Scottish ladies vote yes to union

Lady golfers in Scotland have given plans to amalgamate with the Scottish Golf Union their unanimous backing.

At the annual general meeting on Sunday, the membership of the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association voted in favour of the move.

Chairman Beth Paterson said: “Unifying the amateur game for men and women is a positive step for both the game and the participants. The move to a single governing body will make Scottish golf stronger.”

In 2011 a move to amalgamate the golfing associations was thrown out when the men’s union voted against the proposal. Just five area associations needed to vote against the plan for it to fail, but in fact double that amount voted to remain independent from the SLGA.

Tom Craig is SGU chairman and said he was unsure how the union would voted. He said: “I’m delighted the membership of the SLGA has voted in favour of the proposal to amalgamate. It is now over to the SGU clubs and the 16 SGU area associations to make their decision.

“This is an historic opportunity to step confidently forward together as one – areas, counties, clubs and staff – and share knowledge and ideas to make the game at all levels stronger.”

‘We hope the Scottish Golf Union will gain the support so we can look forward to a new era" The proposal to amalgamate the two bodies was published shortly before Christmas and was said to herald an exciting “new era” for Scottish golf. The proposal outlined how amalgamation can provide a platform for a new governing body to lead Scottish golf positively in the future, and how the join could open up new avenues of funding and attract more people to the game.

Paterson added: “Amalgamation between the SGU and the SLGA is in the best interests of golf and we sincerely hope that the SGU will gain the support for amalgamation from their shareholders, so we can look forward to a new era and to realising our vision for the future.”

All clubs affiliated to the SGU are being urged to vote in an independent poll, which runs until February 27 as part of the proposal.

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