Ashbourne Golf Club
Ashbourne Golf Club
Ashbourne Golf Club

Ladies Welcome


Welcome to the Ladies' section of the website. 

A friendly welcome awaits any lady who is interested in playing or learning how to play golf. New members whatever their standard, are always welcome and encouraged to join in with other lady members.

Ladies' Captain for 2024 is Sally Benn.

This is Sally's second term as Ladies' Captain having previously been Ladies' Captain in 2009. She is Derbyshire born and bred and has always been keen on sport so it was no surprise when she fulfilled her ambition, to teach P.E. which she did for 10 years at QEGS.

Hockey was her main sport which she played to a high level for many years as well as coaching to County and Midlands level. She moved to Staffordshire in 1988, and having given up hockey took up golf and had no hesitation in moving back to Ashbourne to play in 2005.  Apart from a 3 year gap she has remained at the club ever since.  She was a very successful Junior Organiser at the club and also of the of Derbyshire County U18 Girls' team. In 2012 she was rightly very proud to receive the England Golf 'Volunteer Golf Coach of the Year Award'  at a special ceremony at Woodhall Spa.

Away from golf Sally has been a lifelong dog lover and has a red fox labrador named Ruby who she spends many hours walking near her home in Staffordshire.

Sally currently has a handicap index of 17.4. She is keen to see junior participation in golf grow within in the club and specifically for girls. To this end she is leading the junior section's efforts to increase girls' participation in golf.

Ladies' Gateway to Golf Beginner's Scheme

Over the last four years through our 'Gateway to Golf' scheme we have acquired nearly 20 new ladies, most of whom were beginners and all of whom have made great progress.  Most have achieved their  England Golf handicap indexes. There are now approximately 65 lady members at the club who play golf socially and/or in the competitions. Our 'established' ladies are always happy to score any qualifying cards for any ladies who wish to achieve a handicap index.

Our Club Professional Steve Clancy continues  to run beginners' courses for ladies and our 2024 'Gateway to Golf' initiative starts in April when there will be beginners coaching sessions 1pm-2pm on Tuesday afternoons and 9am-10am Saturday on mornings. Clubs can be provided free of charge. These coaching sessions continue throughout the year during autumn and winter. Just contact Steve on 01335 347960 for more information.

For those who wish to play in competitions, competition days are normally Thursdays and Sundays.  There are numerous competitions throughout the season as well as additional mixed competitions on some weekends. In the summer, there is a weekly Wednesday nine hole social competition which is open to all members. It takes a different format each week and there is usually a social evening and presentation on the Wednesday evening.

Mixed competitions include the Knott Trophy, a knockout mixed greensome matchplay competition, Cliffe Lockwood Trophy, Brooker Trophy and the Win Roome Trophy.

There is also a Ladies' Away Day and Away 'Weekend'. The Away Weekend this year is at Stockport Sun 2 - Tues 4 June where we are playing three different courses. 

We have our nine hole standard scratch certificate and handicap conversions, which enable us to hold nine hole qualifying competitions, including a monthly 9 hole stableford competition which takes place on Thursdays.

Silver and Bronze league matches, Inter Club Foursomes and Taskers Trophy (for over 50s) and are organized for those ladies who enjoy the challenge of match play. 

Any ladies who are interested in trying or taking up golf are encouraged to contact our Club Professional Steve Clancy on 01335 347960 who will be more than happy to offer help and advice and put you in touch with a member of the ladies' section.