About the WAGA

The Western Australian Golf Association (Inc) is a non-profit organisation established in 1921 to promote and foster the enjoyment of golf.

The objects of the Association are set out in the Constitution.

To foster the efficient development of the game of golf in Western Australia and to provide and maintain a central organisation for its promotion, progress and general control.

To represent the golf clubs and players in Western Australia in their dealings with other representative bodies and to promote personal and friendly relationships between all members of golf clubs.

To control and manage State Championship competitions, all interclub and pennant matches and such other competitions as may be determined from time to time.

To control the representation of the State of Western Australia in international and interstate golf matches and in all similar competitions and to arrange finance for them.

To affiliate with Golf Australia (formerly Australian Golf Union) and to provide representation thereon and to represent the State of Western Australia in dealing with all other golf representative bodies.

To establish Australian Course Ratings in accordance with the Australian Course Rating System for all clubs within the Association and to ensure that a proper system of handicapping is adhered to by all members of the Association.

To encourage a proper knowledge and observations of the Rules of Golf and Rules of Amateur Status as promulgated by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Scotland and adopted by Golf Australia.

To solely apply the property and income of the Association towards the promotion of the objects of the Association and no part of that property or income shall be paid or otherwise distributed directly or indirectly to members, except in good faith in the promotion of these objects.

To do all such other lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them.

The Association is administered by an Executive Committee which is appointed on a yearly  basis by a Council which is made up of Delegates who represent their respective clubs / associations.  The powers of the Executive include -

To arrange, manage and control in conjunction with Golf Australia international, national and interstate events played in Western Australia.

To deal with and decide any matters of dispute, interpretations or questions that may from time to time be referred to the Association.

To approve and endorse or otherwise the business transacted at meetings of the Match Committee and any other sub committee for which minutes have been provided.

To purchase, hire, sell, exchange or deal in any real and personal property and to borrow, raise money and to give security therefore in any manner as is deemed necessary to attain the objects of the Association. 

Make such By-Laws as may be necessary for the management of the Association provided that no By-Laws are inconsistent with these Rules.

To appoint sub committees and to delegate any of its power to such sub committees precluding those powers referred to in paragraph six of this Rule.

To construe these Rules for all purposes such construction to be final unless rescinded by a General Meeting of the Association.

To nominate one of Golf Australia Delegates to the Executive of Golf Australia.

To fill any casual vacancy in the Executive Committee or Match Committee through death, resignation or disability, but the person so chosen shall retain membership of the Executive Committee or Match Committee only until the next Annual General Meeting of the Association.

The Executive Committee shall have power to prohibit any member of an affiliated golf club from playing in any fixture under the control of the Association upon submission of satisfactory evidence in writing from the Secretary of any club of which he had been or is a member that he is a defaulter.

The name of any member who has been struck off the register of any affiliated club shall be reported by the club to the Association within twenty eight (28) days of the erasure and the name, club and date shall be recorded by the Association in a book kept for that purpose.

In addition to the Executive Committee a Match Committee is also appointed at the Annual General Meeting .  This Committee is responsible for -

To conduct all Association events, including pennants, by arranging conditions of entry and play, trophies and related matters.

To recommend the appointment of State Selectors and State Team Managers and to endorse the selection of all state squads, state teams, state representatives and team captains. 

To recommend the appointment of State Coaches and outline their duties and responsibilities.

To arrange course ratings of all courses of clubs that may require such to be done, or where it may be deemed desirable to be done.

To review the Australian Handicapping System and Course Rating System as and when required and to recommend changes.

To co-ordinate meetings of the Junior Council, being a sub committee of the Match Committee, and comprising a group of persons interested in the development of junior golf in the state.

To present minutes and to report on all activities to each meeting of the Executive Committee for approval and confirmation.

In 1979 the WAGA in conjunction with WGWA established the Graham Marsh Junior Golf Foundation.  This was the first junior golf foundation set up to develop, foster and promote junior golf for both boys and girls.  This prompted other states to set up similar organisations and the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation in New South Wales, the Greg Norman Junior Golf Foundation in Queensland and the Stuart Appleby Foundation in Victoria were established specifically to develop and promote junior golf within their state.

In Western Australia the GMJGF operates from the WAGA Office and looks after the development of girls and boys golf (website - www.gmjgf.com).

The Executive Committee, Match Committee and Graham Marsh Junior Golf Foundation are assisted by a full time office staff of six people.