144th Open Championship, St. Andrews. 15th July, 2015

AGENDA

Welcome by the Chairman

Minute silence for deceased AGW colleagues

Apologies for absence

Approve minutes of 2014 AGW AGM at Royal Liverpool

Chairman’s report

Treasurer’s Report

Secretary’s Report

Election of Committee

General Business

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

This AGM truly marks the end of an era for the Association of Golf Writers with the formal retirement as President of our esteemed colleague, Renton Laidlaw. Renton was secretary for 17 years, Chairman for three and President since 2004, thus bringing to an end 31 years of service to our organisation. Indeed, I find it hard to believe there’s anyone who has done more for the association over the course of our existence and Renton’s many acts of selflessness over the years have certainly made the path easier for those of us who have followed in his footsteps.

Renton, of course, is an impossible act to follow but I’m delighted Goran Zachrisson has agreed to step up to the plate. It was long overdue that someone born outside the UK should hold one of our posts of office and now we’ve got two in key roles, with Bernie McGuire replacing Peter Dixon as secretary. Bernie has done a tremendous job over the past six months. It might have taken us long enough to appoint a non-UK resident but at least we got it right with the two people we chose to break the mould.

Goran’s reaction when I asked him to succeed Renton last December said it all. ‘That’s the greatest honour any man could hope to get,’ he remarked. ‘I just hope to live long enough to enjoy it.’ Well he’s here, so that’s a good start.

On a more serious note, the year has been another painful one with the loss of several of our highly-valued colleagues. Chris Plumridge, Norman Mair and Ian Wood were all vastly different characters who shared one common trait as journalists: they all brought great joy and pleasure to the many thousands who read them avidly over the years. No journalist could ask for more.

We also continue to lose people in the press room too, with the retirements of Mitchell Platts from the European Tour and Karl McGinty from the Irish Independent. We’ll miss Mitchell for his generosity and common sense and we’ll miss Karl for his generosity and….well….not common sense, anyway.

On the plus side, it’s a pleasure to welcome new members Ewan Murray, (insert others here)  to the fold and we hope they enjoy their time in the AGW.

In terms of working conditions, I think it’s been a very positive year. The European Tour’s introduction of a dedicated segment of each press interview for print journalists to ask their questions has been a great success. The Masters, the R&A and the PGA of America do listen to what we have to say and, to be fair, even the US Open was far from the unmitigated misery most of us were expecting.

Clearly our role is a diminishing one as numbers dwindle and television plants its big feet everywhere. But it seems to me the leading organisations recognize it’s in everyone’s interests if we remain strong and prosper, and are doing what they can to help.

Derek Lawrenson, St. Andrews.

15th July, 2015.

TREASURER’S REORT

1 st January 2014 – 31“ December 2014

When presenting my report a year ago I drew attention to a comment from the accountant †hat “Cu††ing of coa† according †o cloth needed!“ af†er †he income and expenditure accoun† revealed a loss on the yeqr of €6,037.

Happily, †he si†ua†ion in 20t4 was not so unsavoury bu† we s†’ll suffered a deficit on †he year of £1,479.

This was brough† about by a number of factors, †he moin one of which was a £3,000 reduction in honororio which, in 2013, cos† £7,000 due to the change of adminis†ra†ors. There was also a reduction in †he administrative cos†s from £1,348 †o £584.

Trophies and engraving was down by nearly £400 and match expenses by £250, but †here was a small rise in the cost of printing and stationery.

As usual, †he dinner continues †o be our biggest i†em of expenditure and in 2014 i† cos† £22,061 compared wi†h £20,350 in 2013. Income, however, was up from £11,390 †o £12,150 while there was a reduction of £600 in †he donations we receive.

We must, though, express our appreciotion to the European Tour for their Golfer of the Year donation, IMG who, on beholf of HSBC donate towards the cost of the dinner, and other sponsors for †heir continued suppor†.

Whilst on the subject of the dinner, it will be interesting to see the figures for last night’s event which, as you are all aware, was held in the ballroom of the Old Course Hotel as the usual marquee was not available this year.

There is, however, every prospect that we should not lose on the function this year as the R&A, who normally permit the use of the marquee, have kindly said they will subsidise the dinner by covering any additional cos†s over and above the figure we paid in 2014.

Returning to the income side of the accounts, I’m happy to say that subscriptions and joining fees increased by nearly £6500.

Fortunately, we are still in a fairly healthy financial position with available funds at the end of the year †o†aIIing £39,163 bu† we obviously cannot afford to be complacen†.

At the beginning of this year, in an effort to persuade some of our members who have reneged on their payments, they were written to and asked to pay up otherwise, in accordance with our rules, they would be excluded from membership if they have not paid by the end of the Open Championship. I trust that you support this course of action.

Our new Secretary Bernie McGuire is particularly keen †o ensure †hat all our members face up to their responsibility, bearing in mind that subscriptions fall due on 1st January, yet once again we have orrived at the middle of the year and there are some who have still to pay.

Unfortunately, it is the same people each year who appear to treat it as something of o game not †o poy †heir subscriptions until †hey are badgered in†o doing so. They were urged a year ago to complete a banker‘s order form but my plea obviously fell on deaf ears!

Perhaps the answer is to introduce a rule to the effect that all UK-based members MUST pay by banker’s order, which would ensure i† was paid on †ime each year and certainly make †he job of the treasurer much easier.

It is not possible, of course, for our overseas members to sign up to a banker’s order and we hope †hat †hey will do †heir u†mos† †o keep up to da†e wi†h †heir subscriptions.

In thot regard, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Melanie Hauser for her sterling efforts in collecting all †he Americans’ due and transferring †hem in a lump sum in†o †he AGW accoun†.

Signed – Bob Davies

ASSOCIATION OF GOLF WRITERS – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2014

I have prepared the Accounts on page 2 and can confirm that they are in agreement with the records kept by the Association.

SECRETARY’S REPORT

To say my workload has increased over the past seven months is an understatement.

Since accepting the role of Secretary of the AGW I have sought to make myself acquainted with every aspect in the running of the Association.

I have enjoyed great help in this regard particularly from both our Chairman Derek Lawrenson and Treasurer Bob Davies so my thanks to them. I also have to thank out-going Secretary Peter Dixon as he has always been a phone call away.  

Also, and on behalf of the Association, I recognise and thank Paula Lawrenson for her valued work as Administrator of the AGW.

I must say I am very grateful for the feedback and support from the general AGW membership and those no longer in the front line of golf reporting who have appreciated being kept in the loop even though I may have bombarded members with my emails.

One aspect of pride in my first seven months or so, and not just being the first non-European to be appointed AGW Secretary, but the decision to push for an inaugural AGW golf outing away from England, Scotland or Wales.    Thank you in this regard to fellow Committee member Phil Reid for his superb support, as well as newly-appointed AGW Golf Captain Peter Dixon, in the successful staging of the Michael Williams Hogget during the week of the Irish Open.

Already in season 2015 your committee has had a number of very constructive meetings with the European Tour in regard to improving the working conditions of members.  However I do still require members to come forward and raise any issues they fee l need addressing.

There was the annual meeting with the Masters officials with matters surrounding the ‘flash area’ at Augusta high on the list of aspects to be addressed.

As well, I will continue to maintain regular contact with the new executive of the GWAA so that we are on the same page when it comes to dealing with the various Tour’s and other organizing bodies.

And after working so closely in recent weeks with Dave Hamilton on arranging last night’s annual dinner, and who deserves a very large vote of thanks, the immediate task ahead is to finally get the new AGW website up and running.

Bernie McGuire, St. Andrews.

15th July, 2015

MINUTES OF THE 2015 AGW ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

MINUTES SILENCE

The 2015 annual meeting began with a minute’s silence for passing of our highly-valued colleagues Chris Plumridge, Norman Mair and Ian Wood.

MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE AT MEETING

Greg Allen, Robin Barwick, Fatiha Betscher, Jim Black, Colin Callander, Iain Carter, Phil Casey, Joy Chakravarty, Bob Davies, Patricia Davies, Martin Dempster, Peter Dixon, Bill Elliott, David Facey, Andy Farrell, Alan Fraser, Dermot Gilleece, David Hamilton, Philippe Hermann, Peter Higgs, Jock Howard, John Huggan, Liam Kelly, Brian Keogh, Denis Kirwan, ‘Swamy’ Krishnaswamy, Renton Laidlaw, Derek Lawrenson, Simon Lewis, Jock MacVicar, Michael McEwan, Bernie McGuire, Neil McLeman, Lewin Mair, Paul Mahoney, Euan Murray, Trevor Peake, Phillip Reid, Bryce Ritchie, Nick Rodger, Geoff Russell, Wolfgang Scheffler, Ged Scott, Steve Scott, Dave Seanor, Neil Squires, Isabel Trillo Amores, Dick Turner, John Whitbread,

APOLOGIES

Brian Creighton, Mark Garrod, Tim Glover, Melanie Hauser, Detlef Hennies, Petra Himmel, Michael McDonnell, James Mossop, Bryan Potter, Bill Robertson, Pat Ruddy, Julian Small, Chris Smart, Donald Steel, Jerry Tarde, Barry Ward

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Chairman Derek Lawrenson opened the annual meeting speaking of the overwhelming success and positive feedback already re the Association’s dinner the night before. There was special thanks to Dave Hamilton and Bob Davies for their efforts.

Derek recognised the retirement of Renton Laidlaw after 31 year’s valued service to the Association. He also welcomed the appointment of Goran Zachrisson as the Association’s new President and Bernie McGuire as the new Secretary. Derek spoke of it being a positive year in regard to the Association’ dealings and meetings throughout the year with the European Tour and the Association’s strong working relationship with the Masters, USGA, R & A and PGA of America.

Report proposed by Colin Callander. Seconded by Martin Dempster

TREASURER’S REPORT

Bob Davies delivered his annual report – 1st Jan, 2014 to 31st Dec, 2014 – proudly pointing out the positive position the Association finds itself financially.

Bob highlighted again the AGW annual dinner to be the biggest item of expenditure.   He also expressed appreciation to the European Tour, IMG on behalf of HSBC, for their donations to the cost of the dinner. However, Bob also pointed out the on-going problem of members who still had not paid their annual fees.

Report proposed by Bill Elliott.  Seconded by Phil Casey.

SECRETARY’S REPORT

Bernie McGuire delivered his first Secretary’s report thanking Chairman Derek Lawrenson and Treasurer Bob Davies along with out-going Secretary Peter Dixon for their support in settling into the new position.  Bernie mentioned his delight in bringing to fruition in helping arrange a first AGW golf meeting outside of the UK mainland with the staging of the Michael William Hogget in Ireland. He also pointed out his intent on establishing a stronger working relationship with golf’s administrators.

Report proposed by Iain Carter.  Seconded by Jim Black.

GENERAL BUSINESS

Jim Black raised the issue of air conditioning and the need to have air-conditioning at tournaments, such as the Scottish and Irish events, where air-conditioning he felt is not warranted. As well, there was the constant sound of the air-conditioning in operation.  It was agreed this would be brought to the notice of the Tour.

John Whitbread brought up the issue of the AGW books at Valderrama and asked if there was anything to report re setting up a new library.  There was nothing to report

Lewine Mair mentioned the on-going problem of little foresight given to the selection of chairs at various tour events and it was agreed this would be added to the agenda in the Association’s next sit-down discussion with the European Tour.

Ewan Murray raised the issue of the new European Tour policy at such events as Wentworth, Irish Open and Scottish Open separate interviews of players for the electronic media and then afterwards for the written media. 

Philippe Herrmann asked about arm bands and what are the guidelines adopted by the Tour and those running the Majors in allocating press armbands.  He questioned why full time AGW members were not afforded inside the rope/72nd hole armbands at the Majors whereas others & non-AGW are afforded armbands.

David Facey mentioned to the committee he had not been allowed to buy tickets for the dinner. He was informed by the organiser David Hamilton and Treasurer Bob Davies the reason was that he had not paid his subscription. It was pointed out that it was a rule that to purchase tickets for the dinner the member had to have paid the current year’s subscription.  David responded.

PRESENTATION TO PETER DAWSON

The AGW made a presentation of his favourite whisky to out-going R & A CEO, Peter Dawson ahead of the meeting being closed.