Cornwall Golf Union
Annual General Meeting Supports Unification
The Cornwall Golf Union staged its Annual General Meeting on 23rd May 2024 at Lanhydrock Hotel & GC. There were 34 persons present representing a total of 19 different clubs.
The draft (unapproved) Minutes of the meeting can be found here
The meeting, chaired by CGU President Martin Edwards, received the traditional reports from section captains, team managers, and sub committees as well as the Development Officer. All the reports are included as appendices to the Minutes.
End of Year accounts for 2023 had been circulated prior and the meeting was addressed by CGU Treasurer David West, who indicated CGU reserves stand currently at £171K. The increased level is a direct result of monies received during the Covid period and those two years added some £64K. The Finance Committee oversees matters and is always keen to exercise prudence and the best use of any reserve. It considered options:
- Return monies to clubs
- Retain or reduce the Affiliation Fee – operating costs emanate from the fee
- Set aside the reserve in order to fund exceptional and non-recurring matters/projects.
The committee chose the latter option and can now demonstrate how it has moved in this direction, citing wider Golf development activity, a fully funded Community Golf Instructors Course, WHS assistance to clubs (new handicap look up panels) , webinars and more recently the provision of the Golf Access programme for all the 20 clubs who expressed an interest. The Treasurer stated the CGU is clear in its wish to apply the surplus prudently and remains keen to hear from clubs with ideas or requests for its use. Further Community Golf Instructors courses are likely to follow later this year and are another example of the CGU investment for the benefit of all.
The meeting was given an update on the steps being taken towards a potential unification of the Cornwall Ladies County Golf Association and the Cornwall Golf Union, in the form of a PowerPoint presentation led by Carole Waights (CLCGA and Chair of the Unification Working Group). The presentation can be viewed here. The meeting was asked for an indicative vote on the question of unification, specifically 'Are you in favour of unification?' The CGU is pleased to report the meeting responded with a unanimous show of support.
England Golf Club Support Officer Brad Bodinnar delivered a short presentation on current hot topics which included the launch of the 'Get into Golf' website where clubs can advertise and upload their events free of charge. Get into Golf website
Brad also referred clubs to a new partnership England Golf have forged with Barclaycard. Affiliated clubs can now save on taking customer card payments with Barclaycard Payments, one of the UK’s leading payment providers, thanks to our exclusive discount on merchant service charges. Anecdotally I hear one Cornish club has already halved its bank transaction rates after one conversation with the provider, saving £400 per month. Find out more Barclaycard
The need for all clubs to have an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy in place by the end of the year (2024) was emphasised. In Cornwall 27 of our 30 clubs are either already signed off whilst the other 3 clubs have not as yet engaged in the process.
In competition news - next years County Amateur Championship will take place from 1st - 4th May 2025 at Trevose G&CC - the year the host club celebrates its centenary. The traditional County Week and its constituent competitions is likely to place towards the end of the season and an announcement should follow shortly as to the location.
Jamie Greet (Mullion) was congratulated on his recent County Amateur Championship win at the conclusion of a very successful County Week staged at his home club. Greet and 10 others have been named in County Captain Peter Simmons' squad travelling to East Devon GC for the SWCGA Championship from 8th - 14th June 2024.
In other elections Adam Bridgewater (Launceston) became County Vice Captain, Richard Jones (St Enodoc) became County Seniors Vice-Captain and Libby Edgar-Lehan (ThePoint), Max Stockwell (Bowood Park) and Gary Stone (Lanhydrock) were elected to the Executive Committee. The Treasurer was re-elected to his position and Whitakers (Newquay) were once again elected as the Union's accountants. Thanks were expressed to Antony Richards (West Cornwall) who stood down after 8 years service to the Executive.
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