New mum Jemma Aldridge insists she will embrace the challenge of juggling motherhood with the ongoing development of her other ‘baby’.
New mum Jemma Aldridge insists she will embrace the challenge of juggling motherhood with the ongoing development of her other ‘baby’.
The PGA professional at Chelsfield Lakes Golf Centre became a mum for the first time when daughter Jorgie was born in March. But the 25-year-old had already nurtured the growth of a blossoming ladies beginner section at the Kent club.
Starting from scratch two years ago, there are now 70 ladies with ages ranging from nine to 70-something involved in the scheme which involves regular group lessons, friendly competitions and social events.
Aldridge said: “Building up the ladies stuff was my baby before my actual baby came along!
“I absolutely love it at Chelsfield. We’ve got a great team there, it’s very laid-back and I love being there and teaching so I will definitely be going back after my maternity leave.''
“It started because women were coming along to the club telling me how they were a ‘golf widow’ and wanted to play themselves. After a couple of months, a few would say ‘he is doing my head in so I need some ladies to play with!’
“So I got a few people together for lessons and to meet each other. I thought there wasn’t really anything around for people who were not members at a golf club to learn about handicaps and things like that. So we set up this beginner competition to learn a few different formats and gave them all handicaps – not CONGU handicaps but just so they could all play together in friendly competitions.
“We had someone shoot 17 under her handicap recently so she got a pretty major cut after that one. But it’s all fun and just to get women involved. Nobody really has any issues about the handicaps – it’s supposed to be fun.''
“They really enjoy it and we now have around 70 ladies involved and it’s growing all the time.
“One lady said to me ‘it’s not just the competitions, although they are good. It’s learning about golf and it’s a really nice social event to meet up and have a chat’. That was nice to hear.
“We have a nine-year-old playing, some 15-year-olds and some ladies in their 70s, so there is a big age range.
“Chelsfield Lakes is an ideal starter course. It’s not too tough and it’s a nice, easy round but there are some good holes along the way and we’ve got a great pro shop.”
Aldridge, who cut her teeth as a member at Sundridge Park in Bromley and then worked at The London Club, joined Chelsfield Lakes in August 2010 and lowered her handicap to just four before qualifying as a PGA professional in 2015.
And the youngster already has her future mapped out for her, if her mum gets her way.
Aldridge said: “I’ve always wanted children but she wasn’t planned. Then I finished work on March 8, expecting to be off for the next two weeks and my waters broke at 6am the next morning.
“Literally, 10 hours after I gave birth, she put her hands together and was doing a golf grip!
“So I’m hoping women will be allowed in the Masters by the time she grows up because she will get all of the coaching she needs from the moment she starts showing an interest!''
“I was originally going to go back to work in July but I decided that was too soon when she arrived. Those plans got thrown out of the window.
“I will be going back part-time at some point. I’ve got a great support network around me and maybe I will go back full-time next year.”
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