Amalgamation between the men's and women's ruling bodies in the sport is a step closer following the 50th annual meeting of Women's Golf Otago.
The women voted to join the men in Golf Otago, bringing golf into step with other sports like bowls that no longer run separate organisations.
Glenys Rowley, the outgoing president of WGO, was delighted with the response to the motion and said the decision was unanimous.
"Now that we have given the green light to move ahead, we look forward to the next step from Golf Otago," Rowley said.
Richard Davison, chairman of the management committee of Golf Otago, was pleased with the women's decision.
"We will now call for a special meeting of club delegates from the sub-associations and put the motion to merger to them," he said.
It is now more than three years since the national bodies merged and Otago is seen as dragging the chain.
Most other provinces have already merged their men's and women's administrations into one organisation.
Davison said there was no point in Golf Otago going ahead with amalgamation plans until it received the direction from the women.
"I am sure that the delegates will vote to approve the merger and then the motion will go forward to the annual general meeting next April to be finalised," he said.
Davison said amalgamation was a "done deal" and was effectively mandatory for all provinces.
"If it did not take place, there is little doubt that it would affect our future funding," he said.
