Grey’s abrupt departure heralds a new start

It’s a curious exit, to say the least.

Hamish Grey, long-time chief executive of the Scottish Golf Union and the new CEO of the amalgamated Scottish Golf, abruptly left the organisation on Sunday.

The New Zealander and the new board of Scottish Golf, in the best traditions of soccer management departures, declared this was a mutual arrangement. But like those instances, nobody’s convinced.

There was nothing in the statements when Grey was appointed to his new job in December last year to indicate that this was a temporary arrangement to tide the new body over to its first annual meeting.

There was certainly no warning of a parting of the ways.

Grey’s talk of “seeking a new challenge” doesn’t ring true either; he’d had the top job in Scottish amateur golf since 1998 and had never shown any signs of ambition to move elsewhere.

You don’t stay in a job for 18 years without having a few detractors.

Grey had to pilot the SGU through troubled waters with the collapse of the National Golf Centre at Drumoig and the protracted amalgamation process that took so long to push through.

Although some reviews have been mixed, I think Grey’s been good for Scottish Golf over his tenure.

But equally, 18 years is a long time to be an administrator in one sport in the modern world, probably too long.

New Scottish Golf chair Eleanor Cannon and her board would appear to want a new start.

Can’t argue with that.

The National Golf Centre at Drumoig.