Administratively, golf in Malta is in a rather unique situation in that there is only one golf club on the island. Therefore there has been very little to differentiate between the administration of the club (the Royal Malta Golf Club – RMGC) and the administration of the game as a sport.

The Malta Golf Federation (MGF) was founded in 1996 in order to resolve this but, with there being only one club eligible to join, the administration of the game remained very much in the hands of the RMGC.

This anomaly has now been addressed by radical changes to the statute of the MGF which has been re-styled as the Malta Golf Association (MGA). The new name reflects the principal change in the statute which now extends a vote to each and every member of a club or golf society that is registered with the Association.

The association’s statute also opens the door to the formation of golf societies (groups) that have distinct interest outside golf but embrace golf as their sport. It also makes it possible for non-resident Maltese to represent Malta in international competition.

The MGA’s object is to regulate the sport of amateur golf and to promote golf in the Maltese Islands. It is responsible for local and overseas affiliations and for the selection of representatives for international competitions and forums. Handicapping also falls under the responsibility of the MGA. The MGA has no say in the management of the Royal Malta Golf Club although there are obviously very strong ties between the two. In keeping with its re-defined role the MGA will be electing a new council in June.

The MGA inherits quite a legacy from its predecessor. Through the MGF, Malta participated in the Junior Open four times (won one bronze), qualified four referees at the R&A in St Andrews, thanks to the Malta Olympic Committee participated in the Mediterranean Games in Tunisia in 2001 and in Spain in June 2005. It is affiliated to the R&A, The PGA of Europe, The International Golf Federation, the Malta Olympic Committee, and is recognised by the Malta Sports Council. There is also a rapport with the Council of National Golf Unions of the UK and the Association of Golf Club Secretaries.

Currently the MGA has two projects in hand. One is the promotion of the game amongst the younger generation. To this end it has secured the gift of a number of junior golf sets from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews which will be used in the junior coaching programme already under way at the RMGC. The second project is to assemble a team of three players worthy of representing Malta in the Mediterranean Games in Pescara, Italy, in 2009.

Much will depend on the players reaching the required standard – Category 1 handicaps should be the minimum requirement but even so the final word will rest with the Malta Olympic Committee. Meanwhile negotiations are at an advanced stage for the R&A to second a teaching professional to take national team prospects under his wing.