The suspension of Tullamore Golf Club over a breach of the amateur-status regulation has caused anger and resentment throughout the midland club.
All 550 male members were suspended from GUI-governed handicap competitions pending the outcome of a GUI central council meeting on October 10th.
The central council meeting is normally held each February but has been specially convened to hear Tullamore's case.
The issue centres on the captain's prize, which was won and accepted in good faith by long-time member Martin Lowry.
However, the value of the prize, a plasma screen television, far exceeded the Royal and Ancient's maximum of £500, or €750.
When the Leinster Branch were made aware of the breach, they conducted an investigation and yesterday the GUI issued a statement saying that, in line with their constitution, the male members of the club have been suspended for a minimum of one month.
The decision does not affect the women members of the club.
"A lot of people are angry. A lot are bitching, looking for heads to roll," said an active member.
"Most of the people involved in this are not on any committee, don't want to be part of a committee and just want to play a round of golf.
"There are about 550 people being penalised for the sins of a few, or because a committee didn't do their job. Most golfers who have played the game for any amount of time know there is a limit to prizes for amateur players and we thought initially that the person who accepted the prize had a problem.
"But it's more complicated than that. The club knows ignorance is no excuse, but it happened in innocence. Tullamore is a very well-run club and has never been in any trouble before."
The R&A govern the rules of golf and take the view that if the amateur-status regulation is broken, it is the golfer who receives the prize and is therefore sanctioned, not the club. The rules of golf govern the individual.
"Obviously a club should uphold the rules of golf, but at the end of the day, it is the player who must uphold the rules," said an R&A official.
"The golf club does not breach the rule, the player does."
But in accordance with the GUI constitution (articles 12.1.2 and 12.1.4), Tullamore also have a case to answer because they must abide by GUI regulations, which specify a minimum suspension of one month.
The GUI will then consider the report from the Leinster Branch as well as representations made to them by up to three Tullamore representatives. The governing body then have three options: 1. to extend the suspension, 2. to end the suspension, or 3. to disaffiliate the club.
"The club have to be suspended for a month anyway. So October 10th is as quick as we can call the central council meeting," said GUI secretary Séamus Smith.
"We are simply following the union constitution."
In the world of golf, where procedure and a transparent upholding of the rules is paramount, the episode has caused no little embarrassment to a highly regarded club. But while club members do not wish to pre-empt the outcome of the hearing, some do see it as the GUI sending out a message to other clubs.
"The GUI have gotten a chance to make an example. It won't hurt them to put out a strong message to other clubs. But we don't want to do any harm. It is probably best if we told the GUI our feelings rather than the national media," said a member.
No one can recall an Irish club being suspended for a breach of the amateur status, although two years ago Boyle Golf Club were suspended for one month for issuing improper handicaps. They promptly got their house in order and the suspension was lifted. Tullamore hope that is also how this saga will end.
