Golf Australia is the governing body for the sport of golf in Australia, formed in 2006 after the Australian Golf Union (AGU) and Women's Golf Australia (WGA) agreed to merge.[1][2] The decision, which was formally ratified at a meeting in Melbourne in August 2005,[3] was made after the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) threatened to withdraw its financial support unless the two bodies amalgamated.[4] The ASC contributed approximately A$1 million annually to the Australian Institute of Sport for golf funding.[4]
Colin Phillips, the AGU's executive director since 1978, retired from his position in 2005, claiming that the way the decision to merge had been forced upon the sport by the federal government, had been a factor in his decision.[4]
Following the merger, IMG, the sports marketing company which organizes the Australian Open golf event, signed a three year deal which increased its ties to Golf Australia.[5] Former tennis pro and new Open chairman Paul McNamee also renegotiated a deal signed by the old AGU, whereby the tournament would be hosted at the Moonah Links course in Rye, Victoria three times in every five years. That decision had been heavily criticized by golf professionals who found issue with the course layout, low attendances and poor corporate interest,[6] but the new organization was able to reduce its obligation to three tournaments before 2020.[7]