R&A CEO Martin Slumbers announced on Monday that the R&A will merge with the Ladies' Golf Union following "an extensive consultation excercise," according to GOLF CHANNEL. Founded in 1893, the LGU oversees ladies' amateur golf in Great Britain and Ireland in "addition to a series of championships" that includes the Women's British Open. Slumbers said, "The LGU and R&A have a wealth of experience in running successful championships and we have a shared focus on supporting the development of golf. The merger will enable us to capitalize on the strengths of the two organizations for the wider benefit of the sport, including the development of golf for women and girls" (GOLF CHANNEL, 2/22). In Glasgow, Nick Rodger reported last February, the two St. Andrews-based bodies unveiled that they were "in talks over a possible amalgamation and that will now go ahead as of January 1, 2017." Asked if the merger meant the letters LGU would disappear from the golfing alphabet, Slumbers replied, "Yes, over time. But the LGU will continue as planned this year, when the events include a Curtis Cup, before we get full integration on 1 January, 2017" (HERALD SCOTLAND, 2/22).
