clubgolf's new East of Scotland Regional Manger, Laura Rushby

New clubgolf manager for East of Scotland

Former Ladies Golf Union (LGU) Championship Manager, Laura Rushby, has been appointed clubgolf Regional Manager for the East of Scotland, bolstering the organisation’s eight strong regional management team.

Before joining clubgolf, Laura’s multi -task role with the LGU saw her organising British Amateur tournaments, including the Vagliano Trophy. She was a key member of the team managing last summer’s Ricoh Women’s British Open at St Andrews. 

Her LGU post included a logistical role with the Curtis Cup team, where she coordinated the planning of winter training programmes, managed the delicate balancing act with coaches and captains, and organised everything in between from team building to team uniforms.  Whilst there she even found time to learn the game’s rules and pass the R&A Rules Exam.  

Switching from the higher stratas of sport to grass roots is not for the faint hearted but Laura, a Sheffield Hallam University Tourism and Recreation Management graduate, had wanted a key role in golf development ever since she came to Scotland for a work placement at Gleneagles seven years ago.

“When you work with the elite the differences you can make at that level are relatively small,” said Laura, a former Nottinghamshire junior county golfer.  “From having once been a junior golfer myself, I know how difficult it can be, particularly as a girl, so I’m passionate and motivated to help children get involved in the game and I really want to make a difference to the younger levels of the sport.

“Through the new approach of clubgolf there’s enormous potential to do this in Scotland, particularly with children from non golfing backgrounds.  I’m sure there are plenty of good golfers out there that don’t even know it yet.”

The East already has some great examples of the programme working and there is enormous potential, particularly in club-rich Edinburgh, to attract a new wave of junior players into the game through clubgolf.

Rushby by name, brisk by nature, Laura is making short work of contacting the East’s clubs.  Two ‘Club Information Evenings’ have happened already in Midlothian and Borders; a third is scheduled for Edinburgh this week. 

“Having already worked at the latter stages of golf development, seeing how golfers can get to county level and beyond, and knowing what kind of competitions their players should be playing in, definitely helps me when I’m speaking to professionals who are involved with clubgolf’s Stage 3.”

She is also helping with the country wide roll out of the new Girls in Golf programme, a sensible step given her background at the LGU where she was already working on improving the player pathway for junior girls (she introduced the first GB&I Junior Squad Match at North Berwick Golf Club in October last year).  Her extensive event management experience will be invaluable to clubgolf, which had a presence at every major golf event in Scotland last year.

“The East is one of clubgolf’s larger regions, both in terms of population and number of golf clubs,” said clubgolf Project Manager, Torquil McInroy.

“That means there’s a big challenge ahead but also a fantastic opportunity for clubgolf.  Laura hasn’t wasted any time in getting out and about and she’s already making an impact in the clubs she’s dealing with. 

“She brings a wealth of experience in golf, which she combines with her naturally engaging personality and a focus on getting the job done.  I don’t have any doubt she will make a real difference in the Lothians and Borders, and also to some of clubgolf’s national initiatives.  I’m delighted to welcome Laura to the clubgolf team.”

So, having flourished after ‘being thrown in at the deep end’, what is Laura’s initial impression of junior golf in the East?

“East Lothian is going very well, the Edinburgh schools side is good but we need more golf clubs here as there aren’t many exit routes. It’s the same for Midlothian. In the Borders there are pockets where schools and clubs are matched up and pockets where neither are involved.

“With the information evenings you have to do a lot of groundwork to get people along.  But once they are there the response is very good and people want to get involved as they can see the benefits it will bring for the children and their golf club.”

“It can be difficult getting within the golf clubs and getting to the people who might be interested in clubgolf.  There are some very keen club members out there who want to be involved and help.  Getting to them is the challenge.”

If this is YOU, then contact Laura:

lrushby@clubgolfscotland.co.uk T: 07956 540595