The Founding of ISAGS
The competitions now sponsored by the International Seniors Amateur Golf Society had their beginning in 1966 when Ray McCarthy and Egon "Eggs" Quittner organized the inaugural International Seniors Amateur Golf Championship. Both men had been active and were well-known in national and international golf.

After discussing the idea of an international event for senior amateur golfers, the decision was made to organize a committee of leading seniors from various parts of the world. The original group included 14 members from 12 countries. The men were: Quitter, USA; McCarthy, USA; Courtney Reeves, USA; William Edgar, Australia; Dr. J. De Wandeleer, Belgium; Ben Lindsay, Canada; Pierre Canivet, France; Count Guiseppe Sabini, Italy; Naoyas Nabeshima, Japan; Boone Majors, Mexico; Celso Tuason, Philippines; K.G. Patrick, Scotland; Juan Macaya, Spain; and George Van Niekirk, Zambia.

The inaugural International Seniors Championship was played in 1966 at Gleneagles, Scotland, and attracted a field of 144 participants from 17 countries. David "Spec" Goldman of Dallas, Texas, USA, had the honor of winning the first tournament with a spectacular gross score of 67-69-136 for the 36 holes on the King's and Queen's Courses at Gleneagles. Goldman had been an outstanding young amateur and continued his winning way as a senior.

The increasing popularity of the International Seniors Championship led to the organization of the International Seniors Amateur Golf Society. Gordon Hill, former president of the United States Seniors Golf Association; Knut Olsen, Norway; Graham Patrick, Scotland; Courtney Reeves and Neil Ransick of the United States assumed the task of preparing By-Laws for the Society.

The growth of the International Seniors Amateur Golf Society, formally organized in 1970, continues today. The early membership of 350 men is now double that figure.

After three years as a 36-hole event the tournament was expanded to 72 holes. Once the field was divided at the end of 36 holes with the low gross scorers playing for the championship while the rest of the field competed in the final two rounds for Stableford points.

Beginning with the 1977 tournament the field has been divided by the contestants own preference at the time they enter. A Mid-Winter Tournament was added to the schedule in 1984.