The scheme, which has been in operation in England, Scotland, Wales and New Zealand for several years, gives independent golfers (aka golfers who are not currently members of Golf Ireland-affiliated clubs) the opportunity to obtain an official handicap.
At a time when the R&A is keen to maximise the number of registered golfers as it battles to fund its investment in the game from the grassroots to the Open Championship itself, harvesting the “nomads” and increasing the number of registered golfers makes business sense.
But it remains to be seen what effect it has on small golf clubs that rely on membership income simply to keep their heads abover water.
What will happen when golfers, who are already hard-pressed to pay their subs each year, avail of this scheme?
Under iGolf, non-club members in Ireland can subscribe and gain a handicap index under the World Handicap System for an annual subscription fee of €65 in the Republic of Ireland and £55 in Northern Ireland.
It means these golfers can maintain a handicap index and adhere to the same handicapping rules that govern traditional club members.
But what about the golfers who struggle each January to pay the annual sub? Will the be dissuaded by the Golf Ireland caveat that says that “former golf club members must be outside of their previous membership for a minimum of three years” before they can join iGolf?
Or will they take the pain, leave now, and wait over 1,000 days to pay a green fee and avail of the €65-a-year handicap option?
It also remains to be seen how robust the scheme will prove when it comes to making sure former club members are following the rules by waiting the three- year period.
Ireland certainly comes late to the party — New Zealand started their scheme in 2018 while the other “home” countries came on board in 2021 — mainly due to resistance in the golf industry here.
Given the uniqueness of the Irish club golf market and the huge emphasis on competitive club golf, voices in the golf industry here are understandably concerned about a change in the status quo.
As for Golf Ireland, they are pushing ahead regardless, convinced by their research into the success of similar schemes abroad that that clubs on the island of Ireland (and Golf Ireland) will emerge the winners.
“Our objective with iGolf and a range of other Golf Ireland initiatives is clear: to protect club membership, while fostering broader participation across diverse golfer demographics and facilitating, as appropriate, a seamless transition to club membership,” said Jane Joyce, chair of the independent golfer working group and a Golf Ireland board member.
“This initiative is supported by the R&A as a way to grow the sport and bring more players into the game.”
According to Golf Ireland, “research from other countries with similar schemes show that iGolf subscribers are more likely to consider traditional golf club membership in the future,” citing 14pc in England and 40pc in New Zealand.
But that will be of little comfort to the many small clubs who cannot afford to lose members now.
Golf Ireland has certainly changed its tune on the subject of golfing nomads.
CEO Mark Kennelly officially started in the job on 1 January 2021 but having said in an interview in this newspaper that there were no plans to implement such a scheme, things have now changed, with the R&A more than keen to have them plough ahead.
“Our priority is golf club membership, and the world handicap system will be available to members of affiliate clubs,” Mr Kennelly said at the end of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a huge boom in membership numbers.
“People this year have seen the real advantages of joining clubs, and I think a lot of the casual or nomadic golfers have chosen to join clubs this year. They’re seeing the many advantages of being part of a club, including a handicap.”
Golf Ireland effectively shut down a commercial scheme called FlexyGolf in 2021 but, urged on by the R&A and eager to boost the number of registered golfers (and arguably its own commercial attractiveness to sponsors), they have gone ahead.
Slavish is too strong a word but Golf Ireland has certainly been tremendously co-operative when it comes to toeing the R&A line in many worthy areas.
What does the future hold? Nobody can say for sure.
Unlike the effects of the French Revolution, it may not take too long before we know whether the iGolf scheme has been slam dunk or a frustrating and expensive lip-out.
Insurance