Colin Phillips, the AGU's executive director since 1978, retired from his position in 2005, claiming that the way the decision to merge had been forced upon the sport by the federal government, had been a factor in his decision.[4]
Following the merger, IMG, the sports marketing company which organises the Australian Open golf event, signed a three-year deal which increased its ties to Golf Australia.[6] Former tennis pro and new Open chairman Paul McNamee also renegotiated a deal signed by the old AGU, whereby the tournament would be hosted at the Moonah Links course in Rye, Victoria three times in every five years. That decision had been heavily criticised by golf professionals who found issue with the course layout, low attendances and poor corporate interest,[7] but the new organisation was able to reduce its obligation to three tournaments before 2020.[8]
Golf Australia runs the Australian Open and the Women's Australian Open, the premier male and female golf tournaments in Australia, as well as the Australian Amateur and other national amateur events. It also runs programs promoting golf in Australia, the two major being the MyGolf for juniors and the Crown Lager Social Golf Club. Minjee Lee and Jason Day have been ambassadors for MyGolf, and Stuart Appleby has been an ambassador for the Crown Lager Social Golf Club.[9]
With golf being readmitted back into the Olympic fold at the 2016 Summer Olympics, the role of Golf Australia was strengthened further. As part of this the Australian Sports Commission raised the funding to the sport in April 2013.[5]
Golf Australia owns and runs the Australian Handicapping system which operates throughout clubs nationally.
