Demise of the shamrock no lucky charm for internationals
Rory McIlroy in his Irish blazer following his European Amateur Championship win in 2006. Picture: Pat Cashman Photography
Pulling on the green jersey for Ireland is the dream of a lifetime for any sportsman or woman.
Golfers of all ages still fondly remember the first time they could look down at the Irish shirt, sweater or blazer and see the shamrock on their chest as it swelled with pride.
Sadly, the shamrock on the chest is no more following the replacement of the ILGU and the GUI by Golf Ireland.
While the new organisation is full of well-meaning people, mostly volunteers, doing their very best for Irish golf, the rebranding exercise was not fully thought through when it comes to the gear worn by our international teams.
Many former and current internationals are bitterly disappointed the new Golf Ireland logo many have described as looking like “two amoebas” has taken the place of the shamrock, which is universally recognised by every other golfing nation as the symbol of Irish golf.
The new logo, which was created by The Public House at considerable expense, depicts “intertwined putting greens, inspired by shapes from golf courses around the island of Ireland, combined with a fresh colour palette.”
It is meant to represent “the unity and inclusive nature of the new entity” but while it certainly represents a new “brand”, it doesn’t give players a sense they are representing Ireland when they tee it up from Newcastle to New South Wales but rather a bland, administrative body.
Supply issues meant there was a shortage of gear for the recent Boys, Girls, Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s Home Internationals at Woodhall Spa in the UK with the Golf Ireland logo hastily added to 2020 GUI/ILGU stock.
Some players wore the old gear with the shamrock, others the rebranded gear and others the new design which features Golf Ireland on the chest with no shamrock visible on the new clothing examined by one international yesterday.
Players must also wear the new blazer, which is not the traditional dark green model worn over the years by the men and women, in slightly different shades, but a bright new colour, closely resembling teal blue.
We understand meeting will soon be held to discuss the issue but Golf Ireland has no plans to change right now.
“The Golf Ireland logo is carried on all of the organisation’s materials including clothing,” Golf Ireland said in a statement.
“As is the case with other sports, the playing apparel of our teams carries the national governing body’s logo. This is also the case with the other three teams that will compete in the [men’s] Home Internationals [next week.”
Golf Ireland adds that “going forward, the Golf Ireland logo will be on the chest on some items, and for others it will be on the sleeve. All International outfits will have the GI logo and a shamrock on them.”
The Four Provinces flag, inadvertently replaced by the Golf Ireland flag or a tricolour at a recent international event, will remain the flag flown by Ireland in the future.
It remains to be seen where the shamrock will be and while we are all for change, progress and modernisation, tradition has its place too.
As one international told me this week, the new shirt, blazer or rain gear does not feature a shamrock and that having worked hard to represent Ireland, there is an expectation that golfers will be clearly identifiable as internationals.
They have no problem with Golf Ireland having a logo and a brand but they feel they are representing Ireland, not the administrative body in Golf Ireland on the international stage just as American players are representing the USA and not the USGA.
Several players have expressed their dismay that one of the most recognisable symbols in the world, the shamrock, which can compete with the Nike swoosh or the Apple logo for “brand” recognition, has been removed or shifted to another far less visible place.
Most people understand why Golf Ireland had to create a fresh brand but eliminating the shamrock is seen as “throwing out the baby with the bathwater” and needs to be re-examined.
Come on the boys and girls in green, not hexadecimal colour #2EB5B2.
