RCGA Cuts Won't Affect Provincial Team Events

Among the first to see staff layoffs at the RCGA in 2008 were a number of friends employed in the media and communications division. A few other departments were trimmed as well and multi-tasking was increased.

This season the RCGA has cut down the number of athletes in the 2009 National Team Program, reduced from 26 to 17 "in order to bring a more inclusive program with amplified support to each athlete," said an official RCGA release.

However, the eight-player roster of the national amateur team remains intact for 2009 as per last week's announcement: BC Wins 5 Spots On National Amateur Team

While other cost-saving measures within the Association are likely to follow, reporter Glenn MacDonald from Halifax writes that golfers should not fear the loss of provincial team competition at national golf tournaments, according to the executive director of the Royal Canadian Golf Association.

By GLENN MacDONALD
Sports Reporter
The Halifax ChronicleHerald.ca

The RCGA is proposing to slice in half the funding provincial associations receive to help field teams, such as the Willingdon Cup men's amateur foursome, which compete at the seven national tournaments during the summer. The proposal would have the RCGA and the 10 provincial associations splitting the costs.

But Scott Simmons said "there is no talk of eliminating the team competitions."

"It's one of a dozen issues that we're looking at in respect to our financials," Simmons said in an interview Thursday evening. "But it seems to be the one that has become the lightning rod with the provinces.

"I think the provincial team components of our national championships are the core part of the history and tradition of the sport and our organization.

"But we have to look at everything with our expenses to figure out how to get our business back in the black. It's such a challenge for us to find ways to cut costs or find ways to increase revenue. That's why we're looking at any and all opportunities to cut back on our costs.

"There's opinion out there that why should the RCGA fund this at all. Why wouldn't the provinces pay their own way? I guess it's part of the history and tradition."

Currently, the RCGA provides roughly $40,000 annually to each of the 10 provincial golf associations, which would fund team travel to these national events.

The issue will be among many discussed at the association's annual general meeting, beginning next Thursday in Halifax.

"We could eliminate the entire funding or we could cut it somewhat," Simmons said. "We just threw out a straw man and said 'what if we cut it in half and shared the costs with provinces.' We asked them to consider that and give us their feedback. We'll talk about it at length next week. But by no means have we come to a decision to cut it in half."

"Theoretically you could pull the team competitions out of all the individual tournaments and create a new event that is just provincial teams," Simmons added. "We haven't made that decision; I'm just using it as an example. But if you had all the teams from all levels, junior up to senior, you could really make a big deal out of it."

Meanwhile, Tom McCarthy of Hammonds Plains, NS will be sworn in as RCGA president for a one-year term during next week's AGM.

"He'll bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the role," Simmons said.

Edmonton's Karen Rackel, who will serve as second vice-president, will become the association's first female president in 2011.