New Scottish Golf governing body launched

It will represent 607 golf clubs and 220,000 members.

Scottish Golf will be the new governing body for the amateur game, replacing the Scottish Golf Union and the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association.

The body will help the game in Scotland by representing golfers, staging events and supporting clubs associated to it.

Eleanor Cannon, the new Chair, said that the existence of one larger body will be a positive step for golf in the country.

"It will open up further opportunities in terms of driving membership and growing the game from a family perspective, where people are perceived to be players and members, and not identified by their gender all the time," she said.

"I also believe more funding opportunities will be available to us in the public and private sector, given the values of the game, the family sport it is and the skills and values it instils in young and old alike."

The responsibilities of the SGU and the SLGA, which were 95 and 111 years old respectively, will now fall under Scottish Golf’s remit.

On Thursday, Tour professionals Marc Warren, Paul Lawrie, Carly Booth and Pamela Pretswell were among those present at St Andrews for official celebrations.

Aberdeen Asset Management have already offered their sponsorship, with Martin Gilbert, the company’s Chief Executive, citing Scottish golfers’ recent success as a motivation to do well.

"The partnership is very important to us and we hope our support can continue to deliver success for Scotland’s national golf teams, building on their recent achievements at home and internationally," he said.

"Having a single governing body for Scottish golf was a major factor in extending our sponsorship and we are proud to play a part in this very special day for the sport in Scotland."

As part of the sponsorship deal, players will wear the Aberdeen Asset Management logo on their apparel through to 2017.

Scottish Golf will be responsible for 607 golf clubs and 220,000 members.