GGU 'shabbily treated' claim by chairman
THE Guernsey and Jersey Golf Unions are at odds over the staging of the annual CI men's matchplay championship and a spin-off is that the golf competition at the NatWest Island Games this summer could be hit.
THE Guernsey and Jersey Golf Unions are at odds over the staging of the annual CI men's matchplay championship and a spin-off is that the golf competition at the NatWest Island Games this summer could be hit. The Jersey Golf Union has set aside 4-6 July for its annual island championships, which cuts across the climax to the 72-hole Games tournament in Guernsey.
Although Jersey have entered a team of four men's players, they may not be the Caesareans' very best.
'We are not at all happy about this,' said Goddard. 'The Guernsey Golf Union believes we are being shabbily treated,' he added.
'It is disrespectful.'
The clash with the Island Games stems, it seems, from Jersey's sudden insistence that their championships and, consequently, the CI matchplay final, are played at the height of the summer.
Traditionally, the championship final is played a fortnight after the Guernsey final, either at the end of May or very start of June.
Last year, the CI final was pushed back when Jersey used the excuse of a hectic La Moye centenary schedule to ensure a later start for their home island championships.
The two golf unions have been exchanging correspondence over the issue for many months, but it has got Guernsey nowhere says Goddard.
'We don't think it is very fair.'
'If our champion is unavailable on that day I would back him and tell Jersey he isn't available.
Rob Leader, secretary of the Jersey Golf Union, said that in arranging its championships for early July it 'didn't realise it was going to cause such a problem.
'We are trying to resolve the issue and looking to arrange a meeting with Guernsey.
'It all depends on whether we change the dates for the Island Championships, but two of the island's top players - Richard Ramskill and Richard Harrop - have already stated they want to play in the Island Games and put their names forward.
'We are going to write to the top 15 players and ask them if they want to play in the Island Games. It will be a strong team and hopefully the strongest team we can send,' Leader added.
Guernsey, meanwhile, have chosen their four best men's players in a bid to win individual and team glory at the NatWest Island Games.
Heading the team are the Eggo brothers, Bobby and Andy, 2002 island champion Mick Marley and Steve Mahy.
As the event is being stage locally no official reserve has been named.
