Philippa Kennedy caught up with sporty television presenter Charlotte Jackson to find out more about the romance which ignited her love for golf. 


Charlotte Jackson

By Philippa Kennedy

The sporty television presenter Charlotte Jackson has always been interested in golf, but it was not until she met her future husband that she became truly bitten by the bug and now the game will always be a family affair.

Charlotte Jackson has a lot to be thankful for as far as the game of golf is concerned. It was through golf that she met her handsome husband and their baby son is already the proud possessor of his first set of plastic clubs.

The stunning Sky Sports presenter met Wales soccer manager Chris Coleman at the Bobby Robson golf tournament in Portugal three years ago. She was hosting the tournament for the fourth year running and Chris was playing in it and won it. The tournament raises money for a children’s refuge in Faro.

After she and Chris started going out together, golf became very much a part of their courtship and to begin with, they were well matched at the game.

“Chris took up golf quite late too, in 2010, so we were both at much the same stage when we met and we’d beat each other. One of the first times we played was at the Vale of Glamorgan and amazingly I hit a really big drive and sank a 10 foot putt and he was like ‘Oh right....OK’ and looking a bit worried.''

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In October 2015 little Finlay came along and they are already thinking about more children.

Now that Finlay is a boisterous one-year-old, she has less time but still manages to get out for 9 holes fairly regularly thanks to her parents, who adore their grandson. 

Finlay is one very big reason why Charlotte is a supporter of the move to consider running 9 or 12-hole competitions for women. She believes it would encourage young mothers like her to take up and persist with learning the game.

Charlotte, who moved with Chris down to Winchester after they were married, has never joined a golf club because she gets so many invitations to pro-ams and plays holiday golf with Chris and her family. She feels that many clubs need to work harder to attract young people.

“Some golf clubs are very strict and I think they have put off the young generation a bit. Also golf can be very expensive. You really have to make
sure that you have the time to justify the annual subscription and also when you have family commitments.”

The above is an extract from the January/February 2016 issue of Women & Golf magazine, on sale today. Never miss an issue click here to subscribe and enjoy W&G delivered to your door