Off the tee: Boards feel urge to merge

Amalgamation of the controlling bodies of New Zealand men's and women's golf seems to be gaining momentum with both parties actively pursuing the idea.

And there is interest from the NZPGA in slotting the professional game into whatever structure is adopted.

Anne Fitzpatrick, executive director of Women's Golf New Zealand, has returned from the World Congress of Women's Golf in New York greatly impressed by the Swedish model for the sport.

She notes that the Swedish Federation and their PGA work co-operatively, underpinned by a written agreement. Golf in that country, unlike other parts of Europe, is a middle-class, family game and in many events amateurs and professionals play together.

The amateur body is fully integrated with no separate women's organisation. The women's programme and events are an equal part of the overall set-up.

Fitzpatrick conceded that in the past there had been pockets of opinion in the New Zealand game opposed to linking of the men's and women's games.

"Now we sense a fair level of support in clubs and districts," she said. "Times have changed and the social trends are going to continue.

"With the groundswell of support, the challenge is for the organisations to move with the trends and come up with the right model."

The boards of both the men's and women's game had agreed to a merger in principle and discussions were continuing.

"While we've been talking, there has been a galvanising of goodwill in the past two months.

"Women don't want to take over the sport and it's not about Annika Sorenstam or Penny Newbrook playing against the men. They are players at the top of their game seeking a personal challenge.

"The vast majority of men have greater physical strength. Integration would mean advancing the game together, but having separation where it is appropriate."

John Patterson, chairman and acting chief executive of New Zealand Golf, said a letter of intent on the need to progress amalgamation had been sent to the women and various models would be studied before a decision was made.

Fitzpatrick cited the example of Bowls New Zealand as a success story for amalgamation, and she noted that within golf, the North Harbour district had been fully integrated since its formation nine years ago.

But in soccer, several prominent women's administrators have approached the Human Rights Commission to investigate whether women have been treated fairly since integration.

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Waikato professional Gina Scott has continued her good form on the European women's tour with ninth equal placing in the French Open at the weekend.

Scott, who lost the Italian Open in a playoff the previous week, shared the lead after the first round in France, but faded with a 74 in the final round to finish at one under par.

The winner, Frenchwoman Stephanie Arricau, was seven under for the tournament. The defending champion, Wellingtonian Lynnette Brooky, shared ninth place with Scott. Each won €5362 ($10,300).

Scott is 13th on the money list with €45,000. Brooky is 16th with €38,000.

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Whoever wins the US Open at Shinnecock Golf Club in Southampton, New York, this weekend will have beaten a very big as well as talented field.

A record 8726 golfers entered the event and were whittled down in a series of qualifying tournaments. With many of those making the final field for Shinnecock through various exemptions, the odds of grabbing one of the few slots available were extreme.

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One of the smallest clubs in the district, Chamberlain Park, has won the Auckland women's 18-hole matchplay championship at Aviation.