Ward champions Royal Mid-Surrey's role in the women's game

Caroline Ward has highlighted Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club as a trailblazer for the women’s game in this country ahead of the SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge South qualifying event.

The Richmond Upon Thames club will host the competition on August 28.

And club captain Ward is partnering Royal Mid Surrey PGA professional Matthew Paget in the competition.

They will be hoping to reach the £22,000 final, staged in association with Golfplan, which takes place between November 6-7 in Spain at Arabella Golf Mallorca.

But Ward says the club treat their men and women captains equally. And that the club has the biggest women's section in the country.

“That is why I joined the Royal Mid Surrey 16 years ago, men and women’s captains are of equal standing here, I’m not sure whether that puts us up with the times or ahead of the times,” said the Chiswick-based amateur who plays off a handicap of 13.

“Women are equal in all respects and account for 361 members out of a total Club membership of 1295.

“It’s not something that’s just happened. In fact, our most famous member was Pam Barton, one greatest women amateur golfers of all time, and a World War II hero.

“She won the British Amateur Championships in 1936 and 1939 , so we have successful women players here going back to the 1930s and early 1940s.”

The club has also provided a WPGA Lombard Trophy finalists this year in Susan Spash.

And Ward is quietly confident of a strong performance on home territory after impressing in Pro-Am events this year.

“Matthew and I came second in the PGA Pro-Captain event at Littlestone Golf Club in May,” she added.

“And then Matthew had to stand down for the Concord Trophy event at Camberley Heath Golf Club and Dean, his number two came along, and we won. So Matthew and I are dangerously hopeful!

“I enjoy and have benefitted hugely from Matthew’s coaching. Playing Captain-Pro matches against members with him, and in a couple of instances in external PGA-run events, count amongst the things I’ve enjoyed the very most during this year of captaincy.

“The decision to join Royal Mid Surrey stands as one of the best I’ve ever made!

“We have a very successful women’s section at all levels here. We have an amazing group of junior girls.

“Pavani Kumar off 1.7 who shot six under par in a recent competition on the JH Taylor Course - the course we’ll be playing on Tuesday.

“Rafiah Banday who is off 0.9 and represented England U16s in Spain earlier this year, and came 2nd in the recent English Girls U16s Championship. Rafiah also tied 21st along with Ellie Lace, this year’s Ladies’ Club Champion, in the Girls’ Amateur Championships.

“The adult Ladies are also currently enjoying great success in Surrey County team events and are through to the semi-finals of the Centenary Bowl, the Hicks Trophy and the Inter Club Scratch Foursomes.

We are also one of a minority of golf clubs to have a female on the pro-shop team for several years now, currently it’s Alice Hiluta.”

Other clubs taking part in the event at Royal Mid Surrey include:   Andrew Smedley/Denise Fraser (Nevill Golf Club);   Steven Stiller/Anthony Kennedy  (Farleigh Golf Club);  Ian Benson/Lorne Magory (Hindhead Golf Club); Steven Hunter/David Barnes (Royal Winchester Golf Club);  Michael Lord/Ricky Jeal (New Forest Golf Club);  and Nick Duc/Roger Nunn (Holtye Golf Club).

For more information on the event at Royal Mid Surrey, click here.