Inspiration Booth named in BBC Woman’s Hour’s Women in Sport Power List for 2023

03/07/2023

PGA Professional Emma Booth, co-manager of Winchester Golf Academy in Hampshire, recounts the inspiring story of a surprise thrust into the spotlight that has resulted in a bevy of industry accolades. It has culminated in her being named in the top 30 of BBC Woman’s Hour’s Women in Sport Power List for 2023.

When did you find out that you had been nominated for the BBC’s Woman’s Hour Power List for 2023 and when did you hear that that you had made the final 30?

I was at home when I received a message from work to say I had missed a call from the producer of BBC Woman’s Hour and that they would be in touch. I had no clue what it could have been about, so was very intrigued as to why they wanted to speak to me. The next day I received an email from Woman’s Hour congratulating me for being on the Power List 2023: Women in Sport and that I was invited to the live broadcast at the BBC Studios for the full list reveal and then I would find out where I was placed in the list out of 30 other fantastic women. There were five categories you could be nominated for: Sportswomen, Leaders, Amplifiers, Change-makers and Grassroots. I was nominated under the Change-makers category.

How did it make you feel to see your name up alongside the likes of Women’s England Football captain Leah Williamson, Olympic gymnast Ellie Downie and Olympic sprinter Dina Asher-Smith?

It’s a real honour to be on the list with the most incredible women in sport, many of whom are household names. I felt privileged to have had the opportunity to hear these amazing women speak so passionately about women’s sport and why it matters so much to shine a spotlight on all the hard work so many inspiring women are doing.

What has been the reaction from your family, friends, and colleagues? How did it feel to be thrust into the national spotlight?

They were all thrilled for me and thought it was a wonderful opportunity to not only showcase the work I do for women’s golf at Winchester Golf Academy, but for the sport of golf itself, as I was the only golfer on the list, so it meant even more to be representing the sport I love.

Those close to me also knew it I would be a little out of comfort zone, as I’m not one to seek the spotlight through social media, and I do what I do because I genuinely love coaching and getting more women playing golf.

As you said, you were nominated in the 'Change-maker' category for the influence you had on getting TaylorMade Golf to address its women’s equipment range. Can you explain a little bit of the background behind that and what happened as a consequence of your comments?

The incident that got the ball rolling with all this actually happened five years ago, back in 2018. I was just nearing the end of maternity leave with my second daughter when my husband Gary, who is also a PGA Professional and who I run Winchester Golf Academy with, suggested I go to the TaylorMade launch of their latest products, instead of him. I had never been to a national product launch event before so was very excited to be attending with two of our PGA Assistants at the time.

The launch of the new range was held at Mercedes Benz World in Surrey and was a very grand affair. The presentation started and it was all crash, bang wallop, with smoke and flames showing the best male tour players in the world smashing drives. As the presentation went on it soon dawned on me that no female golfers were being shown with the new products and the availability of women’s equipment was mentioned in small print in the club options.

I was very disappointed by this, as I’ve dedicated my life to golf and to getting more girls and women into the sport, so to not even be thought of worth featuring by the biggest brand in golf felt like a real let down. So when the time for questions from the floor rolled around, I stood up and asked why no women were featured and that I felt disappointed.

I’ve dedicated my life to golf and to getting more girls and women into the sport, so to not even be thought of worth featuring by the biggest brand in golf felt like a real let down.

- Emma Booth (Winchester Golf Club) - PGA Professional

What was the instant reaction from TaylorMade at the time?

TaylorMade could not have responded in a more positive way to my concerns and comments. Within two months of that presentation, I had meetings with David Silvers, the company’s managing director for EMEA, and David Ables (pictured with Emma), TaylorMade’s chief executive, who flew over some the States. They both agreed their support and catering to the female golf market was not enough and they wanted to change that. Thus, TaylorMade’s Women’s Advisory Board was born!

Who else sits on that board, and what does that role involve?

The Board is comprised of 13 women from across Europe who work in the golf industry, we have some players on tour, top amateurs, head professionals and PGA Professionals. Once a quarter we get together, either in person or via Zoom, to discuss new products, how we can improve upon the current offering and what we can do in our regions to grow the female market.

One of the first things that we did when we got together was to look at what was right with what was the current TaylorMade range at that time. None of us really liked the product offering, as it very much felt like a last-minute thing to kind of get it out there. It didn't feel like it was made with women in mind and their needs. We went back and forth a lot on what women in our regions and our countries liked, and we talked about developing a product that we thought women would actually appreciate and enjoy, rather than one that was pink. I feel like we were quite instrumental in helping the design of the new Kalea Premier range which launched last summer. I couldn't have been prouder and happier just to have a club that feels solid and that I was proud to sell at the Academy. They are perfectly adaptable for juniors getting into golf, as well teenage boys and older players due their lightweight design.

Beyond TaylorMade, how do you think the wider golf industry is serving women and girls? What other changes would you like to see?

The biggest change I’d like to see is that we reach a point where we don’t have to talk about it anymore. If we still have to keep asking the question ‘Are we doing enough for women’s golf?’ then the likely answer is no. We never have to ask these questions about the men’s game because it is very much front and centre.

In terms of how we can make that a reality I think it is the PGA Professionals that are the real boots on the ground in growing the game. So many PGA Professionals are now running wonderful initiatives to get more women into golf or back into it. Making it as accessible as possible to women at any stage in their life is an important aspect to always keep in mind too.

It’s been quite a few months with you also collecting the 'Unsung Hero' award at last year’s inaugural Women in Golf Awards. What was it like to receive that award?

Ha! No, there is still lots of space. It was a huge surprise to have won the Unsung Hero award and I nearly missed the announcement that I’d won as I had popped to the loo! Winning at the first ever Women in Golf Awards made it even more special. It was a wonderful event and I believe it will go from strength to strength. I am already looking forward to seeing who the winners will be at this year’s awards.

As one of the small but growing percentage of female PGA Professionals how important do you see your role in inspiring young girls and women to take up the game and perhaps follow in your footsteps to work in the golf industry or become a PGA Professional?

Any woman or girl on the course or at the range is a display of golf being for females and that is powerful. In the years I did my PGA training there were only four other women on the course and so to see more and more female PGA Professionals coming through is great. You’ve got to see it to be it and in the world of women’s sport that is definitely true.

What was your route to becoming a PGA Professional?

I came back from coaching golf at Camp America in the US and loved the experience of getting up every morning to coach. So I moved down south, from Chester to Woking, enrolled on the PGA course and became an Assistant Professional at a local golf club.

You run the Winchester Golf Academy with your husband and fellow PGA Professional Gary (pictured). What facilities do you have at the academy and what is a typical working day for you?

We have a 24-bay covered driving range, powered by Toptracer, with PowerTees, fully flighted balls, food, and drink available from our fantastic Bistro, ‘The Kitchen’, which offers in-bay service.
We also have 3 VIP bays, a custom fitting studio with two large coaching bays, and a fantastic outdoor short game area that is currently being refurbished to incorporate a practice bunker and a real grass putting green.

A typical working day for us involves lots of juggling as we have three young daughters, so the morning often involves the chaos of getting them to school with everything they need, then one of us will work a few hours and finish in time for the playgroup and school pick-up, then other will work a longer day. Life can be hectic, but we both love it and love what we do.

Do you run any women-only golf programmes at the academy and, if so, do you feel that being a female professional helps newcomers to the game feel more at ease?

Last year I set up a monthly Women’s Get into Golf Programme, it’s comprised of a three-week course covering the basics and then once the ladies have completed that they come to Practice Club, where other skills are covered in more detail. Over the summer months the sessions are held at a local 9-hole course, Avington Park, which is perfect for beginners, very welcoming and friendly. The programme has been a huge success, with over 80 women in the group. Lots of them have made friends are now off golfing independently which is what it is all about.

Being a female professional offers me a good understanding of the wants and needs of female golfers. I can understand how they may struggle to see how they could ever possibly fit into the world of golf. I also fully appreciate how hectic life can be if you are working and have children so try to cater the timings of the sessions so that demographic of women will be able to join in. It’s important that women make time for their hobbies just as men do.

Who have been the biggest influences/mentors in your career?

I have been so lucky to have had many wonderful influences and mentors. I would have to start with my family, my dad who got me into golf and who was a Major in the Army has always demonstrated how important it is to have discipline when working towards your goals. My mum and sisters have shaped me to be a woman to speak up if things aren’t right.

Throughout my career in golf, I’ve had some good bosses and terrible ones, but I always learnt just as much from the bad ones for how not to do things and that has shaped myself and Gary into the bosses we are today.

The team I work with now at WGA continue to inspire me to always strive for improvement. The Browne family, owners of the academy, are amazing to collaborate with, as we are all passionate about offering the best customer service and strive to be progressive in the golf industry.

Fiona Brown is well worthy of a mention, I have known Fiona since my Cheshire County Ladies days and now she is our region’s Business Relationship Officer. She has always been there for me at the end of the phone to offer help and advice in any way she can.

What advice would you pass on to any women considering a career as a PGA Professional?

Being a PGA Professional is a fantastic career full of opportunities. There are so many avenues the qualification can take you down now, from managing Golf Clubs, working on the Tour, coaching to running a business. The world is your oyster! For my role as a coach and academy manager, if you love golf and love helping people get more enjoyment out of the game you will have found your calling.

Inspiration Booth named in BBC Women’s Hour’s Women in Sport Power List for 2023

When did you find out that you had been nominated for the BBC’s Woman’s Hour Power List for 2023 and when did you hear that that you had made the final 30?

How did it make you feel to see your name up alongside the likes of Women’s England Football captain Leah Williamson, Olympic gymnast Ellie Downie and Olympic sprinter Dina Asher-Smith?

What has been the reaction from your family, friends, and colleagues? How did it feel to be thrust into the national spotlight?

As you said, you were nominated in the 'Change-maker' category for the influence you had on getting TaylorMade Golf to address its women’s equipment range. Can you explain a little bit of the background behind that and what happened as a consequence of your comments?

What was the instant reaction from TaylorMade at the time?

Who else sits on that board, and what does that role involve?

Beyond TaylorMade, how do you think the wider golf industry is serving women and girls? What other changes would you like to see?

It’s been quite a few months with you also collecting the 'Unsung Hero' award at last year’s inaugural Women in Golf Awards. What was it like to receive that award?

As one of the small but growing percentage of female PGA Professionals how important do you see your role in inspiring young girls and women to take up the game and perhaps follow in your footsteps to work in the golf industry or become a PGA Professional?

What was your route to becoming a PGA Professional?

You run the Winchester Golf Academy with your husband and fellow PGA Professional Gary (pictured). What facilities do you have at the academy and what is a typical working day for you?

Do you run any women-only golf programmes at the academy and, if so, do you feel that being a female professional helps newcomers to the game feel more at ease?

Who have been the biggest influences/mentors in your career?

What advice would you pass on to any women considering a career as a PGA Professional?

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Inspiration Booth named in BBC Women’s Hour’s Women in Sport Power List for 2023

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When did you find out that you had been nominated for the BBC’s Woman’s Hour Power List for 2023 and when did you hear that that you had made the final 30?

How did it make you feel to see your name up alongside the likes of Women’s England Football captain Leah Williamson, Olympic gymnast Ellie Downie and Olympic sprinter Dina Asher-Smith?

What has been the reaction from your family, friends, and colleagues? How did it feel to be thrust into the national spotlight?

As you said, you were nominated in the 'Change-maker' category for the influence you had on getting TaylorMade Golf to address its women’s equipment range. Can you explain a little bit of the background behind that and what happened as a consequence of your comments?

What was the instant reaction from TaylorMade at the time?

Who else sits on that board, and what does that role involve?

Beyond TaylorMade, how do you think the wider golf industry is serving women and girls? What other changes would you like to see?

It’s been quite a few months with you also collecting the 'Unsung Hero' award at last year’s inaugural Women in Golf Awards. What was it like to receive that award?

As one of the small but growing percentage of female PGA Professionals how important do you see your role in inspiring young girls and women to take up the game and perhaps follow in your footsteps to work in the golf industry or become a PGA Professional?

What was your route to becoming a PGA Professional?

You run the Winchester Golf Academy with your husband and fellow PGA Professional Gary (pictured). What facilities do you have at the academy and what is a typical working day for you?

Do you run any women-only golf programmes at the academy and, if so, do you feel that being a female professional helps newcomers to the game feel more at ease?

Who have been the biggest influences/mentors in your career?

What advice would you pass on to any women considering a career as a PGA Professional?

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