BBC news journalist Naga Munchetty is a proud member of her golf club and believes it is important that everyone remembers their golfing roots.
BBC news journalist Naga Munchetty is a proud member of her golf club and believes it is important that everyone remembers their golfing roots, however good they become at the game.
If you are a member of a golf club, are you proud of it and the course? If so, why? Perhaps because a famous tour player once played there, as it is lovely to be able to boast a little that such a player started out at your home course. How much effort does your club make when it comes to encouraging and supporting talented players?
I have been fortunate to be asked by a couple of clubs to take part in “A conversation with (a professional golfer),” This is a chance for members to hear about what it’s like to be on tour, how easy or difficult it is to make a living as a pro, and what it’s like to play with the big names that most of us only get to see on our TV screens.
These “conversations/interviews” have always gone well, they’ve been tied in with a fundraising day to boost the coffers of the pro to keep them playing on tour and hopefully representing the club.
Don’t underestimate how much pride and a certain sense of ownership is generated when you see one of your own, often a junior, out there fighting to make a go of it in a highly competitive, intimidating and challenging field.
Equally, I think that it is also up to those brilliant players who have “made it” on tour, to not forget where they came from. It’s been wonderful to see and hear about professional players who do still play with members when they are back home, who offer tips to others on the driving range, and who simply sit in the clubhouse enjoying a drink.
It works both ways - you get out what you put in. My husband has just finished his club captaincy. I will admit that I saw this “job” as a pain in the butt much of the time, but I also realised just how much charity work is done in a golf club. Once a captain has chosen their charity, it is up to them to encourage funds to be raised.
This year the members of our club, Batchworth Park, raised more for Cure Parkinson’s Trust than any other club before it. So, I am abusing my position as columnist to state that I am a very proud wife and very proud of the members for being so generous and for doing so much good.
The above is an extract from Naga's column in the latest issue of Women & Golf magazine, on sale today. Never miss an issue click here to subscribe and enjoy W&G delivered to your door.
