SLGA GIVE AMALGAMATION A BIG YES VOTE - OVER NOW TO SGU

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Scottish Ladies Golf Association members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the proposed amalgamation with the Scottish Golf Union at an extraordinary general meeting, held in the lecture theatre of the A K Bell Library, York Place in Perth today.
Now the pressure is on the Scottish Golf Union to get a "yes" vote at its deciding meeting tomorrow night.
If 12 of the 16 SGU areas vote in favour of the amalgamation, then it will go through automatically and Scottish Golf Limited – one governing body for Scottish male and female amateur golf - will become operational from October 1.

The day-to-day operations of the SGU and SLGA will continue independently until then while the new company is being set up with the selection of the Board for Scottish Golf Limited and the preparation of a final combined budget.

Dr Sheila Hartley, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, the SLGA company secretary, said after the EGM in Perth:

“The proposal was carried by a significant majority, with 93.03% of votes cast being in favour of its adoption. The amateur game’s key stakeholders, in particular major funders sportscotland and other commercial sponsors and partners, have also strongly supported the proposal.

"The SGU’s Extraordinary Meeting is to be held tomorrow night, and the amalgamation will proceed if the Areas cast 12 of their 16 votes in favour.”

Shona Malcolm, pictured left, the SLGA chairman, said at the conclusion of the meeting:

“The SLGA Board is delighted with the outcome of the members’ vote and would like to take the opportunity to thank all of those who participated during the lengthy and extensive consultation process. Throughout the process the SLGA members have demonstrated a commitment to the future development and governance of Scottish amateur golf, with no thought of self interest.

“The SLGA is committed to progressing the amalgamation to its conclusion, while protecting the democratic principles of the clubs, the main funders of Scottish amateur golf, being the voting members.”

The SLGA was formed in 1904 and has its headquarters in Perth. The SGU came into being in 1920 and its present HQ is at The Duke’s Course, St Andrews. The leases on both current properties have a few years to run, but that would give the new Board time to identify the most appropriate permanent location for the amalgamated body in due course.
Although the amalgamation process in the SLGA has gone through months of discussion quite smoothly, the same cannot be said of the SGU. The major sticking point is that the present men’s area committees will have no role to play in the new controlling body for Scottish amateur golf.
As one cynic said – “Would turkeys vote in favour of Christmas?”