England Golf has announced the induction of Debbie Richards as its new President following Thursday’s AGM at Woodhall Spa, as well as the appointment of Jane Bathurst and Tom Martin to its Board of Directors.
In other board announcements, Andrew Clotworthy and Jenny Denyer have been re-elected to the board for a further three-year term, while Moira Page and Sue Milner have both left the board after serving successful six-year terms as non-executive directors.
Meanwhile, Patrick Cunningham has begun his role as President Elect, with a view to succeeding Richards as President in 2027.
NEW PRESIDENT
Debbie Richards, who replaces Alistair Booth as President following the allotted 12 months in the role, started golf as a teenager and was an international at the age of just 16 when she played for Wales in the Junior Home Internationals.
She moved to London at the age of 19 and joined Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club where she remained until 2000, when she joined Burhill Golf Club. She has also been a member of Rye for over 20 years, and has been a club champion at all three clubs. She has played county golf for Surrey at various levels, including both 1st and 2nd teams, and is currently still playing in the senior team.
On turning 50, she became a frequent participator in senior events both home and abroad, and was selected for the England Senior Team in 2014, a year in which the team won a gold medal at the European Team Championships.
In 2017, she was appointed Captain of the England Senior Team and held the position for three years, winning gold at the 2019 European Team Championships, which resulted in her winning the 2019 England Golf Volunteer of the Year.
She said: “It is an incredible honour to have been elected as President of England Golf. I am looking forward to attending the Championships and following the success of the England players throughout the 2026 season. With the amount of talent we have in England, I am sure it will be a successful year.”
Jane Bathhurst and Tom Martin begin initial three-year terms with the Board of Directors and will be eligible for re-election in 2029.
NEW BOARD OF DIRECTOR APPOINTMENTS
Jane Bathhurst, who grew up in Belfast before moving to London to study at University College London, currently works at Warburg Dillon Read (UBS) as an Investor Relations Adviser, supporting companies in their engagement with institutional investors.
A passionate golfer since her teens, she served as Lady Captain of Hankley Common in 2019 and has proudly represented the club alongside in competitions. In recent years, she has played a significant role in golf administration at both club and county level. As County Captain of Surrey Women’s Golf Ltd (2023–2024), she led major modernisation, including incorporation, a refreshed organisational identity, and a step-change in communications and social media reach.
She strengthened the county’s Women in Golf Charter commitments, broadened competitive opportunities for new and higher-handicap golfers, supported elite and junior coaching pathways, and helped secure financial backing for county teams.
Speaking about her new role as an England Golf board member, Bathurst said: “I am dedicated to the growth of golf in England, across all genders, age groups and cultures, as well as the greater integration of men’s and women’s golf. Our sport should appeal to all. We must continue to work on the perception of the sport and widen participation from grass roots up. I hope that my experience gained in club and county administration, together with my communication skills and lifelong passion for the game of golf, will be of value in my new role.”
Tom Martin brings a wealth of commercial and governance experience to the Board. He enjoyed a long career in the IT industry from 1984 to 2013, holding senior roles focused on retail banking and cash-handling solutions, and played a key role in delivering the UK’s first internet banking platform. After leaving the corporate sector, Tom purchased and successfully ran a food manufacturing business in his home county of Yorkshire until his retirement in 2025.
He joined the Board of the Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs in 2024, serving on the county handicap committee, and is a Level 2 referee who officiates at numerous YUGC and England Golf events each year.
Martin’s connection to the game began as a junior at his local municipal course, where he later met his wife on the 17th tee and served as Club Captain in 1989/90. In 2025 he again took on the role of Club Captain, this time at Sand Moor Golf Club in Leeds, where he has also served as Competition and Handicap Chair and now Greens Chair. He is also a member at Goswick in Northumberland and holds a handicap of 8.5.
On his new role with England Golf’s Board of Director, Martin said: “Being appointed as a director is a privilege, and I’m grateful for the trust placed in me. Our members are at the heart of everything we do, and I’m committed to listening, supporting and championing their needs. I look forward to working with England Golf’s senior leadership team to continue the growth of the game and protect the traditions that make golf so special.”
