Blane Dodds resigns as CEO of Scottish Golf

Alistair Dunsmuir
By Alistair Dunsmuir October 17, 2017 16:08

The chief executive of Scottish Golf, Blane Dodds, has resigned and will take on the same role at Tennis Scotland.

Dodds, who represented Scotland as an international tennis player, only took over the role in 2016 and recently has been at the forefront of an initiative to get Scottish clubs to accept an affiliation fee rise proposal.

A spokesman said the Special General Meeting (SGM) scheduled for December 2, which will address the funding gap, will still go ahead.

Blane Dodds. Kenny Smith Photography

Eleanor Cannon, who is the chair of Scotland’s governing body for amateur golf, has assumed an executive leadership position on an interim basis, with Dodds assisting handover over the coming weeks.

Additional short-term support to the board will also be sought and the recruitment process for a new chief executive will begin immediately.

Cannon said: “We are disappointed that Blane is leaving Scottish Golf and thank him for his efforts in leading our modernisation programme. We wish him well for the future.

Historic Scottish golf club to close

“The timing of this decision is unfortunate, but we acknowledge Blane’s long association with tennis in Scotland and the emotional pull it has on a former internationalist.

“However, the board of Scottish Golf remains unanimously committed to its core strategic objective, which is to deliver significant investment to the game and provide a sustainable future for it – at a time when the government is significantly reducing its contribution to the game.

“We will continue to engage with and listen carefully to golfers and clubs over the coming weeks, to underline our belief that by making a relatively small personal investment in the game, golfers can help strengthen the foundations of this great sport and better serve future generations of golfers and visitors to Scotland.

“We acknowledge the concerns of some people and clubs around the detail of our proposals and will obviously reflect carefully on all of the views we are hearing prior to finalising what goes to the SGM by the start of November. Our desire is to continue to consult and build as much consensus as we can around the future of golf in Scotland.”

Blane Dodds said: “I would like to thank the board and staff for their dedication and unwavering support during my time with Scottish Golf. I leave with a heavy heart after the progress made to date on our modernisation programme and especially given the significant work under way to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for the game via the four-year strategic plan.

Eleanor Cannon

“However, the opportunity to lead Tennis Scotland as a former player was the one job that I could not turn down.”

Dodds had a regular column in The Golf Business and in his last one, which is in the October issue, he urged clubs to accept the funding proposal.

Scottish golf clubs urged to accept affiliation fee rise

“For the equivalent of an additional £1 per month, every golfer in the country can help play a significant role in the rejuvenation of our game. This is an impassioned request for a small additional contribution per head to make a huge difference to the future of golf in Scotland that all can benefit from,” he wrote.

 

Alistair Dunsmuir
By Alistair Dunsmuir October 17, 2017 16:08
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2 Comments

  1. Doig61 October 20, 07:31

    We spent considerable funds to develop the CDH system which seems to work. Why pay inflated salaries to develop another system?
    Cut your cloth accordingly!

    Reply to this comment
  2. Peekay October 19, 16:33

    All those who make a living from the game should pay a levy for ‘growing the game’ – for it is they who benefit financially from growth , not try to milk it from amateur club members

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