Charley Hull Urges Young Welsh Hopefuls To Make The Most Of Porthcawl Showcase

Global golf star Charley Hull has urged Welsh girls to make the most of the chance to see the world’s best players first hand this summer – an opportunity she hardly had growing up. 

The English golfer will be among the favourites at the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl starting at the end of July, the biggest female sporting event ever to be held in Wales. 

Wales Golf hope hosting the event in Wales will provide a boost to the numbers of women and girls playing the sport, with the Welsh Government providing a million pound Legacy Fund to transform facilities for female players at clubs round Wales. 

Hull would love to help to inspire future generations, thanks to the growth in the women’s game since she was learning to play. 

She has since won seven tournaments worldwide, including two LPGA events in America, and has been runner-up in three of golf’s Major events. She was the youngest ever player to compete in the Solheim Cup, contested between Europe and USA. 

“The only time I went to a women’s golf event was when I was about nine years old, went to the Women’s British Open back in the day, and met the players and stuff,” said the 29-year-old from Kettering.

“I played with Morgan Pressel and heard about Annika Sorenstam, apart from that I did not know too much about women’s golf, it was all men’s golf. 

“Growing up I did not actually watch women’s golf. I didn’t know what the Solheim Cup was until shortly before I was in the Junior Solheim Cup. 

“I grew up looking up to Tiger Woods, Seve Ballesteros – I did not really know any women except Laura Davies and Dottie Pepper because they commentated on men’s golf when we used to watch. 

“But now I think it is really good it is getting shown more on TV and young girls are looking up to women golfers, rather than just men golfers. 

“I think the way golf has grown in general is really, really good and for juniors at the golf clubs, and junior days out really help because you can have a laugh with your mates.” 

Hull was delighted to hear the AIG Women’s Open will be the biggest female sporting event held in Wales, a sign of that growth in the game, along with the funding legacy for the sport going forward in Wales. 

“I think that’s really cool, it’s brilliant, I think it shows you how far women’s golf has come, now it is going to be the biggest sporting event in Wales,” she said. 

“That’s a pretty big thing, I think, and hopefully it will get young girls into the game, especially after 2010 when they played the Ryder Cup here and now it just keeps evolving. 

“Now that golf is getting bigger it is inspiring younger girls to play and it nice to see it is not all lads down at the golf club. 

“Facilities are important, girls need somewhere to get changed and washed, all those little things make it more appealing – even for their parents to take them to these places, definitely.” 

Hull was speaking at Royal Porthcawl and is no stranger to Welsh golf, winning the Welsh Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship in Tenby in 2011, and has been getting some early preparation at the South Wales links course as she pursues her first Major title.

“I played here back in January, it was really nice, we probably got the nicest day in January it was quite warm, the sun was out and the golf course was in great condition,” she said. 

“I was impressed by it. I was not the first time I have played here, I played in the Junior Vagliano back in 2011, I think I was about 14. It is a pretty cool golf course, it is nice. 

“I might try to play it in the summer some time, just come down with my friends and play 18 holes, but also to just prepare in the week. I like to know it enough, but not overthink it.” 

The AIG Women’s Open will be played at Royal Porthcawl from 30 July – 3 August 2025. 

Tickets to watch the world’s best golfers in action are available to purchase from £20 at aigwomensopen.com with children under 16-years-of-age free when accompanied by a paying adult.