SCOTTISH GOLF UNION AGM - Tom caig appointed interim chairman

Interim Chairman Tom Craig & new President Maurice Shields

(SGU MEDIA RELEASE)

The Scottish Golf Union, following its Annual General Meeting, on Sunday 22 January, has appointed Tom Craig CA as new Interim Chairman of the Board after Douglas Connon MBE did not seek a second three-year term due to health reasons.

At the AGM, Maurice Shields was also confirmed as the 50^th SGU President and Iain Harvey was appointed as the new Vice-President. Stephen Docherty succeeds John Fraser as Non-Executive Director (Performance), with Ian Howarth the new Junior Vice-President.

Following agreement from the 16 Area Associations at the annual gathering held at Tulliallan Police College, Tom has been tasked with taking the SGU forward, with the primary focus on achieving amalgamation with the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association (SLGA).

Should the amalgamation goal be achieved, Tom, vastly experienced in management and finance, will then stand down and pass the chairmanship to the new chairman appointed under the combined body processes. However, if at any time it becomes apparent that amalgamation is not going to be fulfilled, he will step down and the SGU will undertake its process to seek a new Chairman.

Tom is Chairman of Craig Corporate, which provides private and public companies with business management, corporate finance, company turnaround and taxation services. Tom founded Craig Corporate, which has offices in Glasgow and London, in 1985. He is also Co-chairman of @sipp plc, a SIPP trustee and administration company, and Houston Bottling & Co-Pack, a provider of bottling and packing services to the whisky industry. He is also a director of Accord hospice in his home town of Paisley.

He is a member at Western Gailes Golf Club, where he has previously served on the committee, and at Erskine Golf Club, where he has served as Finance Convener and Captain.

Tom said: “It is a great honour to be elected as Chairman of the SGU. It is a fine organisation with very capable, committed and enthusiastic staff. Everyone I have met in the SGU – staff, directors, Council members, Area Association officials and so on – share one thing in common: they are all hugely committed to golf in Scotland, and desperately keen for its success and prosperity. Every golfer in Scotland owes a debt of gratitude to those involved in the SGU, particularly to the army of volunteers who work very often unseen and without thought of any personal reward save the success of our sport.

“During this past year there have been some unfortunate difficulties associated with amalgamating the gents’ and ladies’ governing bodies of Scottish amateur golf. My priority as Chairman will be to work with our new President, Maurice Shields, to achieve a basis of amalgamation with the SLGA which is recognised as right for the SGU and for the greater good of amateur golf in Scotland.”

Maurice Shields, a retired PE teacher, is a popular figure on the national championship amateur circuit. He has served on several SGU committees, including development and child protection, and has been a Scotland Team Manager at both Boys’ and Men’s levels. A member of Windyhill Golf Club since 1963, he has been an executive member of the Dumbartonshire Golf Union for a number of years, acting as Area President between 2008 and 2010.

The SGU would like to collectively extend its thanks to Douglas Connon, who took over from Alistair Low as Chairman in January 2009. During his time, Douglas has helped raise the profile, reputation and finances of the SGU and we wish him a speedy recovery from the illness he has endured this past year.