Scotland gets only its second unified golf body out of 16 Areas

It follows the creation of a new body, Fife Golf, after the merger of Fife Golf Association and Fife County Ladies Golfing Association was given the green light at a Special General Meeting at Balbirnie Park Golf Club on Monday.

The move came after both organisations received positive votes for unification at separate AGMs in late 2024, with a small working group having worked quickly since then to get the unification in place in time for the 2025 playing season.

Representatives from 19 clubs were in attendance to hear the chairperson, Jim McArthur, lay out details of how the organisation will be structured and the proposed plans for the coming year.

Fife becomes only the second Area in Scotland to join forces, following the lead of Scottish Golf North, who merged in 2018.

McArthur, a New Club, St Andrews member and former chairman of The R&A Championship committee, will co-chair the unified body at the outset with Kirkcaldy Golf Club’s Marina Hope.

Lundin GC’s John Baxter will serve as vice-chair while the secretary is David McPherson of Burntisland Golf House Club and the financial convenor will be Crail Golfing Society’s Aileen Baker.

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Karin Sharp, a Kirkcaldy member who was Scottish Golf’s chief operating officer for a spell after previously holding the same position with the Scottish Ladies Golf Association, will serve as Fife Golf’s performance convenor.

In addition to being the vice-chair, Baxter will also fill the post of competition convenor while marketing and communications will be looked after by Lorraine Morrow (St Regulus).