The Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association and Scottish Golf Union have formed a joint working group to look after the best interests of the amateur game in Scotland. The working group will discuss how the ruling bodies of Scottish amateur golf can work together for the betterment of the game, irrespective of gender.
Three representatives of each body are on the group led by Margaret Rodgers, SLGA chairman, and SGU chair, Alistair Low. The group has three stated aims:
- To grow the game, by attracting new people to the sport, encouraging club membership, and improving access to coaching;
- To develop talent, through specialist coaching for the most talented male and female amateurs, running national teams, competing in and staging national and international events; and
- To support member clubs, by governing handicaps, providing training for club staff, and lobbying on behalf of clubs.
This ground-breaking new group was established in February 2006. It is intended that over the coming months it will establish increasingly closer links as it looks at how it will achieve the three main objectives, assigning each organisation specific tasks to avoid duplication of resources.
The group is considering how the SLGA and SGU can work more closely on the Clubgolf initiative to get more male and female youngsters playing golf, in staging tournaments, in agreeing joint working methods for handicapping and course rating, and implementing coaching systems to best develop future Scottish talent, both male and female.
This undoubtedly will result in more formal and closer working relations between the two bodies. Once the joint strategy is complete both organisations are committed to implementing the best structure for Scottish golf to deliver the agreed actions.
The SLGA’s Shona Malcolm said, “The SLGA and SGU have been working increasingly closely together for the past few years, most notably in the areas of Clubgolf, handicapping and course rating. The success of these initiatives has led us to consider more formally how we work together and investigate what will be best for Scottish golf in the future.”
SGU chief executive Hamish Grey said One Plan for Golf is a major step forward for both organisations. “This is an exciting time for Scottish amateur golf and for both sexes playing the game,” he continued. “We hope that this group leads to an increasingly close working relationship between the SLGA and the SGU.
“Both organisations have the same goals, namely introducing as many men, women and children to this great game as possible, helping them get the most out of it at whatever level, and ensuring our clubs have the best support network possible.”
SGU www.scottishgolfunion.org