Sussex Spotlight, Jenny Tate

Sussex Spotlight: Jenny Tate
Member of Royal Ashdown Forest & Littlestone GC, Past County Champion, County Teams Manager, County President
It was a pleasure to meet Jenny Tate, a long time member of Royal Ashdown Forest (and Littlestone Golf Club in Kent) and someone who has represented the County in the 1st and 2nd teams, won the County Championship and represented her club in many competitions. Early on Jenny served as Teams Manager for the 1st & 2nd Team and later served as County President. Following our brief meeting, Jenny very kindly agreed to be featured in our Sussex Spotlight series. 

When did you first take up Golf?

I was brought up in Littlestone in a house overlooking the golf course and was encouraged from an early age to swing a golf club. My first recorded handicap round was at the age of 7 in the family MacAndrews Cup! My family has a long history at the club but being my first round, I look back and sympathise with the person who had to mark my card that day - a gross 163 (see pic).  Whilst I played, I was not so keen on golf - it was mainly boys! In later years, I did take part in the Pearson Trophy which was, and still is ferociously competitive!

How did your golf evolve, when did you have a love for the game?
It was when I married my husband, who was a keen golfer with a handicap of 4 (mine was around 21-22 at the time). We moved to Montreal shortly after we were married and I spent the summers playing golf and the winters working. During this time I managed to reduce my handicap to around 7.  In 1971, we moved back to England and found our family home in Crowborough. We joined Royal Ashdown Forest (RAF) GC just before the membership was closed.

When did you become involved with County Golf?
Soon after joining RAF, I was invited to play for the Sussex 2nd Team and was also invited to train with the 1st team too. It wasn't long before I was also playing for the 1st team. We had a strong team at RAF and its where I met Prue Riddiford, Carole Larkin and Liz Mountain - all excellent players and they certainly encouraged my golf. I managed to reduce down to an HCP of 4. I was part of the County Match Week for approximately 6 years.

Please share with us your golf highlights? 
There are many but two on a personal level were winning the County Championship and the London Foursomes. The County Championship was in 1978 and I feel I was fortunate as the competition was moved from Crowborough Beacon (due to the mud) to the Dyke, and it then had to be moved again from the Dyke due to Snow! At the last minute it was changed to West Sussex, a course I had experience with whilst other competitors had all been practicing at Crowborough.  I beat Carol in the semi-finals and then Prue in the Final. 

The London Scratch Foursomes is a club competition open to those within a 55 mile radius of London (now 55 miles). Prue previously played with Liz Mountain but when Liz moved, I joined her to play. Despite awful weather conditions, we were successful in winning this prestigious event. So far it is the only time RAF has won it!!  
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How did you move from player to being involved in the County?
In 1980, we moved to Miami and two years later we moved again to Zambia where we resided for 4 years, we had two children at the time aged 5 and 7 years old. My husband and I continued to play a lot of golf and we were at times guests of the Zambian President KK (Kenneth Kaunda) who was also a keen golfer. I was in the Ladies National Team that used to play triangular matches between Zimbabwe, Kenya and Zambia. Upon leaving, KK was keen for us to return and extended an open invitation for us to bring a group back to play.

Upon our return to England (1986), I was asked to be the County Teams Manager and worked closely with the County Captain Elizabeth Hearn. An idea formulated in my mind about taking the 1st team, who were all young girls to play the really good golfers in both Zambia and Zimbabwe for a week each not long before County week, and also accepting the open invitation of the President. Against all the odds, we raised the funds needed, sourced accommodation and secured golf matches for the two weeks. The end of the two weeks culminated in a match against KK’s Team at State House - the girls all had to be attired in long skirts/no showing of knees were permitted.  Our girls were doing exceptionally well however, and what nobody had told me was that 'the state always wins'!  Suffice to say players were called in for 'urgent matters of the state'. Everyone was then provided with a lovely lunch. [A few pics/memories below - faces you may recognise: Aileen Greenfield & Karen Sykes]

County Match Week followed our 2 weeks training and I am pleased  to say that Sussex won at Royal Cinque Ports after many years of not doing so.

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In 1996/8 I served as County President for three years. 

What's the biggest change you have seen in golf over the years? It has to be the use of distance measuring devices - the copious notes we used to have to make, calculating our distances ourselves, 

What interests outside of golf do you have? I was a classically trained pianist and used to teach. I also enjoy playing tennis twice weekly. I enjoy being Patron of two local Charities, one being First Responders, and one for the Arts.

Quick Fire Questions: 
Current Handicap: 21
Clubs: Callaway
Ball: Pro V1
Favourite Course: Played many beautiful courses across the world but it has to be Littlestone
Biggest Achievement: County Champion & London Foursomes
Matchplay or strokeplay: Matchplay

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A remarkable lady and our sincere thanks to Jenny for sharing her golfing memories and press cuttings. Jenny is still playing golf twice weekly 'carrying' the bag round RAF and sometimes escaping to Littlestone where they have a 2nd home and visit regularly. I am sure I only touched upon some of the memories and look forward to the opportunity of meeting Jenny again soon.

A few more pictures from Jenny's clippings including news on golf attire for ladies!

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