Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel Golf Pro Christine Langford
The latest in our Meet the Pro series, meet Christine Langford. Christine has been the Director of Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel for the last 10 years. She began her career as a tournament player competing on the USLPGA Tour, she is a founder members of the ladies European Tour, winning five tournaments before retiring from competitive play and becoming one of the country’s first women club professionals and a leading coach. She was the Welsh National coach for seven years and now hosts a variety of coaching formats and holidays for guests at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel on Suffolk’s coast.
Among the recent events hosted at Thorpeness was a visit by the Bermuda Old Girls Golf Society. Christine explains how she became involved with the Society and how she spent the first day organising their special two-day Bermuda Trophy competition.
“Twelve years ago I was approached by the Director of Golf at Port Royal in Bermuda and asked if I would help to promote and host a golf event for women on the island. The event took off and in the years that followed nearly 200 lady golfers from clubs throughout the UK and beyond visited the island to take part in the event. Interrupted by Covid and other circumstances the event ran its course.
Hosting the Bermuda Trophy
“This year I am delighted to be hosting The Bermuda Trophy at Thorpeness when 30 members off the Bermuda Old Girls Golf Society (BOGGS) converged on Thorpeness to celebrate friendship and golf.
“Their visit began yesterday with a fun team event followed by a welcome dinner and a late night so I stayed on-site to be ready to offer some coaching to the players before they tee off.
“The first round of the two-day competition for the Bermuda Trophy begins at 10.30am but before that everyone comes to the practice area for a few tips and to warm up. Once I administer some last minute advice it’s all hands on deck to pick the balls up.
“Thorpeness is a very traditional venue, not for us a covered driving range with a machine to pick up and wash the golf balls – we do it the old fashioned way, I never mind as the practice ground is the best office in the world – overlooked by the majestic and iconic House in the Clouds, a unique self-catering cottage at the top of a water tower.
“Once I’ve tidied up I have a chance to fit in a couple of lessons, it’s the holiday season here so lots of families start arriving in Thorpeness over the next week or so, many of the parents have been coming to the village since they were children and now they bring their families, houses pass down through the generations and when they all start rolling into ‘town’ there is a great buzz and atmosphere.
The importance of family lessons for the future of golf
“I love giving the family lessons as it’s great to catch up with everyone and see the youngsters grow over the years. Thorpeness is a very special place to so many people, there’s nowhere quite like it.
“Job done, all tidied away and its off to the golf course to see how the BOGGS are getting along. I meet and greet the players after their round, collect the scorecards while the pro shop team collate the results, complete the half-way Leaderboard and prepare the starting times for the final round tomorrow. We have a terrific team of people working in the pro shop and on days like everyone is needed to help, the ‘Bermuda Girls’ have been shopping for England, so we’ve a lot of tidying to do.
“It’s been a great day, everyone has enjoyed playing the golf course, I join the players for a drink on the terrace, which overlooks The Meare, it’s a beautiful evening and everyone is in fine form.
Friendships made at Thorpeness Golf Club are for life
“One of the special things about hosting golf trips is that you get to see people making lifelong friendships through sport, the Bermuda trip is very special in this respect and I am delighted that we have managed to rekindle it at Thorpeness, everyone agrees that the North Sea might be a slightly different colour than the waters surrounding Bermuda but the welcome (and the weather!) has been just as warm.
“The hotel lends itself to this type of event, the food is fabulous and the staff do such a great job of keeping everyone happy when they come in from a day on the golf course, I’m always immensely proud of our product and our team, it’s great to get so many positive comments from the Bermuda group, some have already booked for next year – makes it all worthwhile.
“Tomorrow’s another day!”
Tucked away on the Suffolk Heritage Coast just a stone’s throw from the sea, the Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel has one of the finest golf courses in Suffolk and is one of England’s the top 100 courses. Designed by five-time Open Champion James Braid, the classic 6,311-yard, par 70 course British heathland course will appeal to golfers throughout the seasons. There’s also a range of dining areas with menus to suit all tastes, and a traditional 19th hole, Braid’s Bar, while the 36 rooms ensure guests can be on the course in a few minutes. For more information visit www.thorpeness.co.uk.
Pic Cred: Matt Finch