Peter Williams: Time for professional approach to merger

What could be the start of something hugely significant for golf in this country happens on September 19. Board members from New Zealand Golf (NZG) and the New Zealand PGA will meet in Wellington to discuss "possible strategic co-operation."

The old New Zealand Golf Association and Ladies Golf Union were formed in 1910 and the NZPGA in 1913. Such has been the territorial nature of golf administration that a formal meeting between the amateur and professional bodies has never been held.

According to information sent to PGA members, the meeting on Tuesday week wants "to agree on a platform on which the organisations can work together". Areas to be discussed include "the growth of the game, the development of a strong coaching programme and of club-professional relationships."

No doubt there will be differing opinions on what the best structure should be but, for what it's worth, this is how I see the future:

NZG should be the "one stop shop" for golf. It continues its roles in course rating, handicapping and rules. It also becomes the only golf organisation which runs elite tournaments and sets up an operations division responsible for every significant event in the country, from the New Zealand Open down.

If the NZPGA Championship is to continue (and it currently has no sponsor), it would also come under this division. So would the GTNZ events, pro-ams and other major events administered by NZG such as the New Zealand Amateur and North and South Island championships.

The difference under this scheme is that PGA members would be eligible to play, if good enough.

And if you're wondering how a professional could win the New Zealand Amateur - well, you'd just change the name of the event to the national matchplay and national strokeplay championships.

Having one organisation making decisions about scheduling means no more dreadful clashes of dates which are a constant nuisance.

The golf operations division would take over the selection and development of all national teams, from the World Cup professional pairing, through the top level amateur teams to junior development squads.

It would also oversee and co-ordinate the activities of entry level touring professionals by helping them through mentoring initiatives Greg Turner has in place with his WEDGE (Winning Edge) programme but which have never been fully implemented.

Under this new structure, the NZPGA retains its identity, continuing its excellent work in coaching and club professional education and getting the support of NZG to become the only recognised golf coaching qualification.

By having the NZPGA formally become part of NZG, a huge amount of institutional golfing knowledge can be brought into the national organisation and that must only good be for the long-term future of the game.

The amalgamation process for men's and women's golf was slow and painful.

Let's hope the merger process for amateurs and professionals can happen a darn sight quicker.