Prime Highlights-
- Women in Golf Awards names Sophie Easton, Natasha Perry, and Esme Sothcott as the first recipients of the Kate and Justin Rose Foundation Bursary
- The bursary targets women under 21 in the UK golf industry, funding education and professional development to remove barriers to career progression
Key Facts-
- All three recipients attended the ISEA 2026 Conference using their bursary funding
- The three awardees represent manufacturing, marketing, and turfcare within the golf industry
Background-
The Women in Golf Awards has selected its first three bursary recipients under the Kate and Justin Rose Foundation, a funding programme created to support women under 21 building careers across the UK golf industry.
Sophie Easton, Natasha Perry, and Esme Sothcott are the inaugural awardees. The three were chosen from applicants across the industry and together cover a wide range of golf disciplines, from manufacturing and marketing to turfcare.
Easton works as a Process Engineering Intern at PING Golf. Perry holds the role of Events and Marketing Coordinator at Bramshaw Golf Club and The Bell Inn. Sothcott is a Greenkeeper at Ferndown Golf Club.
The bursary targets women under 21 and focuses on removing the financial and access barriers that often slow early career development. It funds education, training, and professional growth opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach for young women entering the sport.
All three inaugural recipients used the funding to attend the ISEA 2026 Conference, where they gained exposure to the latest research and innovations from both academic and industry experts spanning golf and other sports.
Perry said the experience would help her bring new ideas back to her marketing and events role. Sothcott, who is early in her greenkeeping career, said the support would help her build practical skills and contribute to the future of women in her profession.
Easton described the conference as a strong window into where golf manufacturing and sports technology are heading. The foundation is backed by golfer Justin Rose and his wife Kate, whose funding makes the bursary possible.
