The Spring edition of the GGU newsletter is now available. It includes an opening message to all GGU club members from President Sandy Anderson plus the full fixture list for this season. There is also an update on Alastair Forsyth's coaching programme, and details of the Order of Merit events and 'A' team preparation. As always, your feedback and suggestions are very welcome. Read the newsletter here

The R&A and The USGA have issued the Distance Insights Report, which provides comprehensive research and analysis on the contributors to, and long-term impacts of, hitting distance in golf.

After extensive stakeholder research, the report features more than 100 years of data, informed by a library of 56 supporting documents. It is accompanied by a 15-page conclusions paper from the governing bodies that summarises their perspectives on the long-term implications for the sport.

The reports and library have been publicly released and can be found at randa.org/distanceinsights

To facilitate input from manufacturers and other stakeholders in the golf community, specific topics of further research will be identified and published within 45 days. It is expected that this important step in gathering input could take approximately nine months to one year. Read more on this article here

To support clubs, Scottish Golf are delivering a series of free-to-attend Get into Golf workshops in 2020, giving Clubs insight into what the Get into Golf programme is as well as how your club can introduce new people to the game. At the workshops, you will be able to learn from other Clubs who have been involved with Get into Golf and understand how it has helped them to increase female membership, create an inclusive environment, introduce flexible or social memberships and much more. These workshops are free-to-attend for all affiliated Scottish Golf Clubs and a full list of where, when and how to book a place at your local workshop can be found here

The way golfers around the world will calculate their handicaps is set to be transformed by a new system developed by the USGA and The R&A, with key features designed to provide all golfers with a consistent measure of playing ability.

The new World Handicap System, to be implemented in 2020, follows an extensive review of systems administered by six existing handicapping authorities: Golf Australia, the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and the USGA.

A Scottish Golf spokesperson said, “As a member organisation of the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) Scottish Golf are now able to share with you the key features of the R&A and USGA’s proposed World Handicap System. The operational detail on how the system will function is still being worked on and as more information becomes available, we will continue to work with our partners in the industry to ensure appropriate information is provided to clubs.” Read more about the WHS Resource Centre at Scottish Golf  here.  A slide pack produced jointly by the R&A and the USGA "WHS Rules Education Seminar 2019" may be downloaded from our document archive here

Members of Glasgow Golf Union, as the President and on behalf of the Executive please see enclosed our Winter newsletter which aims to keep to you informed on many of the issues affecting our Game in Glasgow and some of the work we are carrying out on your behalf.
I would like to start with our very successful 55th annual dinner held at Ralston Golf club on 1st March 2019 where 127 members and guests enjoyed our prize giving and were thoroughly entertained by our 2 main speakers John Gilligan and Mark Loftus. Thanks to all who attended and special thanks to Andy Quinn for his key role in making the dinner such big success. Next year our dinner is at Cathkin Braes on Friday 6th March and I would encourage as many members and friends to attend as possible. We have a great Guest Speaker booked who I know will be very entertaining.
Our Dinner helps by raising funds for our coaching delivery and this year I have to apologize that we had little success in providing much needed coaching for our junior members. Whilst Alastair Forsyth conducted some sessions over the winter and with a few of our team players during the summer our overall coaching this year has been disappointing. A number of circumstances prevented this from happening however you have my assurance that our coaching strategy is currently being revamped and our convener, Willie Duncan of Pollok, is developing a practical and pragmatic strategy for the future. When complete our approach will be promoted to the clubs, please assist by making your Juniors aware of our sessions and encouraging as many as possible to attend. To read more and download your copy click here

The R&A and the USGA are conducting a review of the Rules of Amateur Status to make them easier to understand and apply. The comprehensive evaluation is part of the continued joint effort to modernise the Rules by reducing complexity and ensuring the Rules effectively guide how the game is played today. As part of a review process that began earlier this year, the governing bodies will seek the perspectives of golf’s stakeholders as an integral component of the review process, including elite amateur golfers, golf event organisers, national golf associations, professional golf associations and other industry partners.

The aim is to provide the golf community with a modernised set of Amateur Status Rules in late 2021, with the goal of an effective date of 1 January 2022. For more information click here

The World Handicap System (WHS) is ready to be launched from January 2020 and will provide golfers with a unified and more inclusive handicapping system for the first time. Though many countries are planning to adopt the new system in January, the system will go live in other parts of the world throughout the year to accommodate different implementation plans and variations in the golfing calendar. Read the full article here

Scottish Golf has issued a new governance guide for clubs in the ongoing drive to modernise and grow the game. Key stakeholders across the sport recognise the value of improving the organisation and structures of clubs in order to maximise their potential for profitability and growth. Scottish Golf is committed to inspiring good governance within the game and has joined forces with The British and International Golf Greenkeepers’ Association (BIGGA), The Golf Club Managers’ Association (GCMA), The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA), The R&A, England Golf and Wales Golf to provide this invaluable resource for all clubs to consider. 

By co-ordinating a unified approach to good governance and setting this out in an easy-to-read format in the second edition of the guide, clubs the length and breadth of the country will now benefit from a strong template which can either be adopted or adapted to meet needs of individual organisations. For more details, read the full article here