Netherlands
The EGA’s 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) was successfully held in the Netherlands on Saturday 22 November.
More than 100 delegates representing 42 of the Association’s 49 member federations were present for the assembly, which followed two days of meetings, workshop sessions and networking opportunities.
The AGM saw the election of a new President and five new Executive Committee members, a tribute to the late Honorary President Jan Hubrecht, and reports from several officials.
The meeting was chaired by outgoing President, Caroline Huyskes who concluded her two-year term at the head of the Association in the region of her home golf club, Hilversumsche. Huyskes, who remains on the Executive Committee for two more years as the immediate Past President, is succeeded by Joaquín Castillo from Spain who will chair the organisation for the coming two years.
“It is a great honour and privilege to be elected as the new President of the European Golf Association” said Castillo to the General Assembly following the election. “As I take on this role, I do so with deep gratitude and enthusiasm. The faith you have placed in me is both a privilege and a responsibility—one that I embrace with great excitement.”
Five individuals were also elected to the EGA’s Executive committee during the meeting. Lars Broch Christensen (DEN) joins as President-Elect, Barbara Albisetti-Heath (SUI) as Central Zone Officer, Guillaume Livet (FRA) as South Zone Officer, Øyvind Krag Ingul (NOR) as North Zone Officer, and Sheena McElroy (IRL) as the EGA’s new Championship Committee chairman.
The five individuals succeed outgoing Executive Committee members finishing their terms, Hanna Hartikainen (FIN), Gabor Gagyor (HUN), Miguel Franco de Sousa (POR) and Yves Hofstetter (SUI), who were all formally thanked for their years of service by Caroline Huyskes.
In addition to approving the association’s budget for the next financial cycle, the General Assembly supported an expanded budget for the EGA’s work in Environmental Sustainability. The decision will reinforce the EGA’s renewed efforts in the domain.
The assembly heard reports from several officials on the EGA’s activities in the past year, including Yves Hofstetter on championships, Jan Visser on handicapping and course rating, Gunnar Håkansson on Environmental Sustainability, and Benoit Dumont on the association’s finances. Grant Moir, Executive Director of Governance at The R&A, also presented to delegates with updates from the St Andrews-based organisation.
The AGM was preceded by rotating workshop sessions on Friday 21 November, which were centered around three topics: Shaping strategy with data, environmental sustainability, and elite amateur pathways. All meetings were held in collaborative spirit and led to constructive and meaningful discussions.
The EGA’s AGM week also provided opportunities for officials to network and learn from each other, including, dedicated zone meetings, a friendly golf competition, and a delegates’ dinner.
