Press Release

ROY CASE AND NORMAN FORREST
TO BE NEXT EGU PRESIDENTS

Roy Case has been nominated to become President of the English Golf Union for 2008/2009 with Norman Forrest the President Elect for the same period, subject to ratification at next month’s Annual Meeting at Woodhall Spa.
Case, 68, was originally nominated for 2009 but, following the untimely death of Peter Benka, who was to become President this year, the Nottinghamshire stalwart is to take over from current President Richard Palmer.
A champion of junior golf for the past three decades, Case helped develop the careers of many current professionals including Nick Dougherty, Justin Rose, Luke Donald, Graeme Storm, Lee Westwood, Mark Foster, and Oliver Wilson as well as current leading amateurs including English champion Daniel Willett.
“I have mixed feelings about becoming President a year early,” says Case, who is currently secretary of the Nottinghamshire Golf Union. “I am delighted to be doing the job but the circumstances have been accelerated which is somewhat distressing for me and for many others.
"I served with Peter when he was chairman of the England men’s selection committee and he would always seek advice about the boys who were moving into men’s golf.”
Norman Forrest, a long-serving member of the Lancashire Union of Golf Clubs, expressed himself “surprised” to be nominated. The news also came in the wake of he and his wife Eva celebrating their Golden Wedding on 28th December.
“My nomination came as a complete surprise but somewhat sad in the circumstances,” he says. “It’s a great honour not only for me but also for my club, Walmersley, and the county, while I am also looking forward to assisting Roy in the coming year.”
Forrest, 72, is a retired director of a Bolton-based family business. He is a past Captain, Honorary Life Member and Trustee of Walmersley and a member of Royal Lytham & St Anne’s Golf Club.
A former President of the Bury and District Golf Association, he was President of Lancashire in 1992 and is still active as a member of its Administration Committee. He was the Lancashire representative on the EGU Council in 1995 and ‘96 and on the EGU’s Executive from 2003-2005, serving on Finance and Presidents Advisory Committees.
Currently he is a Director and Chairman of the EGU’s Property Company Ltd and has been since 2005. He admits to being a golfer of limited ability, currently playing off an 18 handicap but a strong supporter of etiquette and standards within the game.
Norman and Eva have three children and six grandchildren.