SCOTTISH GOLF - Clubs invited to attend Regional Forums in January

Scottish Golf are inviting member clubs to attend the reinstated Regional Forums which are taking place in January 2024.

The forums, appear in the articles of Scottish Golf as a commitment to the membership and are a valuable opportunity to engage, discuss and consult on a variety of important topics. They are open to all Scottish Golf-affiliated organisations

The South West forum is scheduled to take place on

Monday 15 January at Troon Links Golf Club 

There will be two sessions that day, at 14:00 & 18:00 hrs to give a level of flexibility which will enable paid club staff as well as volunteers to attend. 

Clubs should have been notified dirrectly, and club officials can register via the link provided by Scottish Golf in the relevant communication.

Scottish Golf  will use the opportunity to consult on proposed amendments to Scottish Golf's Articles, presenting affiliation fee proposal for 2024/25 and accompanying business plan, and the topic of one Golfer One Fee.

Prospective attendees are also requested to identify specific topics for discussion at the forum. On the registration link there is an opportunity to choose from pre-selected topics or add other ones. Clubs and attendees are requested to register and submit these by Monday 8 January, to allow time to confirm the agenda and circulate it in advance of the forum.

At the recent Special General Meeting of Scottish Golf, held at Stirling University, the proposals tabled to amend the Scottish Golf  Articles failed to attract the necessary 75% of votes cast to allow the proposal to pass. 

All member clubs are encouraged to engage in the voting process going forward, to ensure that their votes add to as comprehensive a voting process as possible to map out the direction of Scottish Golf in the future.

Prior to the Special General Meeting there was a workshop for officials and volunteers regarding woman and girls participation in golf. This was a very worthwhile exercise, highlighting some of the challenges and many of the examples of good paractices already in place throughout the country. In various capacities, a total of six Ayrshire Golf Association Executive members attended, and took part in, both the EGM and workshop.

Scottish Golf also recently gave an update on the development of The Board of Scottish Golf.

Earlier in 2023 Sara Bishop was co-opted on to the SGL Board due to the resignation of other directors, which caused there to be a gap in membership and skillset in the Finance and Management (Audit and Risk) Committee. As per the Articles, confirmation of her appointment will require formal agreement at the next AGM.

After four years Pauline Lockhart has resigned from the board due to the growth pressures her successful business. Scottish Golf extended thanks for Pauline’s fantastic service to golf in Scotland in this and previous roles over the last fifteen years or so. 

In addition, Catriona Matthew will be standing down from the board at the next AGM, however it is great that she will continue to play an important role in working directly with Scottish Golf's Performance team and especially the Ladies' and Girls' squads.  

With these recent and impending changes, Scottish Golf will be seeking applications for three new SGL non-executive directors, the details of which wil be circulated early in 2024, along with a full role descriptors in due course.