[3][4][5] It is suggested that the origins of the GUI were based in the desire by a number of golf clubs to create an Irish Championship.

[7] The organisation was established at a meeting in Belfast on 13 November 1891, which was attended by representatives of nine clubs, all of which were located in the province of Ulster.

[citation needed] The GUI introduced a handicapping system in 1897 and this was thought to be the most far-reaching advance in the promotion of the game.

The GUI adopted a similar approach in developing the first universal handicapping system, and used one Thomas Gilroy as the back-marker.

This is the first time that the word par appears in golf, defined as the number of strokes in which a hole or round can be taken without mistakes.

[11] The original charter of the GUI prescribed that each affiliated club was entitled to send forward up to three delegates to every meeting.

[16] The new combined body, "Golf Ireland", commenced in 2020, and held its first general meeting (and ratified its first board and association president) in February 2021.