Women in golf: We speak to Francine Edmonds
What does your club do to raise money for charity?
The ladies section at London Beach holds raffles and competitions to raise money for charity, and the club has a charity scheme in association with the Savannah Charitable Trust which enables us to donate the total value spent on food to charity when supporters have golf days, Sunday lunches or any other function.
How effective has your charity work been?
The hotel has donated £295,000 to charity since 2011 which is clearly very satisfying. Last year the ladies section alone raised £1,600 for Bliss, which is a charity that provides care and support for premature and sick babies in the UK.
What does your day-to-day role as lady captain involve?
The captain’s role at London Beach Golf Club involves arranging our members’ Tuesday fixtures, with an focus on friendly competition. The captain also arranges home and away matches and social gatherings.
How does the club encourage female members?
The emphasis for the London Beach ladies is on enjoying a friendly game of golf. The club also offers far more than just golf and our joint membership packages provide access to the superb spa and gym along with a wide variety of fitness and wellbeing classes. There is also an excellent restaurant that serves throughout the day and the hotel provides a comfortable place to socialise and relax.
Where do you recruit your female members from?
Most of our lady members join as a result of friends recommending the club to them or following lessons with our golf professional. We are lucky because the club has such a beautiful golf course with good greens and lots of wildlife.
What advice would you give to women who are considering a career in golf?
The same advice as one would give anyone intending to become a professional. Work very hard and practise as much as you can.
