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The International Golf Federation (IGF) was founded on 2 May 1958[1] and is the international federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the world governing body for golf.

The IGF has two membership categories representing the administration of golf internationally:[2]

  • 154 National Federation Members from 151 countries[3]
  • 21 Professional Members, mostly professional golf tours and Professional Golfers Associations[4]

History

On 2 May 1958,[1][5] the first documented step was marked toward the formal creation of the World Amateur Golf Council,[6] as delegates from 35 nations convened in Washington, D.C. for a meeting co-organized by the USGA and The R&A. The body was created to oversee the arrangement and management of the World Amateur Team Championships, specifically, the Eisenhower Trophy for men.[7]

Beginning in 1966, the World Amateur Golf Council also became the organizer for all future Women’s World Amateur Team Championships, known as the Espirito Santo Trophy, that was inaugurated by France in 1964.[8]

The Federation changed its name from the World Amateur Golf Council to the International Golf Federation in 2003 to reflect its transition to governing all of golf.[7]

In 2009, following the 13th Olympic Congress, the IOC voted to reintroduce golf at the 2016 Summer Olympics, under the sanction of the International Golf Federation.[9][10]

Secretariat

The headquarters of the IGF is located by the shores of Lake Geneva in Lausanne, Switzerland.[11]

Jurisdiction

Unlike most internationally recognized sports federations, the IGF is not responsible for developing, maintaining or administering the rules of golf. Instead, the rules are jointly developed and administered by the United States Golf Association (for the United States and Mexico only) and The R&A (the governing body derived from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, the historical codifier of the rules of golf), the two oldest governing bodies in golf history.

Events

Olympic Games

Main article: Golf at the Summer Olympics

The globalization of the sport has meant that following a couple of failed attempts, the International Olympic Committee’s executive board approved the reinstatement of golf in the Olympics by a vote of 63 votes to 27 in 2009.[9][10] The sport debuted as a core sport in the 2016 Summer Olympics and will be included in all subsequent games as so. It was also featured at the early Olympics in 1900 and 1904.

World Amateur Golf Team Championships

The World Amateur Golf Team Championships was started from 1958 for men and 1964 for women.[12]

Men

Main article: Eisenhower Trophy

The Eisenhower Trophy is a biennial world team championship for amateur men golfers. First held in 1958, the event is named after Dwight D. Eisenhower who was the President of the United States at the time.

Women

Main article: Espirito Santo Trophy

The Espirito Santo Trophy is a biennial world team championship for amateur women golfers. It was first held in 1964, organised by Mrs. Henri Prunaret and Lally Segard, and named after Ricardo and Silvia Espirito Santo, friends of Segard who donated the trophy.

Category

National Federations

Further information: Category:National members of the International Golf Federation

IGF comprises 132 federations from 126 countries

Continental / Regional Federations

The following seven[13] regional association are formed with the IGF National Membership.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b “International Golf Federation | UIA Yearbook Profile | Union of International Associations”. uia.org. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  2. ^ “International Golf Federation: Membership”. www.igfgolf.org. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  3. ^ “IGF National Members”. IGF. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  4. ^ “IGF Professional Members”. IGF. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  5. ^ “Looking Back … 1960 World Amateur at Merion”. USGA. 1 April 2013. Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  6. ^ “Historical Quotes on the WATC”. Golf Australia Archive. 20 October 2007. Archived from the original on 10 November 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  7. ^ a b “World Amateur Team Championships: History”. www.igfgolf.org. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  8. ^ “International Golf Federation – History”. IGF. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  9. ^ a b Karen, Mattias (9 October 2009). “Golf Has A Tee Time For 2016 Olympics”. CBS News. Associated Press. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  10. ^ a b Smith, Ben (9 October 2009). “Golf and rugby sevens to become Olympic sports from 2016”. The Times. Retrieved 14 May 2010.[dead link]
  11. ^ “About the International Golf Federation”. www.igfgolf.org. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  12. ^ “World Amateur Team Championships: History”. IGF. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  13. ^ “IGF – resources”. IGF. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  14. ^ “Caribbean Golf Association Official Website – Upcoming Tournaments – Past Results – Member Countries and Organizations”. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.