Sussex Spotlight: Emma Carberry

Sussex Spotlight: Emma Carberry, County Champion 

We are delighted to feature 2024 County Champion, Emma Carberry in our Sussex Spotlight Series.  We met with Emma ahead of an imminent arrival in the Carberry-Greenfield home as she and her partner Matthew are expecting their first child in 3 weeks. Emma has a long history in Sussex Golf and is now working for England Golf.

When did you first take up Golf?

My Dad introduced me to golf when I was about 4 years old - he was a keen golfer and played off single figures (and still does at 75 years)! My mum was a county squash player but did not play golf at the time, she took it up later so we could enjoy the sport as a family.  I attended weekly group lessons alongside Chelsea Masters who many in Sussex will know of. My first handicap was 45 when I was 8 years old, however this was cut within a week to 36 after scoring a nett 58 in my first junior competition at Highwoods Golf Club.

How did your junior golf progress?
I continued playing at Highwoods with Chelsea, reaching single figures when I was about 13 years old. As a junior I competed in all the usual tournaments, County level and England Golf plus also representing Highwoods in matches. When I was 16 years, I went to Filton College where I could combine golf with my studies (B-Tec Diploma in Sports) - my handicap was around 1 or 2 at that time. I then went to Baylor University in Texas on a Golf Scholarship and completed a degree in Human Health & Kinesiology. After graduation, I stayed on to do a Masters in Sports Pedagogy while working and becoming a certified PE teacher - it was at this time I stopped playing golf completely. I felt I'd maxed out on golf, and went through some personal challenges, and needed a complete break. I lost my mum just after I started my Masters, so I felt a loss of purpose while grieving so far away from home, but the children I taught at the time, gave me that sense of purpose back, and made me smile every day at work.

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County Team Pictures

and your return to Golf? After 1.5-2 years I realised that I missed golf so started playing again. I worked with a coach, and decided to go give my dream of being a professional one more go. One of my first professional events was the US Open Qualifier. I also competed at LPGA Q-School at Mission Hills, California, which was an incredible but overwhelming experience. I also competed regularly on the Cactus Tour, which saw me travel to Texas, Arizona and California. Although I managed a win on the Cactus Tour, and some Top 5 finishes, I was self-funding which was very expensive, so I called Dad, and said it was time to come home and earn some money.

When and what did you do upon your return to the UK? 
In 2018, I returned home and started work at Sundridge Park working in the pro shop and coaching, whilst I undertook my PGA Degree through University of Birmingham. Two years later, I moved to West Hove joining Ryan Fenwick. At the start of 2022, I began working at a nursery and applied for a midwifery course. A complete change but I'd loved my teaching experience in the US, coupled with a need to care for individuals, and wished to do something different. I wasn't successful getting on the course in the first year but reapplied the following year.  As the interview for the course was approaching, I saw an England Golf job advertised 'Club & County Support Officer' which was very appealing. By this stage I had met my partner and we were planning to settle down together so going back to college would not be the best move financially. Luckily, I got the England Golf job and have not looked back.

How did you meet your partner?
As a junior and adult, I had played County golf with Aileen Greenfield many times. While I was working at West Hove, I met a lovely lady named Sandi, who I came to discover was a close friend of the Greenfields, so we arranged a game at Pyecombe with Aileen. Once there, Matthew, her son also joined us, there was definitely some match-making going on!! Four years later and we are expecting our baby next month so she can't get rid of me now!! 

What is your remit at EG?
To support Clubs and County within West Sussex and Surrey which equals 136 clubs and 4 county bodies. The work can range from WHS questions, Affiliation, Safe Golf, Membership, Recruitment & Retention, Governance etc. 

and your golf on a personal level?
I reinstated my Amateur status last year as I didn't see the value of Pro status and had no plans to continue to coach. I wanted to play more social golf and enter amateur competitions. It allowed me to enter the County Champs this year and also be a part of the team at County Match Week. Your future plans: I am naturally taking a few months off, but I very much hope to be back in the Spring/Summer to try and retain the County Championship.

Quick Fire Questions:
Home Club: Pyecombe
Current Handicap: +1.3
Coach: Stuart Dowsett however he had recently retired so no current coach
Clubs: TM Driver & Irons, Titleist Wedges, Woods Callaway & Odyssey Putter
Ball: Pro V1X
Favourite Course: Dukes Course Woburn or Missions Hill, California
Biggest Achievement: WPGA Win at Three Rivers, Win on Cactus Tour & in 2012 winning the English Mid-Amateur Championships + South Region Championship within 2 weeks of each other

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Our thanks to Emma for sharing her story and long tenure in Golf and Sussex along with connections to the Greenfield family. We wish her and Matt all the best with their new arrival and look forward to seeing her back on the course soon.... and maybe a baby Greenfield in a few years time.  

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