The European Golf Association (EGA) is a non-profit organisation based in Epalinges,

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

, which was founded in 1937 in

Luxembourg Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small lan ...

. The EGA's main activity consists of coordinating and co-organizing European amateur golf championships. It functions in coordination with its 49 member federations. It also is the body responsible for the implementation of the

World Handicap System A golf handicap is a numerical measure of a golfer's potential that is used to enable players of varying abilities to compete against one another. Better players are those with the lowest handicaps. Historically, rules relating to handicaps have v ...

in Europe. In reaction to the

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. An ...

, in March 2022 the European Golf Association announced that it would not allow teams, individuals, and officials from Russia and Belarus to participate in EGA events in 2022, and that no EGA events were planned to take place in Russia or Belarus.

History and function

The European Golf Association was founded in

on 20 November 1937. The EGA is governed by three committees: *Executive Committee *Championship Committee *Handicapping and Course Rating Committee In addition to coordinating and co-organizing amateur golf tournaments and international matches, the EGA also reviews the European aspects of the

Rules of Golf The rules of golf consist of a standard set of regulations and procedures by which the sport of golf should be played. They are jointly written and administered by The R&A (spun off from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 2004) and th ...

and the European amateur status as defined by

The R&A The R&A is the collective name of a group of companies that together play a significant role within the game of golf. Historically, "the R&A" was a colloquial name for the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews; in 2004, the club spun off ...

Rules Limited, being concerned only by matters of an international character. The association is the governing body responsible for the implementation of the

in Europe; it is particularly responsible for reviewing and harmonizing the calculation of handicap European amateur players.

Member federations

The EGA currently comprises 49 member federations. The EGA membership is reserved for national European golf associations, federations or unions, with only one representing the golf activities of its country. Each member federation operates independently in their respective country with regards to their domestic affairs over which the EGA has no jurisdiction. Member federations are divided into four geographical areas.

World Handicap System

The

(WHS) is a new handicapping system implemented in 2020, which aims to unify the previous six different handicap systems in order to enable golfers to play and compete on a fair and equal basis, regardless of how and where they play. Until 2020, several different handicap systems were operating independently across different regions of the world, all of which were governed by separate bodies. Their different characteristics have sometimes resulted in inconsistency, as a player could have a different handicap depending which country he was registered in. The WHS is governed by the World Handicap Authority, which features representatives of the six former handicapping bodies (the EGA, the

United States Golf Association The United States Golf Association (USGA) is the United States national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the rules ...

, the Council of National Golf Unions,

Golf Australia Golf Australia is the governing body for the sport of golf in Australia, formed in 2006 after the Australian Golf Union (AGU) and Women's Golf Australia (WGA) agreed to merge.

, the South African Golf Association and the Argentina Golf Association), and is now jointly run by the

and

. The EGA is the governing body responsible for the implementation of the World Handicap System in Europe, except the members representing England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, owing to their membership to the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU). European golfers are affiliated to the national golf authority in charge in their jurisdiction. The EGA member federations (excluding CONGU nations) are currently adopting and implementing the WHS in their respective countries. The implementation and oversight of handicapping continues to be the responsibility of each handicapping authority and National Association. Under one handicap system, a player’s handicap can be applicable on any course in the world. The WHS therefore facilitates international competition under one global system, granting players to compare their handicaps with and fairly compete against all registered golfers across the globe.

EGA events

The EGA coordinates and co-organizes 27 European golf tournaments.

European Individual Championships (8)

European Amateur Championship The European Amateur Championship is an annual amateur golf tournament played at various locations throughout Europe. It is organized by the European Golf Association and was one of the "Elite" tournaments recognized by the World Amateur Golf Rank ...

(1986–) *

European Ladies Amateur Championship The European Ladies Amateur Championship is an annual amateur golf tournament. It is organized by the European Golf Association and is one of the "elite" tournaments recognized by the World Amateur Golf Ranking. The championship was first played in ...

(1986–) * European Mid-Amateur Men's Championship (1991–) * European Mid-Amateur Ladies' Championship (2019–) *

European Senior Men's Championship The European Senior Men's Championship is a European amateur golf championship for men over 50 (previously 55) organized by the European Golf Association. The inaugural event was held in 1996, with 25 editions have been contested so far. It is n ...

(1996–) *

European Senior Ladies' Championship The European Senior Ladies' Championship is an annual European amateur golf championship for women over 50 (previously 55) organized by the European Golf Association. The inaugural event was held in 1996, with 25 editions have been contested so fa ...

(1996–) *

European Young Masters The European Young Masters is a European amateur mixed team golf championship for boys and girls under 16 organised by the European Golf Association The European Golf Association (EGA) is a non-profit organisation based in Epalinges, Switzerla ...

(1995–) * European Championships for Disabled Golfers: The EGA collaborates with the European Disabled Golfers Association (EDGA) for the organisation of the event and awards medals to the winners of the championship.

European Team Championships (11)

European Amateur Team Championship The European Amateur Team Championship is a European amateur team golf championship for men organised by the European Golf Association which was introduced in 1959. The championship was played in odd-numbered years from 1959 to 2007 and has been ...

(1959–) *European Amateur Team Championship, Division 2 (Formerly named EGA Men's Challenge Trophy from 2002 to 2013) (2002–) *

European Ladies' Team Championship The European Ladies' Team Championship is a European amateur team golf championship for women organised by the European Golf Association. The inaugural event was held in 1959. It was played in odd-numbered years from 1959 to 2007 and has been pla ...

(1959–) *

European Boys' Team Championship The European Boys' Team Championship (Jean-Louis Dupont Trophy) is a European amateur team golf championship for men up to 18 organized by the European Golf Association. The inaugural event was held in 1980 and it has been played annually since. S ...

(1980–) *European Boys' Team Championship, Division 2 (Formerly named EGA Boys' Challenge Trophy from 2004 to 2013) (2004–) *

European Girls' Team Championship The European Girls' Team Championship is a European amateur team golf championship for women up to 18 organised by the European Golf Association. The inaugural event was held in 1991. It was played in odd-numbered years from 1991 to 1999 and has bee ...

(1991–) *

European Senior Men's Team Championship The European Senior Men's Team Championship is a European amateur golf championship for men over 50 (previously 55) organized by the European Golf Association. The inaugural event was held in 2006 and the match is played every year. Before the e ...

(2006–) *

European Senior Ladies' Team Championship The European Senior Ladies' Team Championship is a European amateur golf championship for women over 50 (previously 55) organized by the European Golf Association The European Golf Association (EGA) is a non-profit organisation based in Epali ...

(2006–) *European Men's Team Shield (2015–) *European Ladies' Team Shield (2016–) * European Team Championships for Disabled Golfers: The EGA collaborates with the European Disabled Golfers Association (EDGA) for the organisation of the event and awards medals to the winners of the championship.

International Matches (6)

Bonallack Trophy The Bonallack Trophy is an amateur golf competition on the model of the Ryder Cup which opposes every two years a European team and a team representing Asia/Pacific. The venue alternates between courses in Europe and Asia/Pacific. The first compe ...

Patsy Hankins Trophy The Patsy Hankins Trophy is a women's amateur golf competition on the model of the Ryder Cup, corresponding to the men's Bonallack Trophy. The competition opposes every two years a European team and a team representing Asia/Pacific, and the venue a ...

Vagliano Trophy The Vagliano Trophy is a biennial women's amateur golf tournament. It is co-organised by The R&A and the European Golf Association and is contested by teams representing "Great Britain and Ireland" and the "Continent of Europe". It is played in od ...

Junior Vagliano Trophy The Junior Vagliano Trophy is an annual girls amateur golf tournament. It is co-organised by The R&A and the European Golf Association and is contested by teams representing "Great Britain and Ireland" and the "Continent of Europe". The first event ...

St Andrews Trophy The St Andrews Trophy is a biennial men's team golf tournament contested between teams of amateur golfers representing Great Britain & Ireland and the Continent of Europe. It takes its name from St Andrews in Scotland. It was first played in 1 ...

Jacques Léglise Trophy The Jacques Léglise Trophy is an annual amateur boys' team golf competition between Great Britain & Ireland and the Continent of Europe. It was first played in 1977, as a one-day match before the Boys Amateur Championship, but since 1996 it has b ...

Club Trophies (2)

*European Men's Club Trophy (1975–) *European Ladies' Club Trophy (2001–)

Others

The EGA is involved is involved in the organisation of the following events: *

Junior Ryder Cup The Junior Ryder Cup is a team golf competition between Europe and the United States for junior golfers aged 18 and under. It is based on the men's Ryder Cup and is run by the same organisations, the PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe. The 2018 ...

: The EGA collaborates with the

European Tour The European Tour (currently known as the DP World Tour for sponsorship reasons), legally the PGA European Tour is the leading men's professional golf tour in Europe. The organisation also operates the European Senior Tour (for players aged fift ...

regarding the

European team selection. * Asia-Pacific Junior Championship: The EGA sends the

winners and runners-up of the boys' and girls' categories to compete in the Asia-Pacific Junior Championship. In a reciprocal arrangement, the EGA invites APHC to send up to 4 players to compete in the

for the individual titles.

No longer disputed

Former EGA championships has been discontinued: *

EGA Trophy The EGA Trophy was an annual amateur boys' under-21 team golf competition between Great Britain & Ireland and the Continent of Europe. History The match was instituted in 1967 and played every year until it was discontinued in 1994. The first ti ...

(1967–1994) *

European Youths' Team Championship The European Youths' Team Championship was a European amateur team golf championship for men under 22 organized by the European Golf Association. The inaugural event was held in 1961. It was played every year until 1982, then every second year. It ...

(1961–2006) *

European Lady Junior's Team Championship The European Lady Junior's Team Championship was a European amateur team golf championship for women under 22 organized by the European Golf Association. The inaugural event was held in 1968. It was played every year until 1984, then every second ye ...

(1968–2006)

References

External links

* {{Authority control Amateur golf Golf associations Sports governing bodies in Europe