County union supports merger ‘for good of the game’

The men and women of Yorkshire golf yesterday played their part in bringing equality to the top of the sport by voting in favour of a merger of the two separate governing bodies.

The merger of the English Golf Union and English Women’s Golf Association will come into effect on January 1, 2012, and will create England Golf, one national body to represent all amateur golfers in the country.

The proposal was approved by 86 per cent of the voting members of the EGU and by 100 per cent of the voting members of the EWGA. Both organisations had to approve the proposal by a majority of at least 75 per cent for it to be successful.

Fears that the powerful Yorkshire delegation would vote against the proposal proved unfounded, as the men voted with their female couterparts from the White Rose county to approve the merger.

Yorkshire Union secretary Keith Dowswell said last night: “We knew we had a powerful vote but we voted as we thought appropriate.

“How it will affect the game only time will tell, but it can only be for the good of the game.”

The successful motion to merge should also enhance golf’s chances of receiving £13m of funding from Sport England from 2013 onwards.

In a joint statement, Nigel Evans, chairman of the EGU and Sylvia Perrins, interim chair of the EWGA, said: “This merger is in the best interests of golf and we are delighted that it has been given overwhelming support by our members. We look forward to a new era and to realising our vision for the future.

“England Golf will speak with one voice and send out the powerful, modern message that golf is a game for all, for men and women, boys and girls.

“A unified organisation, which promotes both the men’s and women’s game, will be more attractive to new golfers, will help us to grow the game, will be more appealing to commercial partners and sponsors and will mean we can be more cost effective.”

The key points of the merger are:

The headquarters of England Golf will initially be at the National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa.

Counties will be encouraged to merge their Unions and Associations, but this will not be mandatory.

The Board of England Golf will initially include 10 stakeholder non-executive directors, six nominated by the EGU and four women nominated by the EWGA.

The regional and group structures of the two organisations will continue to run competitions. The decision-making role of the EWGA regional committees will end.

Affiliation fees for men and women will be harmonised and will be equal by January 1, 2014. Women will continue to pay an additional subscription to the Ladies Golf Union.