Martin Dempster: Wounded pride must be set aside in quest for unity

OF all the stories I've covered in Scottish golf over the years, the hoo-ha over the last few weeks surrounding the proposed amalgamation of the Scottish Golf Union and the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association has left me closer than ever before to heading for a darkened room, locking the door and not coming out until it is all over.

What should have been a straightforward process - everyone's in favour of the move, after all, or at least that's what we're being told - has become a real mess and, sadly, it's hard to see how some relationships in the Scottish game will ever be the same again.

Having lost the vote last week, the SGU board will now meet on Monday to work out where it goes from here, with the SLGA watching with interest after its stakeholders, by contrast, gave the proposal a huge thumbs up.

Lessons have to be learned. If the SGU were too aggressive in the way they handled this matter from the outset, as is being claimed by some of the Area associations that voted 10-6 against the proposal, then there simply has to be a softer approach adopted by SGU officials Douglas Connon and Hamish Grey this time around.

Equally, the Area representatives accused by Donald Turner, the independent chairman of the working group behind the proposed amalgamation, of having "entrenched views" must show that is not the case and be prepared to leave the events of the last few weeks in the past to find a solution to a feud that is embarrassing for the sport.

First and foremost, the two parties have to achieve formal agreement of the amalgamation in principle as quickly as possible.

We've been told for weeks that is, in fact, the case yet until it is rubber-stamped golf is in danger of losing sportscotland funding, some of which has just been put in place to try and improve the country's dismal record in recent years of turning top amateurs into top professionals.

To put that funding under threat before it has even had the chance to start having an impact is not in the best interests of the game - interests which all parties should have at heart - but unless Scotland falls into line with almost every other country in the world by forming a unified body, it remains a possibility.

Amalgamation isn't the sticking point here, the concern for the Areas is the fact that the SGU board would have more power and freedom than it has at the moment - and, with all due respect to the clubs being given the voting rights instead, clubs have little interest in what is going on at national level, especially at a time when most of them are fully focused on concerns closer to home, such as staying in business.If this is indeed all about a power struggle - and it's difficult to suggest otherwise - then the only way it can be sorted out is with a full and open debate involving the SGU board, the Area representatives and also the clubs.

The negativity and back-biting over the past few weeks isn't healthy for the future of our game. The most frustrating part is that the parties involved all share the common goal of trying to produce good golfers who are given the best chance possible of going on to become successful professionals.

Difficult as though it may be after the bitter war of words and the clashes of personalities, it is time for everyone involved in this process to put pride aside, sit down together at the table and come up with an agreement that allows Scottish golf to move forward in agreement.

Damage has certainly been done but is not quite yet irreparable.

For the good of our great sport, let's hope an agreement can be reached without any more blood being spilled around the country.