Dear Industry Colleague

By the time you get our next magazine, the country will have voted and elected a new prime minister with a new government. The contrasts could not be sharper between the options offered by both left and right and whatever happens some people will be disappointed and some pleased by the result. The contrast is indeed stark.

In the next few weeks, England Golf will appoint a new chief executive. As you will see in a leading article, it will not be me. This comes as no great surprise to anyone as my outspoken criticism of England Golf over the years has clearly burnt a few bridges and the radical solutions that I laid out in my plan may have been a bit too much for even a failing organisation like England Golf to grasp. I genuinely wish the new head of England Golf well. They will need lots of luck and strength and the complete support of the county unions. At the heart of the issues facing him or her, will be the need to make handicaps accessible to all golfers, regardless of whether or not they are members of a golf club. If England Golf successfully implements this change over the next couple of years, then the future will be bright for golf in England. If we have any more dithering and fudge, England Golf may not survive.

We were treated to a feast of golf this weekend with Jon Rahm winning a gripping finale against Tommy Fleetwood and Mike Lorenzo-Vera. He scooped up not just the DP World Tour Championship, but also the Race to Dubai. Oh, and €5 million and a posh Rolex. Perhaps more tellingly he is only the second Spaniard to win the order of merit title after Severiano Ballesteros. Major championships will surely beckon for this powerful and outstanding golfer.

Interesting times for the country, and interesting times for golf. 

Best wishes, Colin Jenkins