The merger of the Ladies’ Golf Union (LGU) and The R&A has been finalized and will come into effect from 1 January 2017.
The heads of agreement between the two organisations was signed in June leading to the integration of the LGU’s business operations and its members of staff into The R&A group of companies. An agreed governance structure has also been implemented to give LGU Board members representation on relevant R&A Committees.
The R&A will assume responsibility for staging the LGU’s championships and international matches next year, offering leading women’s professional and elite amateur golfers opportunities to play in a world class series of events. The Ricoh Women’s British Open will continue to be managed by IMG in 2017 under the existing agreement with the LGU.
Trish Wilson, Chair of the LGU, said, "The completion of the merger is a progressive and important step for the development of women’s golf.
"Bringing the two organisations together creates a platform that will allow us to develop our aspirations for women’s golf on a global stage and encourage more girls and women to play golf and become members of clubs.
"The success of the Ricoh Women’s British Open and the Curtis Cup demonstrates the growing strength of women’s golf in both the professional and amateur game and we look forward to building on this with The R&A."
Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, "The integration of the two organisations puts us in a better, stronger position to realise our collective vision for growing the game of golf around the world.
"Our combined resources and staff expertise will help us to achieve our shared aims for the development of golf, including increasing girls’ and women’s participation and encouraging more families to enjoy golf as a recreational activity.
"Both organisations have an excellent track record of successfully staging prestigious championships and international matches and we are looking forward to a great season of events next year."
The 2017 schedule of championships and international matches is as follows:
1 January – 17 June
Ladies British Open Amateur Championship
Pyle & Kenfig
13 – 17 June
The Amateur Championship
Royal St George’s and Prince’s
19 – 24 June
The 146th Open – Regional Qualifying
Various
26 June
Vagliano Trophy and Junior Vagliano Trophy
Circolo Golf Bogogno, Italy
30 June – 1 July
The 146th Open – Final Qualifying
Various
4 July
The 146th Open
Royal Birkdale
20 – 23 July
Ricoh Women’s British Open – Pre Qualifying
Hankley Common
17 July
The Senior Open Championship
Royal Porthcawl
27 – 30 July
Ricoh Women’s British Open – Final Qualifying
The Castle Course, St Andrews
31 July
Ricoh Women’s British Open
Kingsbarns Links
3 – 6 August
The Boys Home Internationals
St Annes Old Links
8 – 10 August
Ladies and Girls Home Internationals
Little Aston
9 – 11 August
The Seniors Amateur Championship
Sunningdale (Old Course)
9 – 11 August
Girls British Open Amateur Championship
Enville
15 – 19 August
The Boys Amateur Championship
Nairn and Nairn Dunbar
15 – 20 August
The Jacques Leglise Trophy
Ballybunion (Old Course)
1 – 2 September
Ladies British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship
North Berwick
6 – 8 September
The Walker Cup
Los Angeles Country Club
9 – 10 September
Ladies Senior British Open Amateur Championship
Royal Belfast
19 – 21 September
Ladies Senior Home Internationals
Newport
3 – 5 October
For more information, please contact:
The R&A – Communications
Tel: +44 (0) 1334 460000
Email: media@randa.org
Web: www.RandA.org
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