Norman Forrest Installed As EGU President

Norman Forrest, a long-serving member of the Lancashire Union of Golf Clubs, has been installed as President of The English Golf Union at its Annual General Meeting at Woodhall Spa.

As he succeeds Roy Case at the helm of the EGU, Forrest hopes his year in office will see more golf clubs taking advantage of the many facilities the Union has to offer.

Norman says: “I would encourage all clubs to take advantage of the support available and also to attend the many seminars, road shows and workshops held throughout the country on a range of subjects of interest to golf club administrators. Remember, you are the English Golf Union and we are here to support you.”

Norman is keen to underline the fact that he is first and foremost ‘a club man’ and to that end he knows the many areas in which clubs can help themselves through the diverse areas of golf that the EGU provides. He is also keen to see clubs reverse the trend of diminishing memberships in difficult economic times.

“It is ironic that whilst interest in golf is increasing, membership of our clubs is on the decline,” he adds. “We must all work together to remedy this trend. I know it is uppermost in the minds of our Chief Executive and the EGU Board. Let us hope we are successful in our efforts but we must also ensure that it is not at the expense of the standards and traditions that we hold so dear.”

Norman, 73, is a retired director of a Bolton-based family business specialising in all types of structural timberwork. He is a past Captain, Honorary Life Member and Trustee of Walmersley Golf Club and a member of Royal Lytham & St Anne’s Golf Club.

A Past 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 1996 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 and rising but a strong supporter of etiquette and standards within the game.

Norman is married to Eva and they have three children and six grandchildren.