A single national governing body will represent all English amateur golfers after the English Golf Union (EGU) and English Women's Golf (EWGA) approved plans to merge.

England Golf will come into effect on 1 January 2012 after 86 per cent of the EGU's voting members approved the proposal at a meeting held in Woodhall Spa on 16 November.

A simultaneous meeting of the EWGA at the National Motor Cycle Museum in Solihull saw 100 per cent of voting members back the merger, which was first mooted in 2009.

England Golf will initially base itself at the National Golf Centre in Woodhall Spa, while the EWGA offices at Edgbaston, Birmingham, will remain in use until at least October 2012.

The board will comprise of 10 stakeholder non-executive directors, with six nominated by the EGU and four nominated by the EWGA. One of these will be then nominated as chair.

Details: www.englishgolfunion.org.uk