GILLIAN KIRKWOOD BECOMES ST ANDREWS LINKS TRUST TRUSTEE

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE
 ST ANDREWS LINKS TRUST
St Andrews Links Trust has announced the appointment of two new Trustees, Richard Muckart, of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, and Mrs Gillian Kirkwood, pictured right, the Chairman of the Ladies’ Golf Union.
Neil Crichton, of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, and Ken Stewart, nominated by the Scottish Government, are standing down.
The board of Trustees oversee the work of the Trust which manages the seven public courses at St Andrews Links, including the world famous Old Course, the clubhouses, golf academy and golf shops.
Both the new Trustees bring a wealth of experience in golf to their roles. Mr Muckart (61) is a former deputy chairman of the R and A’s General Committee and of its Championship Committee. He has also served on the Rules of Golf Committee. He is currently Chairman of CONGU, the Unified Handicapping System for GB and I.
After graduating from the University of St Andrews, Mr Muckart, pictured below, qualified as an actuary in 1979 and specialised in asset management eventually becoming the Chief Investment Officer for Premier Asset Management with responsibility for the Asia Pacific region.

In golf he represented Angus County as a junior, captained the University of St Andrews team in 1971/72 and won a blue when he was selected to play for the Scottish Universities against their English counterparts.
He became a member of the R and A in 1974 and is also a member of Luffness New and Peebles golf clubs.
Mrs Kirkwood takes up the Scottish Government nomination. She was appointed Chairman of the LGU in 2010 and is a past chair of the International Selection Committee, LGU Councillor and Chairman of the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association.
Mrs Kirkwood is an experienced Rules Official and has represented the LGU on the R and A’s Amateur Status Committee. She has a keen interest in the history of women’s golf and chairs the Board of Trustees at the Women Golfers Museum.
A graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Mrs Kirkwood has worked as a senior manager in the higher education sector and has extensive business development experience.
Sport Minister Shona Robison said, “I welcome the appointment of Gillian Kirkwood, as Scottish Ministers’ representative member to St Andrews Links Trust. Mrs Kirkwood has a wealth of golf knowledge and she will play a vital role in the work of the Trust.
"Along with Richard Muckart, the Trust’s other new appointment, I wish them every success in helping to maintain the worldwide reputation of the Links courses at St Andrews, the Home of Golf. Both have significant experience in the golfing world and have all the credentials to make a positive contribution to the work of St Andrews Links Trust.
“I’d also like to put on record my thanks to Ken Stewart, the previous Scottish Government representative, and Neil Crichton for all their efforts helping to deliver a fantastic, world-famous golf experience at St Andrews.”
Euan Loudon, Chief Executive of St Andrews Links Trust, said, “The Trustees have an important strategic role to play; Richard and Gillian have exemplary track records in golf and will, I am sure, make valuable contributions.
"They join us when the economic climate is challenging and the Trustees have asked management to focus on delivering a world class golfing experience to its customers as well as continuing the development of partnership activity which brings in important off-course revenue that can be invested in the courses and facilities.”