Cathcart Castle Golf Club, one of the oldest golf clubs in Glasgow’s Southside has elected its first female chair, Carol Biggart

After sharing the story last week of Caroline Hume-Kendall's appointment as the first female Captain at St Enodoc in its 133-year history, we're delighted to share another first but this time from Cathcart Castle Golf Club in Scotland.

Carol Biggart, a long-time member of Cathcart Castle Golf Club, established in 1895, has been voted into the club’s most senior management role, marking a milestone in its 130-year history. A former investment manager, she’ll serve a three-year term overseeing club finances, course development, and clubhouse facilities.

Her election comes a decade after Jane Alexander became Cathcart Castle’s first female Captain and coincides with the third year of the club’s successful Get into Golf (GiG) programme. Women now make up around 24% of the club’s 900-strong membership - well above the Scottish average.

Carol’s nomination came from former Gents’ Captain Alan Slater, who had no doubts about her ability to lead.

“I had recognised that she was more than capable of carrying out the duties of CCGC Chairperson, having seen her in action during her year as the Ladies’ Captain,” Alan said. “I think it was that personal experience of working together and supporting each other throughout the year as we continued successfully to bring the club back to normality after Covid that made my decision quite easy.”

Cathcart Castle Golf Club member since 2001

Carol’s background spans finance and business. After earning a degree in economics and maths from the University of Edinburgh, she worked in stockbroking and investment management in Glasgow and Australia before launching her own custom signage business. She’s also mentored with Glasgow Opportunities’ Women into Business programme.

A member of Cathcart Castle since 2001, following in her mother Anne Hutchison’s footsteps, Carol has played for the club in multiple leagues and county matches. Now, she’s focused on continuing the club’s progress.

“My ambitions for CCGC are to continue to build on the progress of the past few years, both on the course and off it,” she said.

But for Carol, the club’s biggest strength is its members.

“I believe our greatest strengths lie in the positive attitude of the members who step forward to help using their particular skill," she said. "In addition, we have a strong, experienced management team who run the club with the utmost professionalism."

Cathcart Castle’s leadership structure changed in 2009, moving away from a system where the Gents’ Captain led for a single year. The shift brought more stability, and Carol is now the fifth person to serve as chair under this framework.

Her election marks another step forward in the club’s long history - one that reflects the changing face of golf in Scotland.