for the organisation and conduct of State Championships, the delivery of junior development programs and the promotion of all facets of the game through media outlets.

In addition to their normal office duties, the CEO and the Manager - Golf Operations on many occasions attend various District Association Annual General Meetings, various State tournaments, as well as the monthly Management Committee Meetings - outside of normal working hours. We are very fortunate to have a dedicated team (comprising 3 people) as our office staff.

Golf Queensland State Training Facility (Located at Brookwater)

•  How the Administration of Golf in Queensland is Funded

When golfers pay their annual club membership subscriptions included are capitation fees for the operation of their District Association, the Queensland Golf Union and also the Australian Golf Union.

The capitation fee payable by each club to the District Association is set by the Association at its Annual General Meeting. The fees payable to the Australian and Queensland Golf Unions are set each year by those bodies at their Annual General Meetings.

The Queensland Golf Union prides itself on running an efficient and low cost operation. The capitation fee payable to the Union for 2005 has been set at $14.30 (incl GST) per registered male golfer. This includes an affiliation fee of $4.95 (incl GST) per registered male member for the Australian Golf Union. These fees are very modest in comparison to many other sports' levies and less than those charged by most other State Golfing Associations. (eg. NSW golfers pay approx. $16.00 whilst Tasmanians pay approx. $19.80).

Apart from capitation fees the Union's income is augmented from the following areas:

- State Government grants
- Tournament entry fees
- Registration fees (Social Clubs and Resort Clubs)
- Interest on investments
- Sponsorships (cash or contra arrangements)
- Sales of publications/hire of equipment

These additional sources of income account for approximately 30% of the Union's annual revenue.

•  How the Queensland Golf Union Spends its Funds

A summary of how the Union spends its funds is presented below (source 2000 Annual Report):

This summary indicates that the operation of the Union's Secretariat as well as payment of capitation fees to the Australian Golf Union account for 60% of the Union's annual expenditure. Any operation surplus from the Union's activities is invested at the best available interest rate.

•  Achievements of the Queensland Golf Union

Over the last five years the Union has secured a number of notable achievements. These include:

•   Introduction of the Queensland Handicap Fourball Championship
•   The establishment of the Qld Academy of Sport elite golfing program
•   The hosting of the Queensland Medal event in Country Associations in reasonable proximity to Brisbane
•   Establishment of research trials and investigations into the causes of dieback of 328 greens
•   Development of a Code of Practice for the management of noise on golf courses.
•   Finalisation of the establishment of a State Training Facility at the new Greg Norman designed Brookwater Golf Course - home of the QAS Golf Program.
•   Winning the 2004 Australian Interstate Teams Event and 2004 Australian Junior Interstate Teams Event.
•   Producing Australian champion golfers through the junior development and coaching programs.   Nine Australian Junior Champions over the last twelve years have been Queenslanders.
•   Maintaining of our own very popular Website.
•   In conjunction with Women's Golf Queensland and the Greg Norman Golf Foundation, the appointment of a Development Officer for Golf in Queensland.
•   The promotion of a very successful Annual Golf Industry Awards Dinner - in association with the PGA of Australia Queensland Division, (as joint underwriters) and other associated industry organisations.
•   Involved with the inaugural Queensland Golf Industry Conference held in August 2004, with a theme of "Shaping the Future of Queensland Golf".

The support of District Associations and their member Clubs is essential to the continuing success of the Queensland Golf Union. Having a say in the administration of golf in Queensland is not the preserve of any special group. If people are interested in becoming more involved in this facet of our sport, why not seek a position on their Club's management committee, their District Association, or seek to become the Association's Delegate to the Queensland Golf Union.