Golf clubs across the country have been given a final reminder to participate in an independent poll on the Proposal to amalgamate the SGU and the SLGA, as leading golfers Stephen Gallacher and Catriona Matthew stressed the importance of a single governing body for golf in Scotland.
The poll, which closes at 5pm this Friday (27 February), gives the Scottish Golf Union’s affiliated clubs the opportunity to have their say in the future governance of the game in Scotland. Earlier this month, the Membership of the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association unanimously backed the Proposal to amalgamate after voting 204 – 0 in support at their AGM.
The SGU Board and its Area Golf Associations agreed to seek the views of all SGU affiliated clubs as an essential part of the amalgamation process, guiding the respective Areas on how to vote on the Proposal at an Extraordinary General Meeting of Scottish Golf Union Limited, set to be held on Monday 30 March.
The Proposal – prepared by a Joint Working Group under the independent chairmanship of Sheriff Alastair Thornton – outlines how amalgamation can provide a platform for a new unified governing body to lead Scottish golf positively into the future, with the aim of making clubs more viable and attracting more people of all ages across both genders into the sport.
Matthew, Scotland’s leading female golfer and a former Women’s British Open champion, said: “The proposed amalgamation of the Scottish Golf Union and the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association is hugely important for the game in this country. An amalgamated body is long overdue and, after the ladies’ unanimous support for the proposal at their AGM, I would hope the SGU Area Associations also support it in the coming weeks.”
“An amalgamated body would strengthen golf in this country and help the ladies’ game at all levels, especially at the grassroots level to encourage more girls into golf,” added the seven-time Solheim Cup player.
Three-time European Tour winner Gallacher, a member of Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles last September, added: “Scottish Golf needs to do all it can to attract more young players into the game and amalgamation would send out the right message to help achieve that.
“My own Foundation supports both boys and girls and I would love to think the two governing bodies can come together as one for the benefit of the game in this country.”
Tom Craig, SGU chairman, said: “We urge all affiliated SGU clubs who have not yet participated in the independent Poll to do so. It is simply vital that they take this opportunity to make a difference to the future structure of the game in this country.
“Amalgamation is fundamentally important to building a modern, democratic, inclusive governing body for Scottish amateur golf. At our forthcoming Extraordinary General Meeting, the 16 Area Golf Associations, who are the shareholders of the SGU, will vote according to their clubs’ wishes.”
To ensure complete integrity and transparency of the Poll process, it is being conducted by 4 global Consulting, an independent market research company, and they have been in touch will all affiliated clubs on how to participate, either online or via the telephone.
SLGA http://slga.co.uk/
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