Annual Review 2019
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Annual Review. 2019/20 The R&A Annual Review 1 Foreword This foreword comes with the overriding hope that those connected with our sport in whatever capacity remain safe and well, despite the pandemic which has caused such great human tragedy and economic disaster for so many. Golf courses in many countries have hosted this and produced a ‘fairy-tale’ It remains to be seen how the been closed during the last year and winner in Germany’s Sophia Popov, who infrastructure of our sport will recover the lockdowns that have been put in belied her world ranking of 307 to win from the impact of economic damage place affect the people of all those impressively with a score of 277. In the wrought by the pandemic as hopefully the nations, whose safety is now dependent process, she made many friends, who virus eventually recedes, both in the UK on the successful roll-out of life saving learned of her successful struggle to and beyond. However, as we look forward, vaccinations, however long that may overcoming adversity - the hallmark of one challenge for us all is to capitalise take. Without question, this has been a true champion. on the surge in interest in golf during a time of great challenge for the 2020. This resulted in great increases in whole world. The pandemic resulted in either the number of rounds played, golf being cancellation or postponement of recognised as a sport that could be Our own sport was significantly all major amateur golf (including played safely under slightly modified rules impacted in 2020 by the cancellation international matches) apart from throughout most of the pandemic. of The 149th Open, due to be played The Women’s Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s last July. Hugely and The Amateur Championship. One of our own initiatives is the launch of disappointing as it was, this was the Both events were played - like #FOREeveryone, a toolkit and resource correct decision for the Championship The AIG Women’s Open - with no available to Golf Clubs in Great Britain itself, our sport and the UK. We look spectators present. Aline Krauter, and Ireland to both attract and retain forward to July of this year, when also from Germany and England’s more women and girls in the sport. This Contents. Champion Golfer Shane Lowry will Joe Long emerged as champions project is supported by the Home Unions Chief Executive’s Review . 2 defend the Claret Jug he so memorably respectively at West Lancashire and as well as The PGA and other bodies. won at Royal Portrush in 2019. Royal Birkdale and will this year enjoy COVID-19 impact .............4 the exemptions which come with their We at The R&A are certainly looking Financial Summary ...........5 The impact of the pandemic on golf impressive victories forward greatly to this year and will in many countries represented by The continue to do all we can, working Financial Highlights ...........6 R&A’s Affiliates has been profound and Although we ran a limited amount of with our various global partners, to Summary of Financial Results..7 we established a fund of £7m to help elite competitive golf last year, The develop and improve our sport at this offset its damaging effects. These R&A’s governance responsibilities important time. Our Investment in Golf ........8 funds have been very greatly welcomed continued as usual. We welcomed Governance .................10 by recipients. the gradual but consistent roll out of the World Handicap System, which Professional Championships ..12 Our own 2020 highlight was has been well received internationally. Amateur Golf ................14 undoubtedly The AIG Women’s Open - Although our work on the vitally the most important championship held important Distance Insights Project was Golf Development ...........16 (for men or women) last year outside the put on hold following the first onset of Ian Pattinson The R&A Foundation .........18 United States of America. Royal Troon the pandemic, this has now resumed. Chairman, The R&A Sustainability ................20 Affiliated Organisations ......22 Our world of golf ............24 2 The R&A Annual Review 3 Chief Executive’s Review Sadly, the last year has in many ways The publication of the Distance Insights The Open continues to have a been dominated by the COVID-19 Report is highly significant for golf and substantial impact on the economy pandemic. Sport rightly took a back seat provides comprehensive research and of the host region in which it is played to looking after the health and wellbeing analysis on the contributors to, and each year and, in 2019, over £100 million of our families and loved ones. That has long-term impacts of, hitting distance. in economic benefit was provided to been the absolute priority for all of us but The report demonstrates that increases Northern Ireland as a result of staging in a business sense we were obliged to in hitting distance have affected some the Championship. We also recognise take some extremely difficult decisions of the essential elements of playing the importance of the relationships we on the staging of our professional and golf, including changing the strategic have with the local communities and amateur championships last year. challenge of the sport, altering the businesses near to the venues and we balance of skills needed to be successful invested £100,000 in legacy projects Since last March, our focus has been on and risking courses becoming less which will positively enhance the local ensuring that we do all that we can to help challenging or potentially obsolete. communities in Portrush. support everyone involved in golf, from those working in the sport to the millions We have committed to working in Our partnership with AIG is continuing of people who play around the world. collaboration with the key stakeholders to provide benefits for women’s golf. In in golf to address this issue and assess 2019, we made a significant increase in the We have undertaken important work potential solutions that can help end prize money available for the competing with the All-Party Parliamentary Group the cycle of increased distance in a way golfers in the AIG Women’s British Open for Golf and other golf bodies in the that brings the entire sport together. in recognition of the Championship’s UK to co-ordinate the safe playing of We are working closely with the USGA importance to women’s golf, while last golf with the government and devolved throughout this process to help ensure year a new brand was launched to signify administrations and to provide golf clubs that golf remains sustainable and our intention to elevate the Championship and facilities with important guidance on enjoyable for generations to come. around the world and it will now be known operations and resuming play safely. This as the AIG Women’s Open. Five world- has also included temporary measures for The introduction of the new World class venues have also been announced applying the Rules of Golf recreationally Handicap System last year was another as hosts of the AIG Women’s Open to and in competition. important step towards modernising the 2025, demonstrating our commitment to sport and meeting the needs of today’s raising the profile of the Championship. As a result, we were able to lay important golfer. Our hope is that its launch will be foundations for golf’s response to the a catalyst for change and will embrace We have enjoyed a remarkable two years pandemic when measures were lifted in all golfers whatever their level of ability, in which Hinako Shibuno and Sophia Spring last year and this has since enabled while broadening the sport’s appeal to Popov became first-time Major champions many people to enjoy the sport’s physical new audiences. As with the new Rules of in extraordinary circumstances – Shibuno and mental health benefits during a time Golf, we will see a period of adjustment in her first appearance outside of Japan when a real premium has been placed on but once the new system beds-in we and Popov in having overcome adversity drive to create a more inclusive culture, more women to seek careers within Sustainability is an important area of individual wellbeing. will see golfers and golf clubs benefit in to lift the title. nurturing greater female participation the golf industry. It will continue work for the organisation. We were many ways. and encouraging more women into roles to support the development and delighted to launch The Open Water We also worked in close collaboration At the heart of The R&A’s Women in Golf within the golf industry. In providing more progression of women who have the Project at Royal Portrush and the with our health advisers, partners and We knew that The Open’s return to Charter is a desire to inspire more women support to clubs and facilities to attract potential to become future leaders removal of all single-use plastic water government officials to be able to stage Northern Ireland for the first time since and girls to follow their dreams and and retain more females into the sport, within the golf industry, which is vital bottles from the venue is an important the AIG Women’s Open and our men’s 1951 was going to be a truly special aspirations to reach the highest levels of we hope that #FOREeveryone can inspire to improving gender balance at the step towards our aim of significantly and women’s amateur championships occasion but I do not think anyone could golf. Our agreement with the European tangible change and provide a supporting senior levels of organisations operating reducing the environmental impact of safely.