‘It’s sad to see history of provincial championships being brushed aside’

Plans by Golf Ireland to introduce a new pathway to All-Ireland inter-club success, at the expense of provincial championships, have been described as brushing aside history by a leading amateur golfer

Golf Ireland's plan to establish an eight-zone format for inter-club competitions - with Leinster split in three, Munster and Ulster into two zones each and Connacht left as one zone - could mark the end of the much-cherished battles for both men’s provincial glory and the ILGU’s five-district template for its All-Ireland competitions.

Plans by golf’s incoming unified governing body to introduce a new pathway to All-Ireland inter-club success at the expense of provincial championships have been described as brushing aside history by a leading amateur golfer but strongly defended by the man spearheading the change.

Golf Ireland comes into existence on January 1, amalgamating the Golfing Union of Ireland and Irish Ladies Golf Union which have overseen amateur golf along gender lines since 1891 and 1893 respectively.