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Hello and welcome to this our first attempt at a newsletter. Why you may ask? Well after much deliberation about communication and the lack of understanding of what is or is not going on in our area the South Executive decided that to aid the information process we would endeavour to broadcast what has been going on across the region and use this as an opportunity to inform what we have been up to, inform you of the successes and allow you the opportunity to contribute to further editions. The purpose of a newsletter is to provide information to a targeted audience and through this medium it is hoped to be able to pass that on.

In this our first edition we shall recap on the season just past and give you a flavour of what has been happening in the administration side of the game and who did what on the course in South fixtures. One piece of congratulations goes to our SGU Area Delegate John Sommerville who at the SGUL AGM will assume the position of Vice President. This accolade is long overdue and we all in the South wish John an enjoyable tenure at the pinnacle of Scottish Golf Administration. He is only the second South representative to be elected to this position the other was Val Plant's (Stranraer) reign in I1988-89

Chris Robinson from Wigtown & Bladnoch was a member of the very successful Scottish side that claimed the R&A Trophy for the first time since 1995 at Lossiemouth. It was Chris' match on the final afternoon that swung the championship Scotland's way. 4 down early on he battled back to win on the home green and as it transpired it was this vital point that was enough to see Scotland home to victory. Chris is the first ever member of Wigtown & Bladnoch to gain such an honour and he was certinaly worthy of his place. Well done Chris.

The South of Scotland Championship was played for on Sunday 13 August at Powfoot Golf Club. In mixed weather conditions Michael Grunwell from Lockerbie Golf Club was the eventual winner after beating Ian Brotherston, Dumfries & County in a three hole play-off. Both Players were tied on 137 after 36 holes but after double bogeying the first play-off hole Brotherston saw his chances of regaining the title which he last won in 1987 fade away.

The best scores of the day were returned by Ian Brotherston who had a morning round of 67. This was followed by David Willacy of the home club with the same score in his afternoon round. Michael has to be congratulated on this his first South Championship win and is seen being presented with the Trophy by Tom Bartlett, South President.The South Executive would like to take this opportunity to thank Powfoot Golf Club for the use of the course and the Club facilities

Leader Board:
1 Michael Grunwell (Lockerbie) 68+69=137 (After 3 hole play-off)
2 Ian Brotherston (D&C) 67+70=137.
3 Barry Scott (D&G) 70+68=138.
4 Clark Riddick (D&G) 70+69=139.
5 David Willacy (Powfoot) 73+67=140.

Gillespie Leisure and the South of Scotland Golfers' Association have renewed their sponsorship agreement for a further three years.In the picture is Tom Gillespie, Managing Director of Gillespie Leisure and Alex Waugh, Golf Development Officer for the South signing up to the agreement. Since January 2003, the Brighouse Bay Golf Club has been the Training Academy for South golf. Over this period the initiative has provided many junior golfers with excellent training facilities and resources to improve their golfing skills.

John Sommerville who has been involved with South Golf for over twenty five years has been elected to the post of Vice President of the Scottish Golf Union Limited.
John who has been a member of Kirkcudbright for many years has finally risen to the top of Scottish Golf Administration. President of the South in 1986 and following Michael Dickie's retirement he took over the reigns of Secretary for the next I 2 years. He was a great instigator in bringing together the present Executive and for the last 10 years has served the Area dutifully as their representative on the SGUL Executive. He is a Qualified R&A Referee and has deliberated at many Championships, just what he likes doing best. Best wishes John

President Tom Bartlett stuck between two thorns as he presents the Shamash Trophy to Graham Sharp and the Order of Merit 2005 to Michael Grunwell. Michael continued his good for of 2005 in winning the South Championship and other consistent performances enable him to retain the title. Graham won the Shamash at Portpatrick in April, the club where he learned to play the game. Graham now labours away at Dumfries & County GC where he and his good lady Karen took over as club-master and catering duties in mid season.

Martin Gibson (Stranraer GC) beat off all contenders to win his first South Seniors title over the Wigtownshire County course. He was first out and his 74 was never beaten. Robbie Nairn (Lochmaben) was runner up with a 76 and defending champion Marshall Douglas and John Thomson were third equal with 78's.
Martin who has been Wigtownshire secretary for more than 20 years is enjoying a renewed rise in his golfing fortunes and puts his success down to the healthy competition he endures regularly at his home club.

South Senior Cham 2006

SGUL Governance Review—An Outline

The SGUL commissioned a full in depth review of the union and asked three independent persons to undertake this review. The outcome was a report (Reedie Report) that recommended some sweeping changes to the way the Union was run and organised. To date this report is still under discussion with the areas and will be further discussed at the SGUL AGM workshops at the end of January 2007.
The outline of the report was to streamline the Union to have only one layer of Management, that of the Board. The Executive Council would remain as the Shareholders but have no great influence in the operational functions of the Governing Body. They would retain the capacity of setting policy but effectively have little else to do. This has been placed to the Areas across Scotland and their response has been to convene their own meeting to address the issues of the Report. You may have seen some of this outlined in the press or at your club through the SGUL Newsletter or via a letter to the Club from the Chairman of the Board Alastair Low. To date discussions are still on going with a form of middle ground being sought. Some of the Report has great merit and will take a bit of time to unravel. That said it will hopefully provide a better foothold for the future development of Amateur Golf in Scotland.
It is better to have slower successful change that fast disastrous change. Remember Drumoig. It has been mentioned on several occasions that communication was not all it should be especially from the Board to the Executive so with this in mind hopefully we shall hear pretty quickly what positive action will prevail.