History Made as SGU Shareholders Vote Yes
 to Amalgamation with SLGA
 SGU NEWS RELEASE
A single unified national governing body for amateur golf in Scotland is to be created after the shareholders of Scottish Golf Union Limited (SGU), its 16 Area Golf Associations, today unanimously voted though the Proposal to amalgamate with the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association (SLGA).                                   
Following an historic 16-0 verdict delivered by the Area Golf Associations at an SGU Extraordinary General Meeting at the Stirling Court Hotel, the SGU and SLGA will amalgamate into a new company, to be called Scottish Golf Limited.
 The new company will come into existence on October 1, 2015.
In February, the Membership of the SLGA backed the Proposal to amalgamate with the SGU by a unanimous margin of 204 – 0 at their Annual General Meeting, before SGU affiliated clubs and eligible societies overwhelmingly backed the Proposal after voting 97% in favour in an independent poll.
Scotland’s leading male and female golfers, Stephen Gallacher and Catriona Matthew, also supported the plans to amalgamate the two governing bodies, with other partners and sponsors strongly in favour.
Speaking at the Stirling Court Hotel at the University of Stirling campus, SGU Chairman Tom Craig expressed his delight at the outcome of the EGM.
Craig said: “This is an historic day for Scottish amateur golf. I thank the SGU’s Area Golf Associations for their support in unanimously backing the Proposal and our affiliated clubs for showing confidence in the Proposal. I’d also like to thank Sheriff Alastair Thornton and all the other members of the Amalgamation Joint Working Group for their hard work
“We have enjoyed a close working relationship with the SLGA for many years and now look forward to working together as one organisation. The reality is that the SGU and SLGA are already working more closely than ever before so the transition to a single unified governing body should be fairly seamless.
“We can look to the future with excitement and optimism at the potential benefits amalgamation will bring, including providing greater leadership to our clubs and players, projecting golf as a modern, inclusive sport with a positive image to attract more players and attracting more resources into the sport from commercial sponsorship and government.
“It has been a long journey to reach this stage, but it was important that everyone had the chance to contribute to the amalgamation debate, so we could come forward with a good structure for the future of golf in Scotland.
“Our game faces many challenges. There’s a lot to do, but we now have the opportunity to build a positive future for golf and golf clubs in Scotland.”
Beth Paterson, SLGA Chairman, added: “We are delighted that both organisations have given their overwhelming support for amalgamation. This is a positive day for golf and a vital step forward for the game. Scottish Golf will now be able to focus on the main issues facing the game and take it positively into a new era.”