CALEY "NO" VOTE ENDANGERS FUTURE OF ABERDEEN LINKS GOLF

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Earlier this week it was revealed that members of Caledonian Golf Club had voted against the proposed amalgamation of the two other Aberdeen Kings Links golf clubs, Bon Accord and Northern, whose members had voted in favour of one club and one new clubhouse.

I asked Derek Johnstone, the Northern GC club captain, what happens now?

He said

"The honest answer is: I don’t know.

"Initially the result of the Caley ballot was a shock. However, every day there are new revelations about the conduct and tactics used by the Caley “no vote” campaigners – this was a well-orchestrated operation. 

"1 Using a social networking site to orchestrate their No campaign.

"2 Using questionable tactics, eg informing the Lady members there would be no Ladies Section which, of course is total nonsense.

The methods employed to achieve their goal are, in my opinion, unethical and unconstitutional and the Caley Committee need to sit down with legal representation to establish whether the result should stand.

"There are obviously other routes the Caley captain, David Forbes, and Committee can take to establish whether the result is a true reflection of the views of their total membership but that of course is up to them.  I do hope they take up the challenge because the survival of golf at the Kings Links depends upon it."