Thorpeness Golf Club and Hotel has appointed Christine Langford as its new Senior Golf Professional, the first female professional in the club’s 93-year history.
A five time winner on the Ladies European Tour, Christine succeeds veteran PGA Professional Frank Hill, 71, who retired in October 2015.
Christine, 58, said: “I am delighted to make history as Thorpeness’ first woman professional and am honored to follow in Frank’s footsteps.
“Suffolk is a wonderful place to live and Thorpeness has a special and lasting appeal to local people, day visitors and holidaymakers. I feel enormously privileged to be asked to take on this role.”
This is not the first time that Christine has made history in a golfing career spanning over three decades.
In 2005, she was the first woman professional to be made an Advanced Fellow of the PGA. As a touring professional, Christine was a founder member of the LET (Ladies European Tour) and went on to serve as its Chair.
She is one of only a handful of women to serve on the board of The PGA of Great Britain and Ireland.
Tim Rowan Robinson, chairman of TA Hotel Collection which owns and operates Thorpeness Golf Club, said: “Christine’s appointment is a fantastic coup for our golf club and business. There are few people in the industry with such a breadth of knowledge and experience of both coaching and golf operations as well as a proven track record of success in private business.
We are looking forward to working with Christine to enhance the golfing experience we offer to our members, guests and visitors at Thorpeness.”
Christine has worked as national coach to the Golf Union of Wales Ladies team and coached Suffolk Ladies County Team.
She is also a Golf Ambassador for the Bermuda Tourist Authority where she hosts the Women and Golf Bermuda Trophy, one of the largest golf tourism events on the island.
In recent years, Christine has run residential golf coaching schools and clinics at Thorpeness Golf Club and Hotel.
Her new role will see her develop golf coaching and residential schools at the James Braid heathland course and 36-bedroom golf hotel.
“I am looking forward to getting to know everyone at the club and using my experience to further develop the exceptional golfing experience Thorpeness offers its members and visitors,” said Christine.
Christine will be organising a full program of events for golfers of all ages and abilities at Thorpeness in 2016, including The Thorpeness Team Trophy – a week of competitions, coaching and social events – taking place in July and August.
Thorpeness Golf Club and Hotel www.thorpeness.co.uk