4.30pm
New Zealand Golf's chief executive Peter Dale has resigned over the Mal Tongue affair "for the good of the game".
It follows a disagreement with national coach Tongue which led to Tongue's resignation along with the five assistant national coaches earlier in the week.
New Zealand Golf had hoped the
situation could be resolved by mediation, and had welcomed the involvement of SPARC's head of coaching and national men's softball coach Don Tricker, who is scheduled to meet with the coaches on Tuesday.
Dale said he was devastated by the situation and disappointed that Tongue had decided to take their private disagreement into the public arena through the media.
"My only focus has always been to do the absolute best for the sport, and we have certainly made some real strides in that direction," Dale said.
"This situation is now untenable for me and my family. I believe the only way I can make a useful contribution to this mess is to resign for the good of the game."
Dale tendered his resignation to the Board of New Zealand Golf yesterday and will be working through a handover period with them at a meeting next Thursday.
He said the board were now able to deal with the resignation of Tongue and the assistant coaches without further impediment.
- NZPA
