NEW STRUCTURE FOR THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION
After 80 years as an unincorporated organisation the English
Golf Union has amended its structure to both protect the assets
of the Union and at the same time modernise the Union's management.
The new structure, which received the full approval of the
County Unions, came into being on 1st November 2005 and will
see the previous English Golf Union responsibilities split
between two new and separate companies, The English Golf Union
Limited and EGU Property Company Limited.
The English Golf Union Limited (EGU) will manage the core
activities of the Union supporting players, clubs, counties
and the hundreds of volunteers involved in the game, as well
as the day-to-day management of The National Golf Centre and
the courses at Woodhall Spa through a 100% subsidiary, Woodhall
Spa Golf Management 2005 Limited. EGU Property Company Limited
will own and manage land and buildings at the Woodhall Spa
site.
The EGU, which had been an Unincorporated Association for
over 80 years, recognized the potential unlimited liability
exposure of its Committee members. The new structure ensures
that this potential liability is removed. As an incorporated
body the EGU is now limited by guarantee - the guarantee being
the 34 County Unions, the National Association of Public Golf
Courses (NAPGC) and the Artisans Golfers' Association (AGA)
with the limit on that guarantee being £1.00.
The changes also included a streamlining of the management
functions with the aim of improving the speed and efficiency
of decision making so benefiting all the stakeholders of golf
in England. Both the number of committees and the number of
people serving on the remaining committees will be reduced.
Paul Baxter, EGU Chief Executive commented, "I am confident
that the game of golf will benefit from the new structure.
We now have a modern and efficient organisation which is qualified
to take on the challenges that lie ahead."
The arrangement does not alter the voting structure of the
EGU. That remains with the 34 County Unions, the NAPGC and
the AGA and the EGU emphasizes that it is these voting representatives
that remain the vital link between the clubs and their individual
members.
Baxter continued, "Throughout the entire process of
establishing our new structure I have been delighted with
the support we have received from our counties. They are after
all the EGU. Their contribution has been constructive from
start to finish. We should all be proud with the final result
and I would like to thank those who made change possible."
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