Ellie Potts - Out and Proud PGA Professional - in her own words ....

ELLIE POTTS - OUT, PROUD & NEWLY QUALIFIED PGA GOLF PROFESSIONAL

in her own words

“no no, you’ll find a golf husband dear”

— Said a female member at my club

VISIBILITY MATTERS

“ As a young person I want to use my influence and power to show that I’m coming to make real changes and set a legacy for other young LGBT+ Professionals out there ”

- ELLIE POTTS - GIGS Brand Ambassador & GIGS Northern Hub co-ordinator

Hi my name is Ellie Potts, PGA Professional at Sandwell Park Golf Club, nr Birmingham and a recent Graduate in Applied Golf Management Studies at the University of Birmingham.

I’m a Level 2 PGA Coach which I obtained alongside my studies. I’ve been able to progress my golf further by playing in WPGA and PGA competitions as a Trainee.  It was an amazing three years at Birmingham Uni, however the course is lacking females as there were only 4 on our course and 20 males.  But my course mates were really good at supporting each other and we had a lot of fun playing competitive golf against each other.

I started playing golf when I was around 10 years old.   I used to caddy for my Dad and then slowly started trying out clubs of my own. I started playing for my County (Shropshire) at Junior level and eventually became the County Captain in 2020.

I’m a lesbian and I came out in 2015 and my parents are very loving and accepting, along with all my friends who are very happy for me. 

In terms of golf I didn’t really have anybody as a role model in the golf industry so now I want my legacy to be influencing and acting as that role model to others so that I could inspire and make changes in the golfing industry as a member of the LGBT+ community.

Golf clubs can be very strange places at times

Golf clubs can be very strange places at times and an uncomfortable place too. I had an experience myself just before starting my University degree. I was speaking to one of the female members at my club and one of them told me “oh you’ll find a nice golf husband on your course” and I said “wait no, I’m a lesbian, I’m into women" and they just sort of laughed it off and continued with “no, no, you’ll find a golf husband.”

Looking back on this sort of ignorance kind of makes me laugh, but on the other hand, it needs to change, because everybody has members at their Golf Club that may no agree with the community or don’t understand the community. I feel it’s important to call them out on it and potentially educate them and say. look we’re in 2024, we’re making changes. You can either accept that or you’re going to be left behind.

I do believe we are on the precipice of a big change in the golf industry. I feel that more women are speaking up to their Golf Club Committees and we are banging on the door for change whether this be gender neutral tees or being able to play in the men’s competitions on a Saturday or even just feeling like we can feel safe as LGBT+ golfers at our respected clubs. As a young person I want to use my influence and power to show that I’m coming to make real changes and set a legacy for other young LGBT+ PGA professionals out there.

It’s nice to see other golfers like me out and proud!

I joined GIGS after a friend of mine referred me to the Instagram page. It was so nice to see other golfers like myself out and proud! I’m keen to get involved and hopefully get to meet many of the GIGSTERs soon.

Future plans: I’ve recently started my first coaching position at Sandwell Park Golf Club in the West Midlands, as a full time Teaching Professional. If you’re in the area - contact me - and let’s get you started.

You can follow my journey on Instagram @elliepotts_golf

Abbey Hill Golf Centre flies the Rainbow Flag to Welcome GIGS

ABBEY HILL GC flies the Rainbow Flag to Welcome the Girls in Golf Society

A fun day was had by all at Abbey Hill Golf Centre, Milton Keynes. Abbey Hill was buzzing with lots of people enjoying the Driving Range, Adventure Golf, Foot Golf and the main 18 which we played. Everyone we encountered were friendly, welcoming, polite and seemed to be enjoying themselves. The General Manager, Russell Heady came and introduced himself to our group and informed us that the ENGLAND GOLF RAINBOW FLAGs had been put out on both the 10th and 18th Greens to welcome GIGS. It was a fantastic gesture by a progressive and welcoming club and The GIGSTERS really appreciated it. The food was very tasty and the clubhouse was vibrant. The course was a good track, with a nice mixture of challenging holes with some fab views. The GM said he would put the Rainbow Flags out every 3-4 weeks to demonstrate that the club is a welcoming space for all. THAT’S PROGRESS !!

“We will continue to fly the Rainbow Flag every 3 or 4 weeks, to demonstrate that Abbey Hill Golf Centre is a welcoming space for all”

— Russell Heady - General Manager

VISIBILITY MATTERS

“ You just don't know who sees it (the flag) living in the area and takes heart and might be encouraged to choose golf as a sport to take up”

- GIGS Member Anna

Visibility in golf really does matter to our community, so well done to England Golf for the initiative and to the clubs who participated last year. Hopefully the 2022 campaign will enjoy continued support and growth.

GIGS has actively been contacting many of the clubs who participated in the England Golf / Stonewall Rainbow Laces campaign at the end of last year and will try to support as many of those clubs as possible by booking our monthly meet-ups at these progressive and inclusive golf facilities. It is important to acknowledge their efforts and demonstrate our appreciation by hosting our golf events with them over the coming months. GIGS will also encourage other clubs to participate in the initiative and some have already said they too would love to fly the flag and are keen to get involved and be more visibly inclusive.

NOTE TO GIGS MEMBERS - LOG IN TO READ RESULTS & SEE MORE PICS !!

If you are a Club, or Member of a Club who would like to add a Rainbow Flag to their course - you can read more below and get in touch with Jamie Blair at England Golf.

Aloha - Lydia Ko back in the Winners Circle where she belongs

It’s been a while, but all the hard work that Lydia Ko and her Team have put in over the last few years, produced an almost flawless display of golf in Hawaii. Lydia took the Lotte Championship in spectacular style with a Tournament record 28 under Par and 7 shots clear of the field. Ko has had a super start to the season and looks completely dialed in, in that Lydia Ko way, where she makes golf look so effortless and fun, never taking herself too seriously and always treating her fellow competitors and those working to deliver these tournaments, with the utmost respect.

Golf might never get a better role model than Lydia Ko, still only 23, with years ahead to win more tournaments and major championships. Golf is better because she plays.

We await to see where the rest of 2021 takes her, but from her recent form, we think she’s just getting going.

#GOKO

England Golf and the Rainbow Laces campaign - plus Pride Sports Club Finder and The BBC LGBT Sport Podcast

STONEWALL

In 2013, Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign was launched and has been a successful and popular campaign, particularly in football.  We are very excited that England Golf are now recognising the LGBTQ+ community in golf and are fully behind the campaign.  As a golfer for most of her life, GIGS Founder, Caron commented

 “The golf industry and governing bodies have virtually ignored the LGBTQ+ community, so the fact that England Golf are now acknowledging our existence as golfers, is a huge step in the right direction.” 

ENGLAND GOLF LGBTQ+ SURVEY

England Golf LGBTQ+ Survey

For far too long golf has been a predominantly, straight, white male sport, with zero ambition of attempting to reach out to any wider community, let alone the LGBTQ+ community.  This is finally changing. 

England Golf is committed to modernising and welcoming everyone into the game and are currently carrying out a survey to understand how they can better support the LGBTQ+ community with regards to their experiences with golf.  So whether you’re a regular player, beginner, love Adventure Golf or are just thinking about how to start but don’t quite know how to, please click the link below and complete their survey.   They want to hear your voice: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SYFFJ2M

Girls In Golf Society (GIGS) came into existence as a way of bringing gay women together to enjoy golf in a fun and safe space, where like-minded women can be themselves, feel included and most importantly, have fun with friends and allies.

We would like to give a BIG GIGS SHOUT OUT to Jamie Blair – Inclusion and Wellbeing Manager at England Golf, who reached out to GIGS and invited our members to participate in the survey and supplied some Rainbow Laces for us.  We look forward to the ongoing conversation and thank Jamie for our inclusion within their Rainbow Laces campaign, which will undoubtedly give GIGS a platform to elevate our voices and let the world know what GIGS is all about!

READ THE ENGLAND GOLF INTERVIEW WITH CARON HERE - Thank you England Golf !

BBC SOUNDS - THE LGBT SPORT PODCAST

You will also be able to listen to Caron’s recent interview on the BBC SOUNDS - The LBGT Sport Podcast - hosted by the fantastic Jack Murley, talking all things LGBT golf and GIGS - LISTEN HERE - Thank you Jack !

PRIDE SPORTS LGBTIQ+ SPORTS INCLUSION

Pride Sports works solely to challenge homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in sport and improve access to sport for LGBTQI+ people.  You can now find GIGS via their LGBT+ Sports Club Finder and we are delighted to be included in their Rainbow Laces campaign featuring many of these grassroots clubs.

Check out Caron and Jade on the Pride Sports GIGS video.  They talk about why GIGS is important to them and why a society like GIGS is needed.  ANOTHER BIG GIGS SHOUT OUT to Steve Stiller and his Team at East Brighton Golf Club for allowing us to film at the Club. See the Video HERE.   

Stonewall - https://www.stonewall.org.uk
England Golf - https://www.englandgolf.org/rainbow-laces-day-girls-in-golf-society-enjoys-a-lockdown-revival/
BBC LGBT Sport Podcast - BBC LGBT Sport Podcast
Pride Sports – https://pridesports.org.uk/lgbt-club-finder/
Jamie Blair - https://twitter.com/EngGolfDis
East Brighton Golf Club -  https://www.ebgc.co.uk

 WE HOPE YOU WEAR YOUR RAINBOW LACES WITH PRIDE
MANY THANKS FROM TEAM GIGS