EUROPEAN GOLF ASSOCIATION REVERSED BIENNIAL DECISION
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
If, like me, you are wondering why Scotland are not defending the European senior women's team championship in Bulgaria this week, Dr Sheila Hartley, CEO of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association, has the explanation which, is a very reasonable one, once the facts are explained.
By DR SHEILA HARTLEY, CEO, SLGA
In 2009 the European Golf Association conducted a survey of its members into, among other things, the frequency (holding them in alternate years) of the ladies’ and men’s and senior men’s and senior ladies’ team championships. There were 33 responses and the majority were in favour of holding these championships every two years.
The main driver for this was economic. It costs a fortune to host one of these events (the SLGA’s budget for the European girls’ at Murcar was £65,000) and a small fortune to participate (in the region of £10-15k each).
The EGA Championship Committee recommended that a biennial frequency be introduced and this was endorsed by the EGA Executive Committee at its meeting in December 2009 where it was decided that from January 2011 the Men’s and Ladies’ Team Championships would be held biennially in odd years with the seniors in even years.
Following the 2010 Senior Team Championships the team captains, with no authority from their governing bodies, wrote a letter to the EGA petitioning for the Senior Team Championships to be held annually.
I must tell you that Pam Williamson did not sign the letter from the captains of the ladies’ teams.
The letter was discussed at the EGA Championship Committee in October 2010 and referred to the EGA Executive Committee for decision.
At the meeting of the EGA Executive Committee in October 2010 the decision taken in December 2009 was reversed.
The Home Nations, England, Ireland and Scotland (Wales does not participate in senior team championships), discussed the matter and wrote to the EGA requesting that the original decision stand. However the EGA was not for changing its mind again.
Given that the economic circumstances that led to the original decision to hold the Championships biennially still prevail the Home Nations agreed that we will only participate in the Senior Team Championships in alternate years which is why England, Ireland and Scotland are not in Bulgaria or in Portugal where the Senior Men’s Championship is being held.
Hope this clarifies things for you.
Regards
Sheila
Chief Operating Officer / Company Secretary
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
If, like me, you are wondering why Scotland are not defending the European senior women's team championship in Bulgaria this week, Dr Sheila Hartley, CEO of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association, has the explanation which, is a very reasonable one, once the facts are explained.
WHY SCOTLAND ARE NOT DEFENDING SENIOR WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP IN
BULGARIA THIS WEEKBy DR SHEILA HARTLEY, CEO, SLGA
In 2009 the European Golf Association conducted a survey of its members into, among other things, the frequency (holding them in alternate years) of the ladies’ and men’s and senior men’s and senior ladies’ team championships. There were 33 responses and the majority were in favour of holding these championships every two years.
The main driver for this was economic. It costs a fortune to host one of these events (the SLGA’s budget for the European girls’ at Murcar was £65,000) and a small fortune to participate (in the region of £10-15k each).
The EGA Championship Committee recommended that a biennial frequency be introduced and this was endorsed by the EGA Executive Committee at its meeting in December 2009 where it was decided that from January 2011 the Men’s and Ladies’ Team Championships would be held biennially in odd years with the seniors in even years.
Following the 2010 Senior Team Championships the team captains, with no authority from their governing bodies, wrote a letter to the EGA petitioning for the Senior Team Championships to be held annually.
I must tell you that Pam Williamson did not sign the letter from the captains of the ladies’ teams.
The letter was discussed at the EGA Championship Committee in October 2010 and referred to the EGA Executive Committee for decision.
At the meeting of the EGA Executive Committee in October 2010 the decision taken in December 2009 was reversed.
The Home Nations, England, Ireland and Scotland (Wales does not participate in senior team championships), discussed the matter and wrote to the EGA requesting that the original decision stand. However the EGA was not for changing its mind again.
Given that the economic circumstances that led to the original decision to hold the Championships biennially still prevail the Home Nations agreed that we will only participate in the Senior Team Championships in alternate years which is why England, Ireland and Scotland are not in Bulgaria or in Portugal where the Senior Men’s Championship is being held.
Hope this clarifies things for you.
Regards
Sheila
Scottish Ladies Golfing Association Limited
Web: www.slga.co.uk 