SGU February Newsletter

Send to Committee FEBRUARY 2013 - ISSUE NO 61 Welcome to the SGU Club e-bulletin Welcome to February’s SGU Club e-bulletin. The new golf season is fast approaching and this month’s newsletter endeavours to help you and your committee keep up-to-date with the latest advice and support on offer from your governing body. Committee Update – Winning the Membership Numbers Game The new SGU Committee Update (Issue 16) is now available to download with our regular compilation of features timed to coincide with some of the challenges faced by clubs ahead of a new golfing season.  »Find out more Club Feature of the Month - Elmwood Golf Fife club Elmwood are celebrating this month after being awarded golf’s international ecolabel, GEO Certified. In our latest monthly club feature, check out the story behind their success.  »Find out more Final Leg of the SGU Club Seminar Roadshow The final two dates of our popular Club Seminar Roadshow take place next week, with a limited number of spaces still available at Renfrew GC (19 February) and two sessions at Bothwell Castle GC (20 February). Hurry to book your place!  »Find out more Climate Change Fund – Your Club Could Qualify Clubs that set themselves up as a community group or allow the wider community to use their clubhouse could benefit from a new Government fund aimed at improving energy efficiency in facilities. »Find out more Forthcoming CMAE Seminars – Book Your Place The CMAE is staging two seminars on Wednesday 13 March. The first, held during the day at Dunblane New GC, will focus on Retention, Recruitment and Revenue Generation with Quantum Marketing’s Glen Cook, while the evening seminar sees the return of leading speaker Greg Patterson discussing ideas learned at the recent CMAA World Conference.  »Book your place  New Free Golf Course Management System Available SGU Golf Services Manager Kevin Weir helped launch a new free and easy to use online system which helps courses manage themselves more sustainably and efficiently. Promoted by the R&A, CourseTracker is designed for course managers and club secretaries to monitor performance.  »Find out more Win £2,000 at the Community Sport and Recreation Awards Golf clubs can now apply for the 2013 Community Sport and Recreation Awards, designed to highlight work across the two sectors. Applications from all types of sport are being encouraged, with the overall winner banking £2,000 and other £1,000 prizes on offer.  »Find out more ClubGolf Summer Festival Returns Following on from last year’s great success, ClubGolf will again be staging its ClubGolf Festival this summer from 1 – 31 July to encourage even more youngsters to take up golf and join their local club. Find out how your club can get involved and benefit from the forthcoming activities.  »Find out more New Advice for Handicap Convenors New information packs are now available online for handicap convenors, highlighting some key aspects of handicapping – including an adverse weather pack and information for running a competition where players play from different tees.  »Find out more Promote Your Club on Twitter – Free of Charge! A growing number of Scottish golf clubs are taking to social media to promote and market their clubs for FREE. Over 70 clubs are now ‘following’ the SGU on Twitter @SGUGolf, so sign up to enjoy the benefits.  »Find out more Jobs in Golf – Secretary/Treasurer at Largs One of Ayrshire’s premier golf clubs, Largs, is currently recruiting for a new Secretary/Treasurer. If you are interested in a key position at this historic club, then please apply before the 21 February closing date. »Find out more Vote for Scotland’s Best Experience Our friends at Bunkered and VisitScotland are seeking to find the golf club you think offers ‘Scotland's Best Experience’, from the quality of the course to the catering in the clubhouse. Place a vote before the 28 February closing date and you could win a round with Sam Torrance.  »Find out more Scottish Golf Awards – See Sandy Honoured in Glasgow Next month’s Scottish Golf Awards are nearly sold out, but a limited number of tickets are still available if you want to join the 500+ crowd to pay tribute to Sandy Lyle as he receives his Lifetime Achievement Award and the rest of the 2012 winners.  »Find out more Keep visiting scottishgolf.org for all the latest news, results, offers and information from the Scottish Golf Union. THE SGU TEAM Send to Committee Unsubscribe Now SCOTTISH GOLF UNION, The Dukes, St Andrews, KY16 8NX Tel: +44 (0)1334 466477 | Fax: +44 (0)1334 461361 | SGU Enquiries: sgu@scottishgolf.org

Live Scoring from Austalia

TO ACCESS THE LIVE SCORING SERVICE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S OPEN SECOND ROUND AT
ROYAL CANBERRA WITH PAMELA PRETSWELL PLAYING.

CLICK HERE  -- UNFORTUNATELY PAMELA MISSED THE CUT AS DID CARLY BOOTH.
CATRIONA MATTHEW MAD THE CUT

PAMELA HAS A GOOD OPENING ROUND IN AUSTRALIA

New Zealand teenage sensation Lydia Ko has continued her fine form with an incredible 10-under-par 63 in the opening round of the 2013 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open being played this week at Royal Canberra Golf Club.

North Berwick's Catriona Matthew, in her first outing of the year, shot a 69, three ahead West of Scotland LET rookie Pamela Pretswell who came through a qualifying round earlier in the week to earn a place in the star-studded field.
The only other Scot in the field, Carly Booth, matched the par of 73.

CLICK HERE to read more

PAMELA QUALIFIES FOR THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN

West of Scotland's Pamela Pretswell played in Australian Open Qualifying yesterday (Tuesday) and shot two under par to finish joint second and qualify for the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open which starts at Royal Canberrra on Thursday.
There were only four spots available - Other Scots in the Women's Australian Open field: Catriona Matthew and Carly Booth.
West of Scotland's Kylie Walker is on the reserve list.

JEAN ARMOUR NIGHT AT GLEDDOCH HOUSE HOTEL AND GOLF CLUB

Why not have a night out on Friday 22nd February at Gleddoch Golf Club. In addition to the main speakers Helen Liddell and Annabel Goldie - well known West of Scotland Golfer -- Helen Faulds will be adding to the entertainment

Please Contact June Lockhart by  CLICKING HERE  if you would like to come along. Alternatively Phone her at 0141- 576 - 1015

PAMELA PRETSWELL MAKES HER FIRST CUT ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR

West of Scotland's Pamela Pretswell, playing in her second European Tour event, made the cut after rounds of 78 and 67 in New Zealand Ladies Open. She then had a final round of 73.
It was a great start for Pamela who was only playing in her second ever event
Lydia Ko, the 15 year old amateur was the winner.
Unfortunately Kylie Walker and Carly Booth did not make the cut to play in the final round.

To read the full report go to Kirkwood Golf ------- To see  all the results go to the LET Website

SLGA 2013 ENTRY FORMS

The Entry Forms for the 2013 Championships are now available by clicking on the following link -- SLGA ENTRY FORMS .

 Please note that from the 1st January 2013 the SLGA will be sending all Championship communication via email and downloads from the SLGA website (Championship pages).

Please complete the Communication Form and send it in along with your entry form.

CHARLIE GREEN - THREE TIMES SCOTTISH CHAMPION - DIES AT 80

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Charlie Green OBE, one of the most successful Scottish amateurs golfers in the second half of the 20th Century, has died at the age of 80. He had been suffering from cancer since last August.
The funeral service is on Monday (11.15am) at Cardoss Parish Church.
Born in Dumbarton on August 2, 1932, Green was Scottish amateur champion in 1970, 1982 and 1983.
He won the silver medal as leading amateur in the 1962 Open championship.
Green played in five Walker Cup matches between 1963 and 1973. He was also captain of the GB and I Walker Cup team in 1983 and 1985.
Long and lean, Charlie did not win the first of his three Scottish titles until he was close on 38 - he beat Hugh Stuart by one hole in the final at Balgownie - and Green did not gain the first of many caps for Scotland until 1961 when he was 29.
An affable character, Charlie once told me he "couldn't hit a barn door as a boy golfer."
Fortunately, he persevered and the rest is history.
He enjoyed an Indian Summer of a golfing career when he graduated to the over-50s ranks.
Charlie won the British senior open amateur title six times - four in a row from 1988 to 1991, and then two more consecutively in 1993 and 94.

SCOTTISH LADIES OPEN TOUR -- AMATEURS CAN ENTER

The new Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Scottish Ladies Open Tour will be launched at Marriott Dalmahoy's East Course on Thursday, April 18. The 14-event tour, modelled on 18-hole, one-day Alliance lines, will be open to women professionals and female amateurs with a single-figure handicap.
The fledgling tour is also being supported by the RandA.
This is a great chance for some of our low West of Scotland handicappers to see how they fair against the Pro's -- Why not show them how good you are !
You need to register to show you are interested but it does not commit you at this stage -- Go to the PAUL LAWRIE GOLF CENTRE SCOTTISH LADIES OPEN TOUR WEBSITE

Burns Night at Douglas Park Golf Club

David Kinniburgh, Margaret Stewart, Walter Sneddon, Ian Letford, Sandy Strang, Margaret Morris,
Andrew Morris and Colin McEwan

Over 100 people attended the Burns Supper last night at Douglas Park Golf Club.
Club Captain Ian Letford welcomed all the guests and introduced the top table. Calum Ross piped in the haggis for the 35th year running and Past Captain Colin McEwan gave a magnificent address to the Haggis.
Margaret Stewart from Hilton Park gave an excellent reply for the lassies
Vice Captain David Sharpe gave the vote of thanks at the end of the successful evening

SLGA - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The SLGA Board of Directors

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE SLGA --- www.slga.co.uk
Beth Paterson, a member The Eastwood Golf Club, was appointed Chairman of the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association at the Annual General Meeting in Perth on January 19. Paterson, who has already served the SLGA as both Chairman of Training and Performance Director, takes over from Shona Malcolm who has been in the post for the last four years. Paterson who was born and brought up on the Isle of Arran has had a lifelong involvement with the game. She is also a member of The Ladies’ Golf Club Troon and Whiting Bay Golf Club.

“I am honoured to be elected as SLGA Chairman. I am looking forward to working with my fellow Board members, staff, our colleagues at the Scottish Golf Union and our partners to carry on the good work that has been done by my predecessors.” said Paterson.

Margaret MacNaughtan, Aberdeen Ladies, was re-elected as President. One new appointment was Audrey Sturgess, a Past Captain of Haggs Castle Golf Club, who replaces Fiona Cowan as the West Director. Eileen Scott has taken over the role of Championship Director. Dawn Butchart, Strathmore Golf Club, was re-elected as the SLGA’s Director of Development. She has been involved in the setting up of Development Centres around the country. So far, 64 girls from eight counties are involved in this exciting project.

2013 SLGA Board of Directors: Mrs E Paterson (Chairman), Mrs M MacNaughtan (President), Mrs P Malton (Finance Director), Miss L Bennett, Mrs D Butchart, Mrs I Crawford, Mrs J Griffiths, Mrs J McEwan, Mrs E Scott, Mrs A Sturgess

To read more about the AGM CLICK HERE

SGU JANUARY NEWSLETTER

Happy New Year and welcome to the first edition of the SGU Club e-bulletin in 2013. We hope you enjoyed the festive period and are looking forward to the new season with optimism. Our monthly newsletter will continue to bring you the latest news, guidance and club services from the SGU for you and your committee.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE NEWSLETTER

SLGA AGM - BETH PATERSON IS THE NEW CHAIRMAN

Beth Paterson

The SLGA AGM took place yesterday Saturday 19th 2013, at the Dewars Centre in Perth. Captain Maureen Woodhead and and many Renfrewshire County members attended the meeting.

 The meeting started on a sombre note when President, Margaret McNaughton, asked for a moment's silence to remember three stalwarts of the Scottish women's game who died within the last year. They were Ethel Jack, Phyllis Wylie and Elizabeth Pook (Chadwick)


SLGA's Chairman Shona Malcolm then gave an informative annual report which was followed by the Finance Director Pamela Walton detailed accounts annual review.
The annual report of the Scottish representatives on the Executive Council of the LGU was then given by Lorna Bennett.


Margaret McNaughton was re - elected as President and West of Scotland's  Jean Cameron, Wendy Cameron, Nancy Chisholm, Rosemary Dykes and Belle Robertson were all re elected as  Vice Presidents. -- (There are 12)

Audrey Sturgess and Fiona Cowan

Audrey Sturgess from Haggs Castle was elected as the West Division representative to replace Fiona Cowan whose term of office has expired.

 Kevin Craggs was reappointed as the Scottish Representative on the Training Panel of the LGU and Dr Lynne Terry and June McEwan were reappointed as the Scottish Representatives on CONGU.

Isabel Crawford (Troon Ladies) was re elected as Performance Director

Alex Glennie

One new Scottish Selectors was appointed - Alex Glennie (West) from Kilmarnock Barassie to replace Anne Laing whose term of office has expired.
 Noreen Fenton (East Division), Addi Shamash (South) remain as Selectors for their second year and Cara Gruber (North Division) for her third year.
Fiona de Vries was reappointed as the Scottish Repesentative on the International Selection Committee of the LGU Past Renfrewshire County

Beth Paterson -- Past Renfrewshire County Captain, SLGA board Member as Performance Director for 4 years and Eastwood Golf Club Member   was then elected to be Chairman to replace Shona Malcolm whose term of office has expired.

 The meeting finished within an hour with a very able Vote of Thanks from Mary Summers, Captain of Angus County

Troon Ladies January Medal

January Medal, Played 4th January, (SSS 73, CSS 74)
Silver:
Fiona Kelly (20) 73
Denise Johnston (19) 76
Connie Jaffrey (1) 77
Bronze :
Sandra Wright (22) 75
Valerie Cram (24) 79
Shirley McGill (34) [acb] 84
Best Scratch: Connie Jaffrey Score: 78

Kilmacolm' s Eilidh Briggs -- Week 2 of the Orange Blossom Trail

Kelsey MacDonald finished with a disappointing last round to still be in the top ten of the South Atlantic Amateur women's championship at Oceanside Country Club, Ormond Beach in Florida yesterday.

Eilidh Briggs was Stirling University's second-highest finisher with a 75 for 301 and a share of 23rd place. The Kilmacolm player birdied the first two holes and then dropped six shots between the sixth and the 13th before ending her round with a birdie.

Eilidh now flies back to Scotland to start a placement as a PE teacher.

 LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
Players from USA unless stated
279 Kelly Shon 67 69 74 69
280 Shannon Aubert 68 72 72 68
282 Alex Stewart 70 74 68 70
285 Cindy Feng 67 79 70 69
286 Ashlan Ramsay 72 73 72 69
287 Krista Puisite 69 71 77 70
289 Nelly Korda74 69 76 70
290 Kelsey MacDonald (Stirling Univ) 69 69 73 79, Brooke Baker 73 76 68 73, Kuriko Tsukiyamo 78 74 67 71 (T8).

SELECTED TOTALS
301 Eilidh Briggs (Stirling Univ) 73 76 77 75 (T23)
309 Annabel Dimmock (Wentworth) 74 76 84 75 (T35)
321 Chloe Rogers (Braintree) 79 77 77 88 (52nd)
323 Hannah McCook (Stirling Univ) 79 78 84 82 (T54)
330 Jordana Graham (Stirling Univ) 84 85 87 74 
344 Georgia Gilling (Stirling Univ) 92 85 80 87 
          

To view all the South Atlantic Amateur (The Sally) women's final  tournament  Scores --- CLICK HERE

To read the full report go to the Kirkwood Golf Website

KELSEY FINISHES 3RD AND EILIDH BRIGGS FINISHES IN TOP TWENTY IN FLORIDA

Kelsey MacDonald shot a closing three-under-par 69 to finish a highly creditable third in the Harder Hall Invitational, the 72-hole opening event of the Orange Blossom Tour, at Sebring, Florida. 
The Stirling student and Nairn Dunbar GC member posted a three-under aggregate of 285 after earlier rounds of 73, 72 and 71.

Erica Popson, a University of Tennessee student who played for the United States in the Curtis Cup match at Kelsey's home town of Nairn last June, won the prestigious title with a six-under total of 282. She hit the front over an an excellent final round of 68, bettering her earlier efforts of 71, 70 and 73. Mika Liu, a 13-year-old from Bradenton, Florida, finished runner-up, one shot behind Popson and two shots ahead of MacDonald. Liu scored 66, 75, 71 and 71 for 283.

Eilidh Briggs from Kilmacolm provided Stirling University with two players in the final top 20. Eilidh, a former Scottish U18 girls champion, finished joint 19th on 300 with scores of 74, 74, 76 and 76.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS Par 288 (4x72)
282 Erica Popson (Davenport, Florida) 71 70 73 68 283
Mika Liu (Bradenton, Florida) 66 75 71 71 285
Kelsey MacDonald (Stirling University) 73 72 71 69 286
SELECTED TOTALS
300 Eilidh Briggs (Stirling University) 74 74 76 76 (T19)
305 Annabel Dimmock (Wentworth) 71 79 78 77 (T29)
312 Hannah McCook (Stirling University) 84 74 82 72
315 India Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 82 81 78 74
327 Jordana Graham (Stirling University) 80 81 85 81 331

For the full list of results CLICK HERE

To read the full report by Colin Farquharson go to Kirkwood Golf

INDOOR GOLF ACADEMY EVENT AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year from Glasgow Golf Centre!!  All the staff at Glasgow Golf Centre would like to wish all our customers our best wishes for 2013. We are here to help you achieve your golfing goals and look forward to seeing you all soon. We are open on 2nd January from 10am - 5pm so come and start your golfing year whatever the weather holds.     New Year Nearest the Hole Par 3 Challenge    To Celebrate the New Year we are offering you the chance to win a New Mizuno MP650  Driver valued at £239.    Take 3 shots on our GC2 launch monitor until 7th January and the nearest to the hole will win this great prize . The hole measures 121yards so bring along whatever club you need.    The challenge only costs £2 and you can try as many times as you like.    In the event of a tie a play off will decide the first Nearest the Hole winner of 2013 124 Portman Street, Glasgow G41 1EJ 0141 429 8622

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR WEBSITE READERS

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR READERS

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO REVEAL MORE

TRY THE CHRISTMAS PUZZLE AT THE END

BETH PATERSON FROM EASTWOOD GOLF CLUB IS NOMINATED AS THE NEW SLGA CHAIRMAN

Beth Paterson

NEWS RELEASE FROM SCOTTISH LADIES GOLFING ASSOCIATION

Beth Paterson, a member of Eastwood Golf Club, has been nominated as the new Chairman of the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association.
After four years in the post, Shona Malcolm is set to step down and Beth’s nomination is set to be ratified at the SLGA’s Annual General Meeting at the Gannochy Suite, Dewars Centre, Perth on January 19th

The Chairman’s term of office is three years, although Shona served an additional year to provide continuity in a period of staff and officer changes in 2012.

 Beth is a single figure handicap golfer and has a wealth of experience in the ladies’ game. She has already served the SLGA as both Chairman of Training and Performance Director.     She was Eastwood Club Captain in 2000.

Beth also went on to Captain Renfrewshire County in 2006 and 2007 and showed her commitment to the girls’ game with a nine year period as her club’s Junior Girls’ Convener and three years as County Junior Secretary. Good enough to earn a place in Renfrewshire county squad, Beth provided early evidence of her willingness to give something back to golf.

 At just 17, she served on the committee at her original home club of Brodick on the Isle of Arran.  “I’m looking forward to new challenges as Chairman after the AGM and progressing the ongoing discussions with Scottish Golf Union on amalgamation,” she said.

  Amalgamation Update, December 2012
 For the latest information on Amalgamation  CLICK HERE

Lanarkshire's Rachael Taylor is going to the USA

Rachael Taylor - Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for photograph

Germany-based Rachael Taylor, daughter of a Scots-born pro over there, has accepted a golf scholarship at the University of North Carolina State at Raleigh, North Carolina.
She will enrol on January 7.
Airdrie-born Rachael has paid regular visits to Scotland over the years.
She won the Lanarkshire County Championship in 2011 and was top seed for the match-play stages this past season but lost in the quarter-finals.

SLGA AGM 2013

The SLGA Annual General Meeting will take place on 19 January 2013 at 11.00am at the Dewars Centre in Perth.

 The documents for the SLGA 2013 AGM were sent to all Counties and affiliated Clubs on Friday 14th December.

 They included the Audited Accounts for year ending 30 September 2012, the minutes from the 2012 AGM, the notice and agenda for 2013 AGM along with the 2012 Board and LGU reports.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ALL AT DOUGLAS PARK GOLF CLUB

Helen Faulds receives a score calculator as a Christmas Present !!!!!!

CLICK HERE and then on SLIDESHOW to see the photos.

Ranfurly Castle Ladies Christmas Get Together

Vicky is the best Festive Outfit Winner

12 ladies played 6 holes in the Christmas Stableford last Wednesday in wintry conditions.The results were very close with Helen Crichton, Karin MacKenzie, Joy McLeod and Vivien Howe just winning. 

The Christmas Lunch was enjoyed by nearly 40 ladies.  As usual, there was a lot of chat and festive cheer.  Moira Wilson won the lucky chair prize and Vicky Rennie won the festive outfit prize.

Click on the Play button below to see more -- Please give time to load and make sure your sound is turned on.

Alternatively CLICK HERE to see the photos and then click on slideshow

AND HERE IS A SHORT VIDEO WITH LINDA AND THE BEST FESTIVE OUTFIT WINNER VICKY

 

SGU December e -Bulletin

Send to Committee DECEMBER 2012 - ISSUE NO 59 Welcome to the SGU Club e-bulletin Welcome to the December edition of the SGU Club e-bulletin, keeping you and your committee up-to-date with the latest news, services and resources for affiliated clubs across Scotland. It may be a quiet time of year on the playing side, but there is much activity going on behind the scenes both at clubs and here at The Duke's as we plan ahead to the 2013 golf season. Download the Latest Committee Update This month's SGU Committee Update features a look at how your club can prepare for competitive golf this winter – weather pending of course, the opportunity to win a round at Turnberry by taking part in the National Golf Monitor and details of funding available to assist you with the installation of internet tee-time booking.  »Find out more Joint Group Re-Established to Progress Amalgamation Discussions The process for exploring the possible amalgamation of the SGU and SLGA has moved forward with the re-establishment of a Joint Group while Alastair Thornton, a Sheriff (Kirkcaldy) and former solicitor, has been appointed the new independent chair of the group.  »Find out more Win £1500 for your Club's Junior Section Nominations for this year's RBS Junior Club of the Year are now open, with £1500 up for grabs to the winning club, while we are also looking for your club's unsung heroes for the RBS Volunteer of the Year Award, offering a prize of £500 for the club and £100 for the top volunteer. Shortlisted finalists will be invited as guests to the prestigious Scottish Golf Awards, where the winners will be presented on stage alongside some of the leading names in the game.  »Find out more Club Seminars Back on the Road in January Our club seminars, hosted by our Development Officers Claire Middleton, Iain Evans and John Kemp with the support of Kevin Fish, have been a big success with 168 clubs and nearly 400 delegates attending to date. We have five more to follow in the New Year. Don't miss out – book your place now! »Find out more Make Sure your Club's Details are Updated on SGU Golf Central With golfers already planning their outings and open competitions for 2013, now is the time to ensure your Club's details are up-to-date on the popular SGU Golf Centralsection of our website. With 27,000 unique users per month, the website provides your club with free marketing to prospective customers and a great way of connecting with an enthusiastic golf audience. If you need a reminder of your log-in details for SGU Golf Central, please contact Audrey Rees, Marketing Administrator on 01334 466481 or emailsgugolfcentral@scottishgolf.org. Look Back on the Golfing Year with the Scottish Golf Press SGU TV caught up with The Scotsman's Martin Dempster, The Herald's Nick Rodger, The Courier's Steve Scott and Daily Express writer Jock MacVicar, who swapped their pens for the lens to give us their views and light hearted anecdotes on a very successful year for Scottish Golf.  Definitely worth a view of their rare TV appearance...  »Find out more Take Advantage of the Year of Natural Scotland 2013 VisitScotland's third of four focus years will be 'Year of Natural Scotland' providing the opportunity to celebrate our reputation as a land of outstanding beauty and promote ways in which visitors can enjoy our beautiful landscapes, wildlife and heritage responsibly. A range of marketing tools are available to clubs to help them capitalise, while a Growth Fund will support marketing projects aimed at increasing tourism spend while showcasing natural heritage.  »Find out more PGA Coaching Audit Now Live in Scotland We would like to invite clubs to encourage their PGA professionals, assistant professionals and volunteer coaches to complete a short questionnaire, designed by the PGA to gain a better understanding of the coaching landscape in Scotland. Its findings will ensure the PGA can better support coaches and inform future coaching plans centred on retaining more adult and junior golfers. »Survey for PGA Professionals & Assistant Professionals »Survey for Volunteer Coaches Proposed Rules of Golf Change to Prohibit Use of Anchored Strokes The R&A and USGA have announced proposed changes to the Rules of Golf that would prohibit anchoring the club in making a stroke and preserve the nature of 'the Stroke' as the swinging of the entire club at the ball.  The proposed new Rule 14-1b, would: prohibit strokes made with the club or a hand gripping the club held directly against the player's body, or with a forearm held against the body to establish an anchor point that indirectly anchors the club not alter current equipment rules and would allow the continued use of all conforming golf clubs, including belly-length and long putters, provided such clubs are not anchored during a stroke Prior to taking a final decision on the proposed Rule, which would take effect on 1 January 2016, the R&A and the USGA will consider any further comments and suggestions from throughout the golf community. »Find out more Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year! We would like to wish all club managers, secretaries and committee members all the best for the forthcoming festive season and thank you for continued support of the SGU during the past 12 months. Here's to a prosperous 2013 for all clubs in Scotland...   Keep visiting scottishgolf.org for all the latest news, results, offers and information from the Scottish Golf Union. THE SGU TEAM Send to Committee Unsubscribe Now

SCOTTISH GOLF UNION, The Dukes, St Andrews, KY16 8NX Tel: +44 (0)1334 466477 | Fax: +44 (0)1334 461361 | SGU Enquiries: sgu@scottishgolf.org

SLGA-SGU AMALGAMATION

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SLGA AND SGU
The process for exploring the possible amalgamation of the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) and the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association (SLGA) has moved forward with the re-establishment of a Joint Group tasked with developing an amalgamation proposal.
Substantive discussions on the formation of a single governing body for amateur golf in Scotland can now resume in a positive atmosphere.
Alastair Thornton, a Sheriff (Kirkcaldy) and former solicitor, has been appointed as Independent Chairman of the Joint Group. Thornton, a keen golfer, was for many years a partner in the Edinburgh solicitor practice, A abd W M Urquhart, where he specialised in litigation and mediation. He is also Past President of the Law Society of Scotland.
The SGU chairman, Tom Craig, said: “The SGU, in partnership with the SLGA, is committed to working towards a unified body in the Home of Golf.
“There is a great deal of common ground, and both bodies are ready to re-commence detailed consideration by means of a Joint Group. Alastair Thornton’s credentials are impressive and we look forward to working with him.”
Shona Malcolm, SLGA Chairman, added: “Alastair expressed an enthusiasm for being involved in the process. He is an excellent choice for this role and we are confident that our discussions, as a Joint Group, will enable us to progress this already lengthy amalgamation process to a conclusion which is in the best interests of Scottish amateur golf.”