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England Golf is set to continue a tradition other golfing associations around the world would do well to emulate when Chris Pascall takes over the presidency of Europe’s biggest golf union in 2023. The Durham, England, native has accepted the invitation to become England Golf president elect in 2022. She will succeed Lancashire’s Les Wilson in the role.
England Golf, which represents 647,000 golf club members at the country’s 1,800 clubs, rotates the presidency between men and women. That’s as it should be since it caters for men and women club golfers.
“It was a real honour to be nominated as president elect of England Golf and I was delighted to accept the role,” Pascall said. “I feel very proud to represent both the men’s and women’s game through this highly prestigious position.”
Pascall’s appointment comes amid a plethora of women taking prominent roles within the game. Annika Sörenstam, for example, is now president of the International Golf Federation. The LPGA has just announced its second woman commissioner, Mollie Marcoux Samaan, to replace Mike Whan, who is moving to become the USGA’s executive director. Wales Golf recently appointed Hannah McAllister as its first woman chief executive officer while Karin Sharp became chief operating officer of Scottish Golf last year.
All three of the home unions in Great Britain now cater to men and women, rather than the old, antiquated system of separate men’s and women’s bodies. It’s been 10 years since English Golf Union and English Women’s Golf Association agreed to amalgamate and become one body serving men and women, boys and girls. The two bodies formally joined forces a year later. The R&A and Ladies Golf Union merged in 2017.
Single bodies representing all of golf is obviously the only way to go in the 21st century, especially at a time when there's a major push to get more women and girls into golf. Quite right, too, considering women make up between 13-14 percent of adult golfers in the British Isles according to the latest figures from KPMG’s golf participation report.
R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers has made getting women, girls and families into golf a major tenet of his tenure as head of the governing body for the entire world with the exception of the United States and Mexico. England Golf is committed to that goal too. Indeed, receiving an e-mail from England Golf and making golf “a welcoming, inclusive and fun sport for everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or ability,” is the first goal listed as the organisation’s raison d’être.
As GGP colleague Colin Callander noted in a recent issue, England Golf has beefed up its Girls Golf Rocks campaign, which it began in 2015 in conjunction with the Golf Foundation. Approximately 5,000 young girls have been introduced to the royal and ancient game through the campaign. England Golf lost time with that project because of COVID -19, but is this year set to deliver its biggest programme to date.
Throw in the surprise COVID-19 silver lining of increased participation in the game, with an increase of 10,000 new members in English golf clubs, then the game needs as much experience male or female, as possible. Pascall fits that bill in more ways than one.
“I am excited for the opportunity to help drive development and progression in English golf, particularly at this important juncture for the sport in a post-pandemic world."
Chris Pascall
The 66-year-old has played off a single-figure handicap for longer than five decades. She was a member of the 1972 England Girls’ team and was in the England Women’s squad for three years between 1979 and 1981.
“Golf has been a huge part of my life since I started playing at the age of 11,” she admits.
The Hartlepool Golf Club member has captained 15 England teams in her time in the game, in major tournaments such as the European Team Championships and the Home Internationals. She played for her home county, Durham, for more than 20 years. Indeed, she’s currently captain of Durham County Ladies Golf Association. She has voiced strong opinions on England Golf matters on numerous occasions. She was a voting member for Durham between 2015 and 2018.
In other words, she not only talks the talk, she walks the walk too.
“The various volunteer roles I have held have been just as rewarding as my achievements on the course,” she said. “I am excited for the opportunity to help drive development and progression in English golf, particularly at this important juncture for the sport in a post-pandemic world.
“I am passionate about making the game accessible for all and nurturing the next generation of golfers.
“I would like to thank England Golf for giving me this fantastic opportunity. I hope to follow on the great work of past presidents and look forward to starting in April.”
E-Mail Alistair