Former Welsh amateur champion Julie Thomas will be the next President of Wales Golf, the first to have also represented Wales at every international level.
It comes 42 years after she first represented her country as a junior, becoming Welsh Girls champion three times in 1984, 1985 and 1986, she won the Welsh Women’s Amateur Championship in 1992, represented Wales Women’s and Senior teams, and still plays at Seniors level.
She was Pontardawe Golf Club Centenary Club Captain in 2024, plays for Glamorgan Ladies 1st team, acting as County Captain from 2022 to 2024, as well as captaining women’s and girls Wales teams in Home Internationals and European Team Championships.
A mathematics teacher by background, Thomas has taught in Wales and abroad, became Head of Mathematics and Deputy Head at Dulwich College, Shanghai, China, before returning to Wales in 2016 and still continues to tutor maths at all levels.
Apart from her leadership roles, Thomas has also volunteered at many Welsh events and most recently has completed a Level 2 Referee programme with Wales Golf and continues to support the Course Rating Team at clubs across Wales. She was also a player marker for the final two rounds at the 2025 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl. She succeeds former Walker Cup captain Andy Ingram as Wales Golf President.
“I am very excited and honoured to be doing this role and looking forward to starting,” said the 56-year-old, who is likely to become the first person to play at international level while Wales Golf President if selected in the Seniors Home Internationals during her two year term of office.
“I am looking forward to going to support the Wales teams and Welsh events and seeing so many of our golfers in action. I have been a member of Pontardawe since 1977 and I have always had great support from the club, right from the beginning. I was honoured to be their Centenary Captain in 2024.
“Because I have been a player from junior level and right through to seniors, now I feel I have some understanding of what is involved and will be able to support our teams.
“It has been exciting to give back in various aspects of Welsh golf, I am still a keen player and will be playing in the Order of Merit events this year in the hope of qualifying for the Seniors team for the Home Internationals at Royal St David’s in Harlech. It will be tricky managing my time between supporting and playing, but I am excited to be involved and looking forward to all the people I will meet.”
Wales Golf Chief Executive Hannah McAllister added, “We are looking forward to welcoming Julie into her new role, though of course she is a very familiar figure already in golf circles as a triple international and former Welsh champion. She also has a wealth of experience at county level, as well as representing the Pontardawe club where she has played for 49 years. We have had some excellent Presidents over the years, but Julie is the first to have played internationally at every level.
“We would also like to thank Andy Ingram for everything he has done over the last two years as President, while knowing he will continue to contribute to golf in Wales after the end of his term.”
Thomas will take up her new role at the start of April.