Scottish Golf body officially launched

• New unified body Scottish Golf officially launched today
• “It’s an historic and special day,” said chair Eleanor Cannon
• Leading tour pros and amateurs support the launch in St Andrews

Eleanor Cannon heralded today ‘an historic and special day for Scottish golf’ after starting her new role as the chair of the new unified governing body Scottish Golf.

Launched with the help of leading Scottish tour professionals and amateurs, as well as local youngsters from the ClubGolf programme, the new body, an amalgamation of the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) and Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association (SLGA) offers the opportunity for Scottish Golf to grow and prosper through strengthening and supporting affiliated clubs, creating winning golfers, staging outstanding events for golfers of all ages and abilities and inspiring more people to take up and enjoy the game.

“It’s a tremendous, positive step for the game of golf in Scotland” – Eleanor Cannon

“This is an historic and special day for Scottish Golf,” said Cannon. “I believe that the coming together of the two governing bodies will be a tremendous, positive step for the game of golf in Scotland.

“It will open up further opportunities in terms of driving membership and growing the game from a family perspective, where people are perceived to be players and members, and not identified by their gender all the time.

“I also believe more funding opportunities will be available to us in the public and private sector, given the values of the game, the family sport it is and the skills and values it instils in young and old alike. We all have the opportunity to work as a new organisation to take golf in Scotland forward into an exciting new era.”

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At a sun-drenched West Sands beach ahead of this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Cannon was joined by 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie, highest-ranked Scot Marc Warren, Ladies European Tour pair Carly Booth and Pamela Pretswell, Walker Cup player Ewen Ferguson and Scottish Ladies Amateur champion Gabrielle Macdonald for the launch of 607 balloons to represent the number of affiliated clubs in Scotland.

Scottish Golf begins a new chapter for the game – the SLGA was founded in 1904 and the SGU in 1920 – and will represent golfers and golf clubs to champion the game in Scotland, reflected by Scottish Golf’s current Twitter campaign #WholeInOne.

The new unified body has also secured a major sponsorship deal with Aberdeen Asset Management – with the global investment group continuing to back Scotland’s leading amateur golfers through a two-year agreement.

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“Aberdeen Asset Management is delighted to be the first sponsor of the new Scottish Golf organisation and continue our investment in the country’s leading amateur golfers,” said chief executive Martin Gilbert, who also appeared at the photocall on West Sands beach.

“We are proud to play a part in this very special day for the sport in Scotland” – Martin Gilbert

“The partnership is very important to us and we hope our support can continue to deliver success for Scotland’s national golf teams, building on their recent achievements at home and internationally.

“Having a single governing body for Scottish golf was a major factor in extending our sponsorship and we are proud to play a part in this very special day for the sport in Scotland.”

Photos: Kevin Kirk

Scottish Golf :: A new chapter

Are you happy with the new unified body and what impact do you think it will have on Scottish golf? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.