About the English Women's Golf Association

On the 31 December 2007 the English Ladies’ Golf Association, an unincorporated body, was dissolved and the property, contracts, assets (including intellectual property rights and goodwill) and liabilities of the Association were transferred to a Company Limited by Guarantee, registration number 6431498, known as the English Women’s Golf Association.

The English Ladies' Golf Association was formed in 1952. Before that golf in England came under the jurisdiction of the Ladies' Golf Union which generally deals with British women’s championships and selection of teams to compete in International events.

The headquarters of the English Women’s Golf Association are based in leased premises at 11 Highfield Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham and has been based in the Birmingham area since 1988. There are over 1,790 ladies' sections of golf clubs affiliated to the Association in England, resulting in a membership of over 121,000. The game of golf became increasingly popular at the end of the 1980s and as a result there was a surge in new course development. This came to an abrupt end in 1990 with the economic recession, and a number of major projects, which had been started, failed before completion. However, there are many new golf courses attracting a new and inexperienced club membership  in particular most of these are proprietary owned.

The overall management of the Association is vested in a Management Board comprising a Chairman, 4 Non-Executive Directors, Company Accountant/Secretary and the Chief Executive Officer. These directors serve for a maximum of 3 years and are appointed for their business skills and have specific responsibilities for marketing and the commercial activity of the organisation.

Working with the Management Board is an Operational Board that has responsibility for the golfing activities of the organisation, primarily, national and regional competitions, handicapping, course rating and selection for England teams. The Operational Board has a Chairman and representative from each of the 6 regions across England. In addition there are two representatives who represent England on the Executive Council of the Ladies’ Golf Union.

The Management and Operational Boards are supported by a team of professional and enthusiastic staff headed by a Chief Executive Officer.

The work of the Association is very varied but its overall objective is to further the interest of women's golf in England. This involves the Association dealing with all the areas detailed above and in particular trying to raise the profile of EWGA thereby keeping us to the fore of women’s golf. This means ensuring representation at meetings with other bodies, marketing our organisation in a more professional way and by working with Government departments to tap into the funding streams that we know are available to National Governing Bodies. The challenge for the future is to bring more people into the game and retain those who are already participating. This has involved EWGA in developing a whole sport plan for golf in England and working in partnership with the English Golf Union, the Professional Golfers’ Association and the Golf Foundation.

In 2004 England adopted the CONGU system of handicapping, which now means we have the same handicapping system for women and men in Great Britain and Ireland. This means EWGA has equal representation on the CONGU Executive Council along with other women’s and men’s governing bodies this is a significant step forward to safeguarding handicapping in the future. Golf is a very individual game, which is governed by discipline of both mind and body. It differs from many of the other ball games in which the player reacts to someone else's actions. Here, the player is solely responsible for her own actions. With a system of handicapping, two players of a very different standard can have a good, competitive game, and this is valuable in encouraging women and girls that are starting in the sport, as they are able to compete at club level at an early stage.

The National Championship is held in May each year and in addition there are Stroke Play, Mid Amateur, Girls' Under 15 and Under 13 and Senior Championships. A county golf championship is held for the counties in England and the winners of the six regions qualify to play in the County Championship Finals.

Senior and Girls’ teams are selected to represent England in events held in Great Britain and Europe. At present England are the holders of the Ladies’ and Senior Home International titles. England training is given the highest priority and over 100 players are involved in the World Class training programmes, funded by a grant from Sport England. Each receives coaching from golf professionals appointed by EWGA throughout the country. In addition, Elite Squads receive training in autumn and spring at home and overseas under the guidance of our Director of Coaching Pat Smillie and Physiotherapist Lynn Booth.

The Association is also responsible for the organisation of several handicap events. The winners of the Silver and Bronze Medal competitions organised in the clubs are invited to take part in one of eight National Finals. The Australian Spoons competition is organised for Bronze Division players and every club is entitled to enter the Rose Spoon competition and Open Challenge Bowls meeting. The Abraham Trophy competition is for girls of any handicap who have not reached their 18th birthday before the 1st January each year and aims to find the most improved player.

In 1982 the ELGA Trust Fund was formed to provide girls with financial assistance for some of their expenses. Help with the purchase of essential equipment, the cost of coaching and competing in championships can be offered to girls applying through their Counties. EWGA is extremely grateful to the clubs who support this fund by their annual contributions.

Funding of the work of the Association is from contributions from every female member of an affiliated golf club in England. The amount collected may only be changed by agreement of the members at an Annual General Meeting.

EWGA is also very fortunate to be in receipt of a Sport England grant used to support and develop training for our talented young players and the top amateurs, thereby releasing EWGA income from subscriptions, which has been diverted into many areas including golf development, development of EWGA website, live scoring at championships etc.

The EWGA website gives a great deal more information about many of the areas highlighted above, so why not spend a pleasant half hour learning more.