About Golf Ireland
Golf Ireland is the national governing body for golf in Ireland with more than 215,000 Golf Ireland affiliated members and a network of 376 clubs across the island of Ireland. Golf is now the fourth largest sport in Ireland in terms of participation. Our purpose is to be a modern, inclusive and cohesive governing body that untaps the immense potential of golf throughout the island. We believe Golf is a game for everyone – for enjoyment, for health for life. As a company limited by guarantee, Golf Ireland is led by a Board of Directors comprising of six members selected by its regions and a Chairperson and six Nominated Directors selected by the Nominations Advisory Committee. A Board rotation process is in place and the organisation is committed to maintaining 40:40 gender balance on the Board, in line with government requirements.
Role Details
At the 2025 National AGM of Golf Ireland on 29 March 2025, the roles of Chairperson and two of the Nominated Director positions are due for rotation. Expressions of interest for these significant roles are now welcome and should be submitted to board@golfireland.ie by Thursday 30 January at 5pm. This is an opportunity to join a diverse board that works closely with the wider Golf Ireland team and stakeholders to continue to grow the game in Ireland. As a member of the Board you will have an opportunity to develop initiatives that help support golf in Ireland, nurture our talent and lead our organisation. In order to meet the Irish Government’s gender balance requirements for the boards of sports governing bodies, to which Golf Ireland is publicly committed, the nominees for at least two of these positions must be female. The nominee for the third position may be male or female.
Role Description
Directors must clearly demonstrate their ability to meet the requirements of the role, explaining how their experience and technical skills will assist them. In order to provide a balanced skill set Golf Ireland is seeking applicants specifically with experience or knowledge in one or more of the following areas:
1. Corporate governance
2. Finance, auditing
3. Commercial, marketing and sponsorship
4. Sports and/or Golf administration
5. Senior level experience or knowledge of sporting systems
Candidates must demonstrate in their application, evidence of:
1. Board or similar experience in an organisation of commensurate size
2. Understanding of the not-for-profit, membership-based sports governing body sector
3. Be prepared to make a time commitment to their work commensurate with their role
4. Independence of thought and sound judgement
5. Integrity with strong ethical approach
6. Strong communications, interpersonal and relationship skills
7. An understanding of good governance practices and company regulation
8. Understanding of the importance of equality, inclusion and diversity in golf
The role of Chair is to:
The Chairperson shall chair all meetings of the Board and the Company in accordance with the Constitution and shall carry out all duties in the best interests of Golf Ireland and the company as a whole. The Chairperson shall possess the necessary professional leadership, communication and corporate governance knowledge required to manage and chair the Board of Golf Ireland. The Chairperson shall dedicate sufficient time to working with the Board. The Chairperson shall lead the Board, instilling the values of Golf Ireland and ensuring constructive relations between Golf Ireland and stakeholders. The Chairperson shall work closely with the Chief Executive Officer who shall report into the Chairperson in accordance with the Chief Executive's contract. The Chairperson shall oversee the induction and development of all Directors on the Board.
In planning a meeting, the Chairperson will help (in co-operation with the Secretary and Chief Executive Officer) develop a timed agenda to structure discussions at the board meeting. The Chairperson will use a meeting agenda, to help keep meetings in order and to keep the discussions on track. Ensuring that meetings progress effectively is a key function of the Chairperson. In managing a meeting, the Chairperson should encourage each board member attending to contribute to the discussions. The Chairperson should help guide meeting discussions to a point where board members can reach decisions. In some instances, it may be appropriate to defer decisions to a future meeting. The Chairperson should check and ensure that proper and accurate information is provided to the board and decisions are implemented by the people whose task it is to carry out actions, arising from decisions taken by the board. The Chairperson shall be a Director of the Board and as such shall be subject to company law requirements. The Chairperson should ensure that Golf Ireland operates within all regulations in force, including company and employment law, equal opportunities and promotes good practice in all activities. The Chairperson will ensure the Board works closely with the sub-committees of the Board, employing clear lines of communication and reporting back to the Board. The Chairperson should ensure key matters such as the organisations strategy, governance, financial management and risk assessment are regularly reviewed by the Board. The Chairperson shall ensure an effectiveness review is undertaken by the Board on an annual basis. The Chairperson will carry out such other responsibilities as may be required from time to time, under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Board Commitment
The role of Chair of the Board of Directors is not accompanied by any financial remuneration, although expenses for travel and subsistence may be claimed in accordance with Golf Ireland’s Volunteer Expenses Policy. Meetings are generally held during business hours from Monday-Friday at Carton Demesne, Maynooth, Co. Kildare or via remote conference call. Meetings generally last for 2-3 hours and are held approximately six times per year. Board members also sit on relevant National Sub Committees based on their relevant skills set/interest. These committees typically meet once a quarter.
Application Process
Applicants should ensure that the Cover Letter (and supporting CV) clearly specifies how the person’s particular background and experience meets the requirements outlined above. Please also identify any potential conflicts of interest that may potentially exist in your application letter. Golf Ireland operates a Code of Conduct and Conflicts of Interest register for all board members. Your submission should be made by email to board@golfireland.ie with your Curriculum Vitae and a cover letter outlining the specific expertise you would bring. Closing date Thursday 30 January 2025 at 5pm. Appointments will be assessed by the Golf Ireland Nominations Advisory Committee. Applicants should be prepared to meet and/or discuss their application and interest in the positions with any nominated members of the Committee if they deem this necessary. Please note, Golf Ireland is an inclusive organisation which supports and promotes equality and diversity and all applications will be assessed on this basis.
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