ROY CASE AND NORMAN FORREST TO BE NEXT EGU PRESIDENTS
Roy Case has been nominated to become President of the English
Golf Union for 2008/2009 with Norman Forrest the President
Elect for the same period, subject to ratification at next
month’s Annual Meeting at Woodhall Spa.
Case, 68, was originally nominated for 2009 but, following
the untimely death of Peter Benka, who was to become President
this year, the Nottinghamshire stalwart is to take over from
current President Richard Palmer.
A champion of junior golf for the past three decades, Case
helped develop the careers of many current professionals including
Nick Dougherty, Justin Rose, Luke Donald, Graeme Storm, Lee
Westwood, Mark Foster, and Oliver Wilson as well as current
leading amateurs including English champion Daniel Willett.
“I have mixed feelings about becoming President a year
early,” says Case, who is currently secretary of the
Nottinghamshire Golf Union. “I am delighted to be doing
the job but the circumstances have been accelerated which
is somewhat distressing for me and for many others. I served
with Peter when he was chairman of the England men’s
selection committee and he would always seek advice about
the boys who were moving into men’s golf.”
Norman Forrest, a long-serving member of the Lancashire Union
of Golf Clubs, expressed himself “surprised” to
be nominated. The news also came in the wake of he and his
wife Eva celebrating their Golden Wedding on 28th December.
“My nomination came as a complete surprise but somewhat
sad in the circumstances,” he says. “It’s
a great honour not only for me but also for my club, Walmersley,
and the county, while I am also looking forward to assisting
Roy in the coming year.”
Forrest, 72, is a retired director of a Bolton-based family
business.
He is a past Captain, Honorary Life Member and Trustee of
Walmersley and a member of Royal Lytham & St Anne’s
Golf Club. A former President of the Bury and District Golf
Association, he was President of Lancashire in 1992 and is
still active as a member of its Administration Committee.
He was the Lancashire representative on the EGU Council in
1995 and ‘96 and on the EGU’s Executive from 2003-2005,
serving on Finance and Presidents Advisory Committees. Currently
he is a Director and Chairman of the EGU’s Property
Company Ltd and has been since 2005.
He admits to being a golfer of limited ability, currently
playing off an 18 handicap but a strong supporter of etiquette
and standards within the game.
Norman and Eva have three children and six grandchildren.
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