SCOTTISH GOLF AGM POSTPONED FROM 4th MARCH TO THE 10TH MARCH

CLICK ON LINK TO READ MORE -- Carol Fell Golf : SCOTTISH GOLF AGM POSTPONED:

DETAILS OF THE SCOTTISH GOLF AGM

Scottish Golf is delighted to announce details for the 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM), which takes place on Sunday 4 March in Edinburgh.

Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club, easily accessible on the outskirts of the capital, is to host the event, and they very much hope you can attend.

CLICK HERE to read more

SCOTTISH GOLF VOLUNTEER CHAPERONE ROLES

The Scottish Golf Performance Team are seeking volunteers to accompany the National squads and teams at selected domestic and Internationals events during 2018  in the role of Volunteer Team Chaperone. 

They are looking for individuals who are keen golfers, have a good understanding of Performance Sport and enjoy working with groups/teams.

Clare Queen has attached an advert for the role which details the responsibilities involved and would appreciate if you would circulate this among your members. 

If anyone has any questions or would like more information on what the role entails they can contact her. 

Although there is no deadline for anyone wishing to put their name forward we would like to hear from anyone interested by Monday 29^th January.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

SCOTTISH GOLF CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS, VIDEO & FEEDBACK

From the Scottish Golf Website

Dear Golfer  
Thank you for attending The Future of Golf Conference in Edinburgh earlier this month. 
We hope you enjoyed the presentations, discussions and the opportunity to take part in the debate around finding solutions to the challenges we face in our game. It was great to meet so many people with a passion for the game across the golfing spectrum and gain opinion, insights and feedback which will shape our future direction. 
Our Board and staff team have been working hard to collate the content from the Conference and this e-newsletter pack provides a recap for you, which we hope you will share with your fellow golfers. 
Over the coming weeks, the Board of Scottish Golf will be meeting to discuss how we use these insights to deliver our strategy of growing participation in golf and building stronger clubs. The feedback we have had has been hugely positive and we look forward to harnessing the collective power of clubs and golfers to create a brighter future for our game. 
Thank you for your continued support. 

 Eleanor Cannon, Executive Chair - Scottish Golf 

Scottish Golf have themed all the general comments, suggestions and feedback from delegates attending the Conference to give you a full overview of the opinions coming in on the day, which they will take on board in their discussions.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

SCOTTISH GOLF NEWS -- CAPITAL VENUE TO HOST FUTURE OF GOLF IN SCOTLAND CONFERENCE

Scottish Golf’s first national conference will be staged at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) on Saturday 2 December, with the governing body inviting anyone with a passion for the game to contribute to the debate on the sport’s future direction in this country.

Registration is now open to those who wish to attend, with the invitation extended to golf club members and non-members, those involved in club, Area and County administration, media, coaches and other interested parties, with the event being held from 10.00am through to 2.30pm.

Following the recent cancellation of the governing body’s planned Special General Meeting in Stirling on the same day, the move to the capital venue is to accommodate extra demand for attendance and stimulate as much discussion as possible across key aspects of the game.

The national conference is part of Scottish Golf’s move to extend the consultation period on its new strategy. The Annual General Meeting will be held in March 2018, while the recruitment for a new Chief Executive to lead the organisation is currently well underway.

Eleanor Cannon, Executive Chair for Scottish Golf, said: “This is a hugely important time for golf in Scotland, as we work to attract much-needed investment into the game and provide increased support to clubs at grass roots level. It is vital that we discuss innovative ideas on what is required to make golf more sustainable, improve member retention and recruit new people into our great game.

“Our consultation process has generated significant engagement over the last few months and given the level of interest, we felt we needed as big a venue as possible to allow as many people to make a contribution to the debate. We want to encourage a two-way discussion on the future of golf and the conference will be a platform to stimulate positive debate.

“We want to hear from anyone with a passion for the game, whether it be a PGA Pro, ClubGolf coaching volunteer, long-time member, nomadic golfer or beginner. It is essential we hear a wide spectrum of views as we look to address the significant challenges impacting the game in Scotland.”

The EICC event will feature presentations from keynote speakers looking at current trends, industry research, insights from clubs and digital innovation, with interactive workshops giving delegates the opportunity to provide their own input.

Places can be booked via the Scottish Golf website homepage at www.scottishgolf.org. Entry is free of charge and complimentary tea, coffee and a sandwich lunch will be provided to all delegates.

The EICC is located on Morrison Street in the west end of the city, just a short walk from Haymarket train and tram station, while attendees will receive a 30% discount at the nearby NCP Castle Street car park.

READ MORE

Scottish Golf to Extend Consultation Period to March AGM

The Board of Scottish Golf planned to hold a Special General Meeting (SGM) on Saturday 2 December, as previously outlined.

The SGM was scheduled to allow members to vote on key recommendations that would enable the governing body to implement a four-year strategy, by delivering much-needed investment into the game and making our golf clubs – and the game as a whole – more sustainable.

Those remain our core strategic objectives as a Board. However, in light of the departure of our Chief Executive, Blane Dodds, and having consulted with a wide range of stakeholders in recent weeks, we believe the immediate priority should be in securing a new leader for the organisation.

To that end, we intend to cancel the scheduled SGM in December, but use the date to provide a platform for all members – and others with an interest in golf – to debate the future direction for golf in Scotland, with a view to creating a collaborative set of proposals for our Annual General Meeting in March 2018.

Executive Chair Eleanor Cannon met with the Board of sportscotland earlier this week and they are supportive of the modernisation of the game in Scotland. They are pleased with the objective of the organisation to be self-sustaining, removing the over-reliance on external funding.

Stewart Harris, sportscotland’s Chief Executive, said: “Scottish Golf made a well-constructed presentation to sportscotland’s board on Wednesday 25 October, and we are supportive of the governing body’s direction of travel, which is inherently consistent with our governance framework.

“We remain committed to working closely with Scottish Golf and supporting them in reaching their objectives of increasing self-sustainability and modernising the sport. This autumn, we received an ambitious strategic plan from the governing body and we look forward to discussing it with Scottish Golf and their stakeholders at the public event on 2 December.”

In the interests of transparency, the December meeting will be a public event to bring some of the many private conversations that take place about the future of the game to a wider audience. It will be a conference-style event, with the opportunity for all stakeholders to attend.

The process of appointing our new Chief Executive is already under way and the Board has been pleased by the calibre of potential candidates who have already expressed an interest. We will formally advertise the role shortly and seek to identify and appoint the best candidate as quickly as is practicably possible.

The Board is pleased that the proposed strategic plan has created wide-ranging discussion among all those who care passionately about our sport. Critical to this consultation period is listening to our members, which is why we believe the date already scheduled in the diary for the SGM should be utilised to provide a platform for debate.

It is imperative that we utilise this two-way conversation to discuss and address the very real challenges facing golf now and in the future. On that note, it should be said that the Board has decided to use the organisation’s reserves to bridge the immediate funding gap. However, this is not a long-term approach and we will seek to rebuild those reserves in the coming years.

On 2 December, we want to engage golfers in debate and discussion on a number of subjects. These include the key trends and challenges facing golf in Scotland and the potential impact of these on club revenue and membership fees; what feedback and surveys suggest members increasingly value and demand for their membership fee; addressing our ageing demographic profile and low uptake of membership amongst young people and women; embracing digital and technology capability to enhance the experience for all golfers; reviewing governance and structure; and engaging our communities to grow club revenue.

In light of the well-documented cut in public funding and continued decline in club membership, it is essential that we hear as many perspectives as possible as we look to address significant challenges now impacting the game in Scotland.

This is the backdrop against which changes will be proposed to the game’s shareholders in 2018. We will do so with one objective: to secure the future for our game in the Home of Golf.

Kind regards
The Board of Scottish Golf

RENFREWSHIRE WELL REPRESENTED IN THE SCOTTISH LADIES SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS WHICH BEGIN TOMORROW

The Scottish Open Ladies Seniors Championship begins tomorrow at Blairgowrie.  There are 100 entrants of which 13 are members of the Renfrewshire Ladies' County Association are playing-- We wish them every success.


RLCGA  ENTRANTS

Elizabeth Hale (Caldwell Golf Club)
Fiona Cameron (Cowglen Golf Club)
Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire Golf Club)
Patricia Davidson (Erskine Golf Club)
Sandra Littlejohn (Erskine Golf Club)
Anita McMillan (Erskine Golf Club)
Elizabeth Stewart (Greenburn Golf Club)
Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle Golf Club)
Anabel Kane (Kilmacolm Golf Club)
Marion Stewart (Kilmacolm Golf Club)
Morag Key (Ralston Golf Club)
Fiona Roger (Ranfurly Castle Golf Club)
Donna Jackson (The Ladies Golf Club Troon)

To see the tee times --- CLICK HERE

Newsletter from the Chief Executive of Scottish Golf - Blane Dodds

Carol McNally our RLCGA Secretary has received this newsletter -

On behalf of our Chief Executive Blane Dodds, please find attached the latest edition of the Scottish Golf Areas & Counties Newsletter, which I hope is of interest.
CLICK HERE to read the latest edition

GO TO SCOTTISH GOLF WEBSITE TO READ MORE

Scottish Golf seeking enthusiastic candidates

Be part of the Journey | Join our Board

Scottish Golf is seeking enthusiastic candidates who share our passion for leading change and growing the game in Scotland. There's just a week left to apply for the current vacancies on our Board of Directors or nominate someone for the role of Junior Vice-President.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

RENFREWSHIRE'S JENNIFER RANKINE AND ANNA MACKENZIE HAVE GREAT ROUNDS IN THE SCOTTISH UNDER 16'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Hannah Screen (Berkhamsted) shot a one-over-par 68 to lead by three strokes at the end of the first round of the Scottish U16 girls' open championship at Aberdour Golf Club today.
She had birdies at the third, 13th and 17th in halves of 34. She bogeyed the first, eighth, 10th and 11th.
The leading Scottish players are joint seventh on 75 - Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle), Megan Ashley (Strathmore) and Anna Mackenzie (East Renfrewshire).

LEADING FIRST ROUND TOTALS
Par 67 SSS72 CSS 72
68 H Screen (Berkhamsted)
71 R Becht (Bel)
73 N Slater (Furness), A Fuller (Roehampton)
74 B Bayles (Bishop Auckland), F Tynan (Minchinhampton)
75 J Rankine (Haggs Castle), S Johnson (Telford), C Worby (Newport Links), M Ashley (Strathmore), A Mackenzie (East Renfrewshire), G Carr (Milltown)77

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
76 K Brodie (Strathmore)
78 A McKay (Crail GS), C Irvine (Craigielaw).
79 L McClymont (Milngavie) (T29)
80 L Duncan (West Kilbride) (38th)
82 E Hynd (Balbirnie Park) (T42)
83 R Foster (Turnberry)

EILIDH AND JENNIFER ARE SELECTED FOR THE LADIES AND GIRLS HOME INTERNATIONALS

Eilidh and Jennifer -- Selected for Home Internationals

Scottish Golf has announced its teams for next month’s Ladies’ and Girls’ Home International matches in Wales.

Carnoustie Ladies’ Jessica Meek is Scotland’s leading ranked player in the ladies’ team, given Germany-based Rachael Taylor is unavailable for selection as she prepares for LPGA Q School. Women’s Order of Merit leader Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) also features.

The Girls’ team is headed by newly-crowned Girls’ Amateur champion Hazel MacGarvie (Troon Ladies) and features five 16-year-old’s as well as 15-year-old Jennifer Rankine from Haggs Castle, winner of the Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish Schools.

The matches will be played at the same time over the same course, at Conwy Golf Club in Wales, but will retain the format of three morning foursomes followed by six afternoon singles.

The Ladies’ and Girls’ Home Internationals take place from 3 – 5 August.

Scotland team: Ladies’ Home Internationals (club and age in brackets)

• Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm, 23)
• Chloe Goadby (St Regulus, 18)
• Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies, 19)
• Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies, 22)
• Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey, 23)
• Heather Munro (Monifieth, 20)
• Clara Young (North Berwick, 19)

Scotland team: Girls’ Home Internationals

• Louise Duncan (West Kilbride, 16)
• Jillian Farrell (Cardross, 16)
• Joanne Free (Gullane Ladies, 18)
• Hazel MacGarvie (Troon Ladies, 16)
• Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead, 16)
• Shannon McWilliam, Aboyne, 16)
• Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle, 15)

SCOTTISH CLOSED CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS TOMORROW AT WEST KILBRIDE

Good luck to Eilidh Briggs, Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle) who are all playing in the Scottish Championship which begins tomorrow at West Kilbride Golf Club -- CLICK HERE TO GET STARTING TIMES

RLCGA'S AUDREY STURGESS HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO TO THE NEW SCOTTISH GOLF LIMITED BOARD

Many congratulations go to RLCGA's Audrey Sturgess who has been appointed to the new Scottish Golf Limited Board

Integration, with responsibility for Handicapping & Course Rating – Audrey Sturgess

Since graduating from the University of Stirling in Accountancy and Business Law and then qualifying as a certified accountant, Audrey has enjoyed a varied career, having lived and worked at home and abroad. She has worked for the National Health Service in Scotland and England and two firms of Chartered Accountants, PWC (Coopers & Lybrand), during a spell in South Africa, and Deloitte (Spicer & Pegler).

Audrey, who is also the owner/manager of a small property portfolio and, along with her husband Andy, has a farming business in south-west Scotland, has a deep knowledge of the history of the SGU and the SLGA. The former SLGA Finance Director was a member of the Amalgamation Working Group, responsible for producing its budget and forecast figures. A member of Haggs Castle Golf Club, The Ladies Golf Club Troon and Renfrewshire Ladies County Golf Association, Audrey was Club Finance Convenor for four years at Haggs Castle and was the first woman to be elected Club Captain in 2009.

To read more of all the appointments -- CLICK HERE