Golf Business News – England Golf has new President
Alistair Booth was inducted as England Golf President at Wednesday’s England Golf AGM at Woodhall Spa, replacing Ian Watkins as President for the coming 12 months.
Alistair (pictured above left), who is a Past President (2018-19) of Berks, Bucks & Oxon (BB&O) Golf Union, and is now Chairman of BB&O Ltd, was part of the England Golf Board from 2018-2024, where he also sat on the Audit and Finance Committee.
After undertaking Business Studies at the University of Hull, Alistair was in corporate life for 20 years before owning a consumer electronics business for 15 years. In 2008 he joined the board of Frilford Heath Golf Club where he’s been a member since 1994. He went on to become Executive Director in 2010 and then Chairman in 2016, before retiring in 2022.
Alistair is also Independent Chair of the Greenkeepers Training Committee Ltd (GTC), a Trustee and Board Member of England Golf Trust, along with two other charities, Verite Sport and The Brookside Trust, of which he is Chair. In the past, Alistair has chaired the England Golf Club Managers’ Advisory Group and the County Advisory Group.
In 2021, Alistair was invited onto the board of WSGM (Woodhall Spa Golf Club), including being part of the clubhouse redevelopment working group and he has been involved in three building projects including two at Frilford Heath Golf Club.
He is also a single-figure-handicap golfer and an enthusiastic playing supporter of the England Golf’s Captains and Senior Series programmes.
Alistair said: “It is a great honour and privilege to become President of England Golf. It is also very humbling to be following in the footsteps of many Presidents who have achieved so much in golf. My role, as I see it, is to be an ambassador, advocate and representative, for clubs, counties, England Golf, and the game of golf. I will endeavour to fulfil this role to the best of my ability, with energy and enthusiasm.”
England Golf would also like to extend a big thanks to Ian Watkins for his tremendous service as President throughout its Centenary Year.
Ian (pictured right), who will continue in a role as Past President in 2025, has enjoyed a host of roles within golf throughout his lifetime, including being Secretary of Gloucestershire Golf Union (GGU) for 15 years, being on the GGU Executive Committee, and being Captain of Tewkesbury Park Golf Club.
He was also England Golf County Representative for GGU for 22 years and has been President of GGU, South Western Counties Golf Association and Gloucestershire Golf Captains. Ian also served on the England Golf Board from 2014-2021.
Ian said: “It has been a wonderful honour to be the 2024 Centenary President of EG and I have been royally treated by everyone at the many events and tournaments I have attended in the past year. My Centenary week at Woodhall Spa was very special to me and will never be forgotten, as was the GB&I Women winning the Curtis Cup at Sunningdale. Thank you to everyone I have met from clubs, counties and governing bodies for welcoming me in the last 12 months.”
Meanwhile, Debbie Richards has begun her role as President Elect, with a view to succeeding Alistair as President in 2026.
