From academic study to competing in major competitions, our Tournaments and Events Manager, Katie Burman, has always been a passionate golfer and her journey in the golf industry has been incredible so far. Below, she talks about her highlights and hopes that it will inspire and encourage other women to take up the sport and develop their golf skills.
With a family that all play golf, my interest in the sport started early. I took to competitive golf more through my teenage years, and as my game improved these competitions became more high-level, taking my amateur golf career further afield.
I loved being around the sport and gained a degree in Applied Golf Management at the University of Birmingham and completed my PGA Qualification whilst working at my home club – Woburn. Like several of my peers, after a decade of competitive golf, followed by an intense period of the academic study of the sport, I took a short break from the game, heading to Australia to really ensure the maximum possible distance between me and my golf clubs!
However, I knew that my love for the sport would eventually draw me back, and over the last three years, I’ve combined my love of golf and travel in my current job at Golfbreaks as Tournaments and Events Manager. In this role, I’m fortunate to witness people ticking off their bucket list of seeing some of the best golfers in the world compete at the sport's most iconic venues. Being able to spend time at events such as The Ryder Cup, The Masters, The Open and The Solheim Cup regularly is an amazing experience.
"It makes working on these events feel even more enjoyable when you can do it with other women who are closer to friends than colleagues!"
Over the past few years, we’ve grown the Tournaments Team at Golfbreaks, with an all-female team all of similar age and golfing abilities. It makes working on these events feel even more enjoyable when you can do it with other women who are closer to friends than colleagues!
Outside our day to day roles in organising our tournament packages, we have arranged a myriad of events for the other women who work at Golfbreaks (aided by our in-office golf simulator and a glass or two of fizz!), helping others to get as much enjoyment out of the sport as we have.
Over the past 8 months, I’ve been taking part in the R&A’s Women in Golf leadership program which has been an incredible experience; getting to know likeminded women on different sides of the industry working and developing our skills together with the backing of amazing sponsors and mentors. Having role models and inspirational people in the industry is so important.
Although our company has strong female representation across the departments, I can often find myself as the only female in meetings outside of the business. However, the mutual passion for the sport that I find in almost all of my day-to-day conversations has lessened the potential negative impact of this, and I find myself viewed as just another passionate golfer, rather than an outsider.
"It’s a brilliant industry for networking"
Working in a sport that I play has meant that over the years I’ve made more friends due to the common interest and plenty of industry connections that I’ve played with have become good friends. It’s a brilliant industry for networking.
Whilst travelling around the world has been on hold as of late, I've been taking staycations across the UK and enjoying golf more than I have in years! Spending time with friends outdoors has always been my favourite thing about the sport, and the brilliant weather we’ve been experiencing since restrictions on golf were eased have made getting out and playing more enjoyable than ever!
Published
Golfbreaks Tournament Specialist
As the Official Golf Tourism Operator of the PGA TOUR and with over 25 years’ experience, Golfbreaks is one of the world’s longest established and most trusted golf travel companies. We organise golf breaks, holidays and tournament experiences for more than 200,000 golfers annually at over 2,000 resorts and golf courses in the UK, Europe, and further afield.
