What does the Golf Association do?

There seems to be a surprising lack of knowledge in Bermuda about what the Bermuda Golf Association is actually supposed to bring to the table for its members. 

From comments overheard, one would almost conclude that the BGA is supposed to be the all-singing, all-dancing source of golf activities in Bermuda. 

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The people of the world have an annoying, and increasing, propensity to look everywhere but in the mirror when trying to explain why something is not quite as good as it should be. 

The recent BP oil disaster is an example where those involved tried desperately to focus the blame on anybody but themselves.

The BGA is the body in Bermuda responsible for administering golf in Bermuda on behalf of the R&A.

 In discharging its responsibility, the BGA is expected to hold certain national tournaments, such as the Bermuda Open, the Bermuda Amateur, the Bermuda Junior Amateur and the Bermuda Senior Amateur.  The R&A expects every jurisdiction to crown golf champions at these levels and so the BGA holds these events each and every year.

The BGA is also responsible for ensuring that the game of golf is played within Bermuda to the appropriate levels of integrity that makes this game so great. 

The Rules of Golf and the Rules of Amateur Status are important elements of the game of golf and the BGA is responsible for ensuring that they are upheld in Bermuda at all times.

The BGA provides additional services to its members, with the key word here being additional.  The BGA has a license agreement with the USGA whereby all BGA members are able to establish a handicap using the USGA’s GHIN system. 

The GHIN system is recognized around the golfing world which in turn means that all BGA members will be able to use their handicap wherever in the world they find themselves playing golf.

The BGA also holds regular monthly medals, a task which is quite outside the scope of a national association. 

In the U.K., these types of regular medal events are not considered to be the responsibility of even the county associations, let alone the national body, rather, the individual golf clubs recognize that they too have a role to play in the provision of competitions. 

As a result, many of the better golf clubs hold Open Medal days whereby golfers of a certain handicap can enter.

Frankly, in my opinion, that is exactly how the additional medal events should take place in Bermuda.

 The six main golf clubs in Bermuda should each hold one Open Medal day per year, spread over the year and contested over 36 holes. 

The Belmont Golf Club used to hold just such an event, called the Belmont Spring Meeting, and it was very popular. 

Ocean View also used to hold such an event, which included professionals playing over 54 holes and amateurs over 36 holes. 

Sometimes, the way forward is looking right back at us.