Justin and Kate Rose: Rose Ladies Open, a continued commitment to the women’s game

As the Rose Ladies Open approaches its third year, it has become a standout event on the LET Access Series (LETAS) calendar. For Justin and Kate Rose, ensuring the tournament's longevity was never in doubt. "Following on from the huge success and growth of the Rose Ladies Series, we felt it was a natural and necessary progression to increase our support of the professional women’s game with a tournament on the LET Access Series," Justin shares.

The Rose Ladies Open, which is held at Brocket Hall, represents more than just another tournament. It's a commitment to female golf and a step towards parity in the game, which are long-term goals for the Roses.

"It was important for us that the tournament wasn’t just a one-off; we wanted to show our commitment to female golf and our drive towards parity in the game. With a longer-term commitment, this allows us to review the tournament annually, take on feedback and learnings from each year, then use these to improve the tournament and the experience for the players each year. We have been fortunate to have key partners that have shared our objectives and values and have worked with us over the past three years to achieve this."

Impact of the Rose Ladies Series

The impact of the Rose Ladies Series is profound, with many players expressing how critical it has been to their careers. Cara Gainer, who won this year’s Rose Ladies Series event at Southport & Ainsdale, credits the series for her continued professional career. Having turned pro at the end of 2019, she believes she would have walked away during the pandemic without the playing opportunities provided by Rose Ladies Series. "Listening to her talking so passionately about what we have provided really brings home the true impact we’ve had on women’s pro golf," Rose reflects.

Justin, Kate and their team receive a lot of feedback from players, which helps drive the development of the series. "We are always keen to hear from the players because their experience and playing opportunities were our initial reason for starting the Series. Over the years, we have heard from players like Cara, who have said that the chance for them to play competitively during the pandemic, or even just in the warm-up Series as it is now, has been beneficial to their game and overall season."

The stories are numerous and inspiring. "Gemma Dryburgh credited her win on the LPGA Tour to the chance she had to play in the Rose Ladies Series when playing opportunities were limited during the pandemic. Aimi Bullock from EDGA mentioned that playing in the Rose Ladies Series helped her get the valuable playing opportunities she needed to make the scratch team for England," they recount.

Initially seen as a ‘stop gap’ during the pandemic, the Rose Ladies Series has evolved into a staple of the women's golf calendar. "We will continue it, as long as there is demand for it," Justin states. "The players appreciate the opportunity to play a condensed Series at the start of the Season, which fits well with the LETAS and LET schedules. They enjoy having competitive events on home soil, the opportunity to play courses they might not normally have access to, and the chance to compete for the largest prize fund available for a one-day event."

Reflecting on The 152nd Open Championship

Now a couple of weeks down the line from this year's Open Championship, where he finished in a tie for second, Justin is able to take away many positives. "It was a great reminder that I can still compete with the best in the world. I didn’t have it all my own way. Obviously, having to go through Open qualifying wasn’t ideal, and Mother Nature had her say throughout the week. But I was really proud of how I was able to raise my game in the face of those challenges and have the run I did."

Despite the challenges, Justin remains optimistic. "Xander played unbelievable golf that week, and has done all year, so he’s a very deserving champion. But I’ll definitely be back next year with the belief that I can be the one standing on the 18th green at Portrush, holding the Claret Jug. That dream is very much still alive."

As for advice to female pros going through AIG Women’s Open final qualifying, Justin shares some wisdom. "Embrace it, whether it’s trying to qualify for your first Open Championship or your 21st like me. Enjoy the experience of qualifying, and turn the nerves into positive energy to help you thrive on the course. The prospect of playing an AIG Women’s Open championship at the Old Course is incredibly special, but remember to take it one shot at a time. It’s a marathon, not a sprint."

With just a month to go until the Rose Ladies Open, the impact of the Roses’ initiatives on women's golf is clear, and their commitment to the sport unwavering.

Free to attend the Rose Ladies Open - 6th to 8th September 2024

If you would like to attend the Rose Ladies Open, tickets for the event are available free of charge, you just have to register here. You can also upgrade your experience - to find out more about the hospitality packages available, please visit the Brocket Hall website here.