AMATEUR golf in England is set for a big shake up – and Huddersfield’s Sue Johnson has been chosen to steer the sport into a new era.

Sue, of Birkby Road, Birkby, has landed the top role in women’s golf. She is to become the next President of the English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA).

If their proposed merger with the men’s English Golf Union (EGU) goes ahead, she will be one of two Presidents governing the whole of amateur golf in England next year.

In November, the two bodies will vote on amalgamating into England Golf, a single national organisation which will control the sport for all men and women in the country.

The news comes as the biggest ladies’ golf event in the local sporting calendar, the Huddersfield Halifax Ladies’ Festival, has just ended.

There are currently three-quarters of a million registered golfers in England. Men outnumber women by six to one.

The aim of the new unified governing body is to shed some of the traditional perceptions of golf as an elitist sport and to try and attract younger people into the game. The move comes at a time when golf club membership is falling. Over the last four years, male membership of golf clubs has fallen by 77,000 in England and female membership is down by 13,000.

Sue, a sprightly 73-year-old, said: “I am very much looking forward to my role as president and I really hope that the proposed changes go ahead.

“If they do, I and the other President will be involved in the biggest changes to the way amateur golf is run in this country in recent times.

“The merger will be a huge step forward for golf. It is the only way forward, we only need one governing body for the sport.

“We want golf to appeal to the younger generation and families and to align the sport with today’s modern culture.

“We have already taken a big step forward with the Equality Law. People coming into the game want it to be equal and inclusive. It is very important that we present golf as sport for the whole family. Tennis is, why not golf?”

Almost all English sports have a single governing body. Other notable exceptions are rugby union and bowling.

Sue will be the visible face of golf administration. She will spend a lot of time on the road next year, travelling to all of the ladies’ championships around the country.

She added: “I see my role as looking after the membership. You have to be a people person really.

“The first task is to increase the popularity of the game. If the merger takes place, there will be difficult times ahead, but I hope that England Golf will become one big happy family.”

Sue is a well known golfing figure in the region. She took up golf at the age of 18 at Meltham Golf Club, encouraged by husband-to-be Peter.

She has been a single figure handicapper for most of her golfing life, having been as low as three handicap.

In 1969 she joined Huddersfield Golf Club and was Lady Captain in 1997.

Her contribution to golf administration is second to none, with a long list of titles over the years.

These have included President of Yorkshire in their centenary year of 2000, chairman of the English Ladies’ Golf Association in ’87, Ladies’ Golf Union in ’94 and President of the Ladies’ Golf Union, which runs international competitions including the Curtis Cup, from 2000 to 2003.

Her family has a strong sporting ethos. Son Paul was a keen rugby player and now golfer, having been captain of Huddersfield Golf Club until April of this year.

Sue’s second son Dan suffered a serious ski accident which left him in a wheelchair. He is a silver Paralympic medallist at wheelchair basketball and commentates for television on the sport.

Daughter Jill was a keen hockey player.