Amateur golf faces robust debate on the road to unity

It will get its first airing tomorrow morning, when the Scottish Ladies Golf Association, which has been in existence since 1904, gathers in Perth, before coming under scrutiny again next Sunday, when the Scottish Golf Union, which is 16 years younger than its female equivalent, meets at Tulliallan.

Over the past few months, both organisations have held a series of meetings with the Area and County associations that have a say in the running of those bodies at present, with Donald Turner, the chairman of an amalgamation working group, aiming for a vote to be taken around May.

While admitting it is a major change, Hamish Grey, chief executive of the SGU, believes the move is a "no-brainer", especially as it would bring Scotland into line with most countries in the world. However, while warm to the idea of having a single body in charge of Scottish amateur golf, some of the 16 Areas and 15 Counties are concerned about the proposal as it stands, with the men, for instance, having held two meetings over the past couple of months to discuss the matter.

That resulted in a letter being sent to Douglas Connon, the chairman of the SGU, and now the proposal could be about to reach a crucial phase as officials of both organisations prepare to meet delegates from around the country over the next couple of weekends.

"We're still in the consultation stage. Because of the weather at the end of last year, we didn't get to meet with every Area and we have meetings this week to conclude those," said Grey. "We then have the agm at the end of the month where we'll talk about that feedback.

"As with any change, not everyone is 100 per cent agreed with how to do it. But everyone is unanimous that amalgamation is something we should be doing. We'll take that feedback and revise the proposal, have ten seminars with Areas and clubs, then take stock and put the final proposal to the membership."

He added: "I believe the proposal will be the subject of robust discussion at the agms. It seems a no-brainer and everyone agrees it has to happen, but they have different views as to how."

The Scotsman believes ten Areas attended the first of the aforementioned meetings, with five more being in attendance when they re-convened.

"After the second of those meetings, it was agreed a letter should be sent to Mr Connon to say that the general view was that the proposal at the moment needed further discussion," said Denys Flaherty, president of the Lothians Golf Association."From what we have heard, a lot of the ladies' County Associations have got reservations about the proposal due to how it is going to affect them. One of the concerns is that they are going to get swamped due to the numbers and won't be able to contribute to the running of Scottish golf."

Flaherty, a member at Liberton, said he agreed there was strong backing for a unified body but only if it was done to everyone's satisfaction. "We were asked if we would be in favour of having one body to manage and administer golf in Scotland and, without question, the answer to that has been 'yes'. However, we are concerned about what is there at the moment," he added.

"We realise the difficulties. However, it looks as though this proposal is only going halfway to tackling the issue. They are talking about setting up a board at the top, but leaving the Area and County structure in place. We are talking about some counties that have been in existence for more than 100 years and it is difficult to expect people to sit down with a blank piece of paper and say, as of whenever, this is how it is now going to be."

Once a final proposal is put on the table by the working group, the Areas are adamant they should be the ones seeking the views of clubs. "We will be consulting with clubs and seeking their opinion. The majority view at an egm would then be forward to the SGU's egm and we would vote in accordance with that," said Flaherty.