Ronnie Myles, a former Scottish First Division umpire who officiated European matches before becoming greenkeeper at Buchanan Castle, has accepted the nomination as president of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association in 2025.
Myles, 67, has stepped into the position of Vice President of BIGGA, supporting John Keenaghan for the remainder of his term. He will then be officially appointed as BIGGA President at the BIGGA Annual General Meeting, which will be held in January.
Myles said: “I was very surprised to be asked to be President of BIGGA. Having been a member of conservation organizations for over 50 years, I feel proud and honored to be asked to represent BIGGA in this way.
“This year I hope that we will be able to increase the name of the guards and continue the progress of our association which has come a long way in the last 10 to 15 years. 50 years ago landscaping was thought of as a defunct profession, but now there are real opportunities associated with landscaping and you have the opportunity to build a good career.”
Myles began his career at East Kilbride Golf Club in 1971 and moved on to Cathkin Braes, Erskine, Helensburgh and Scarcroft in West Yorkshire, before settling at Buchanan Castle, where he worked until his retirement in 2022.
He has been an activist in the BIGGA West of Scotland Section for over 20 years, serving as chairman and secretary. He was vice chair of BIGGA Scotland and Northern Ireland Region before being appointed as the first Regional President in 2023.
Despite his retirement, Myles continues to work seasonally at Stirling Golf Club and is an active member of the BIGGA Scotland Legacy Club, which seeks to provide support and guidance to the next generation of groundskeepers.
Away from the green, Myles had a remarkable career as a football official, once running the line for the Old Firm before being selected for six European Cup games, including a hair-raising trip to East Germany. Amazingly, he also spent two seasons as ‘Broxi Bear’, the matchday mascot of Rangers Football Club.
As Vice President and President of BIGGA, Myles will serve as an ambassador for the association, representing BIGGA at various events throughout the year. He will also join the BIGGA Board of Directors and use his experience to guide the board in its decision making.
Jim Croxton, CEO of BIGGA, said: “I have had the pleasure of knowing Ronnie during my 13 years working with BIGGA and I know how warmly he is thought of in BIGGA Scotland and Northern Ireland, where he is a well-known and well-known figure.
“When he was nominated as President of BIGGA 2025, his appointment was enthusiastically received by the BIGGA Board of Management and I look forward to working with him. The coming year will be an important time in the history of our organization as we seek to reshape our membership and create a framework that provides more support and advice to conservationists at all stages of their career.”
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