Consumers spend €379 million a year on golf in the Republic of Ireland, according to a groundbreaking report released yesterday.

Junior golfers from all over Ireland are honing their skills for this weekend's provincial finals in  The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Golf Skills Challenge.

Survival of the fittest is not a new concept and it’s certainly true when it comes to business — especially the golf business.

There will be some special guests at tomorrow’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Pro Am at Royal County Down, as two teams of young golfers from Shannon Golf Club in Clare and Faithlegg Golf Club in Waterford reap their reward for winning the inaugural Irish Open Golf Skills Challenge.

The fee-paying members of the Golfing Union of Ireland and its constituent clubs have dropped by 43,795 (or 5%) over the last 10 years, according to the union’s financial controller, Michael Malone.

Golf membership in Munster continues to decline, according to figures released by provincial officials.

The Irish Open may be one of the most prestigious tournaments on the golfing calendar but for most of its 87 years it has been a lot more than just a sporting occasion.

Pádraig Harrington rates the newly-formed Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI) as crucial for the future of Irish golf.

There is not a week goes by when someone isn’t bemoaning the state of golf.

Imagine Croke Park packed to the rafters for a big game — close to 80,000 souls with a love of sport and time to invest in its enjoyment.

Leading sports policy makers have praised the formation of the Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI) after the game’s governing bodies united yesterday to “further develop and grow golf” on the island of Ireland.