Scottish Golf chair Eleanor Cannon did little to quell the growing disquiet at the direction of the organisation with an extraordinary ten minute interview on Radio Scotland where she refused to answer questions about recent critical media coverage.
Cannon appeared on the programme after a week when the governing body for amateur golf in Scotland lost their third chief executive in three years and increasing questions on why the organisation was in dire financial trouble only a month and a half into the COVID-19 crisis.
Direct criticism of Cannon’s leadership intensified after Chief Executive Andrew McKinlay opted to walk away from the organisation last week, and the chair confirmed on air that this was because of Scottish Golf’s cash crisis.
McKinlay had been in the post for just over two years while the previous CEO under Cannon’s chairmanship, Blane Dodds, lasted less than a year.
Further media coverage that Scottish Golf was facing a rebellion from member clubs, legal challenges to its plan to run a free of charge central tee booking system and that international amateur teams were being run a shoestring – with players asked to pay for their own national uniforms – led to an extraordinary “open letter” from Scottish Golf released on social media.
Clearly framed by Cannon, the letter claimed media coverage was “unfounded and unrepresentative of the truth” and verging on “intimidation and harassment.”
The embattled chair did announce an impending rebate of subscription fees to member clubs when she appeared on Radio Scotland’s Sportsound programme, seemingly reading from what appeared to be a prepared statement in which she confirmed the extent of Scottish Golf’s financial issues.
“Many clubs, some 40 per cent, have not paid their Scottish Golf subscriptions on behalf of their members, amounting to a revenue shortfall of £1 million,” she stated.
“Andrew McKinlay, as chief executive, carried out a cashflow analysis through to September 2021 and recognised we would have to furlough a further two-thirds of our employees, and so he took the decision to stand down for the financial health of the oragnisation.
Cannon refused to answer direct questions at the recent turnover of staff at SGL, saying “We’re like any other organisation, we’re going through great change and what I’m not prepared to do on national radio is discuss individuals.”
She did say that Scottish Golf were offering a full rebate on paid subscriptions from member clubs for 2020 – the 60 per cent who had paid – and were building an emergency fund for clubs in trouble because of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Cannon also refused to discuss this week’s media coverage or the open letter on social media and whether she was a “divisive” character within the sport in Scotland.
“That’s an extraordinary thing to say on national radio and If you want me to comment on the press this week, that’s something I’m just not prepared to do,” she replied.
