GUI names players for Catalonia, Argentina and South Africa trips
Robin Dawson (Ireland) during the 2017 Home Internationals at Moortown. Picture: Golffile | Thos Caffrey
The GUI recently produced a 28-page booklet entitled "What We Do."
It does exactly what it says on the cover and explains, amongst other things, that the annual subscription paid to the GUI by members of affiliated clubs helps support "Irish golfers on the world stage."
The GUI also generates money via sponsorship, coaching grants and government funding via Sport Ireland, Sport NI and The R&A.
For example, Sport Ireland annually contributes €275,000 towards the cost of running the GUI’s High Performance Programme.
Alex Gleeson (IRL) during the third round of the 2017 European Amateur Championship played at The Old Course, Walton Heath Golf Club. 30/06/2017. Picture: Golffile | Phil Inglis
And some of that money will be used this winter to send members of the GUI Senior Panel to Catalonia, Argentina and South Africa.
From November 28, Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint), Tiarnán McLarnon (Massereene), Mark Power (Kilkenny), Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk), Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint), Ronan Mullarney (Galway) and James Sugrue (Mallow) will travel to PGA Catalunya Resort in Girona for a four-day coaching session with national coach Neil Manchip.
Then from January 13-16, Alex Gleeson (Castle) and Robin Dawson (Tramore) will represent Ireland at the South American Amateur Championship at Martindale Golf & Country Club near Buenos Aires.
The overseas travel will continue in 2018 when eight players compete at the South African Stroke Play Championship at Pecanwood Golf Club from February 6-9 and the African Amateur Championship at Glendower Golf Club from February 13-16.
The players selected are Campbell, Dawson, Gleeson, McLarnon, Rafferty, Peter O’Keeffe (Douglas), Jonathan Yates (Naas) and Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin).