England Golf Trust helped Molly to thrive
Molly Moore is now a highly successful freelance PGA professional golf coach working at clubs across Surrey and is the County Girls lead coach – but without the financial help from the England Golf Trust it might have been a different story.
During her three years as a student at the University of Birmingham, Molly received the Bellamy Bursary from the Trust and prior to this a Grant. She used this for coaching and competition entries, as well as living costs at university.
‘This financial help from the Trust meant an awful lot to me. It felt like I was being supported and encouraged at a crucial point in my life,’ says Molly, who is now a freelance PGA professional.
‘Knowing that others believed in my journey gave me increased motivation and a determination to make the most of every opportunity. It also highlighted that it was possible for those from lower incomes to thrive and succeed in the golf world.’
Molly needed to work extremely hard to lower her handicap to represent her county and gain a place on the Applied Golf Management course at the University of Birmingham. Therefore, regular 1-1 coaching was vital, but as a family they couldn’t always afford the same frequency of coaching that other players were receiving. This made a significant difference to her development.
She developed a stronger course strategy, gain the confidence to enter regional competitions and ultimately lowered her handicap enough to play for Shropshire and gain entry into university.
The three-year Bellamy Bursary from the Trust, while Molly was at university, provided financial support that relieved some of the pressure. Without the constant worry of covering rent and bills and working long hours in another job, she could maintain a balanced schedule between her studies and golf. This stability played a key role in her progress in both golf and academic work.
In 2020 she graduated and became a PGA professional. She soon became a self-employed golf coach and initially wanted to work with tour-level players. However, she quickly realised that she could make a stronger and more lasting impact for women and girls in golf.
‘I now specialise in women and girls’ development through quality pathways from beginner golfers to club membership. I also run a blog sharing my thoughts and insights and a podcast dedicated to showcasing women’s careers in golf to encourage a new generation of female leaders in golf to make a difference,’ says Molly, who works out of North Downs, The RAC and The Drift and is also lead coach for Surrey County Girls.
Molly started playing at the age of eight when her dad bought her a set of clubs. She joined a girls’ golf group at Hawkstone Park golf Club and felt part of the club from an early age. ‘They even set up small competitions for us such as Captains Day, for example, so it really felt we were part of the club at an early age. As I grew up the members were there for every step of the way and supported me through my journey.’
She has been Shropshire County Captain and is now being accepted onto the R&A Women in Leadership Foundation Programme. ‘Every day feels like a highlight, as I am doing what I love,’ she says.
Best advice I was given
Take every opportunity and experience you can
Advice I’d give
Be patient, everything happens for a reason, focus on the now.
What I wish I’d know
That there is more to life than golf! don’t take for granted the positive support from your club golf
