Ann Thylen moved to Barbados 10 years ago...Joining Rockley Golf Club was the best thing she did!
What brought you to Barbados and Rockley Golf Club?
Oh, this will be a long answer...
About 10 years ago my husband and I retired and decided to move to beautiful Barbados.
It was a dream we had had for a many years, not so hard to understand as we come from Sweden, a cold nordic country.
We love Barbados because it is outstanding in so many ways... the friendliest people, best climate, the language....extra plus is the access to most items or supplies one needs, wonderful shopping, all different restaurants, music and entertainment. When it comes to different sports and activities the choice is outstanding either if you would like to be entertained or take part...water sports of all kinds, regattas and catamaran tours, cricket, the national sport, horse riding, horse racing and polo, golf with 5 to 6 different golf clubs, marathons and biking, tennis and squash...etc, etc, absolutely amazing !!
Barbados is not only an island with beautiful white beaches. Barbados is such a vibrant, living country and society!....and Barbados has the most beautiful, stunning nature and huge varieties of landscape, just fabulous!
Barbados is a giant country on (a fairly) small area and one can’t help loving it!
About Rockley Golf Club...
I have always said I will start playing golf when I retire. My earlier experience was not big, I only got a bit in contact with golfing a long time ago in my youth.
We live in the south coast and we had two golf clubs to choose between. We decided that the one nearest us would be the ideal club to join, Rockley Golf and Country Club! It had the nice reputation of being a very friendly and inviting club and that was of course ideal for us not knowing so many people.
My personal history...After some time that we have moved here and settled down I realised I felt lonely and not being a part of something. I even started to feel homesick and had thoughts about actually moving back to Sweden, hard to understand today!
However, as time went along I started to go out on the golf course in Rockley with my husband and practiced playing. We had different lessons with different pros too. I was too insecure to sign up for a tournament but my husband started to play in some of those on Saturdays. One day the former Ladies Captain, Catherine Dillemann, asked him where his wife was. She had seen us together on the course for some time but never saw me participating on a Saturday. Very kindly Catherine Dillemann phoned me and welcomed me to join the Ladies on a Wednesday! ...I did and it changed my life!
What do you like most about RGC?
Oh, there are so many things I like about Rockley !.....
Number one is probably the friendship and the good atmosphere...
It is so important to feel welcome when joining or just visiting a club. Either you are a low handicaper or a beginner one certainly does feel welcome at Rockley. As said, Rockley is the friendliest club I know and I have met some of my best friends there.
Another thing is I love to walk and the 9 hole course with its alternative tees for the back-9 is a very nice and walkable park course.
It’s maybe not the best course on the island but it is very central situated and accessible and it sure has its challenges too!
A third thing is the atmosphere in the clubhouse, it is always relaxed and friendly. After the Saturday tournaments there is often a bit of a Party and sometimes some entertainment too! Panenka, the restaurant, and its staff is an absolute asset too!
Rockley has some very generous and exclusive sponsors and the tournaments during the high season are on a very good level. Even during the lower season the tournaments winners get quite nice and attractive prices.
You have been the lady captain for the past two years which is a huge honour, what is involved in this?
Yes, it is a huge honour indeed to lead and take care of the lovely “Rockley Ladies”.
What it’s really about is to keep people happy and make them feel they are included...and it is a great pleasure as we have so many lovely ladies! In the high season there is about 25, or more. There is a variety in skills from low handicappers to beginners..and everyone can participate, that’s the charm of golf! All ladies are welcome!..all ages and many different nationalities are represented too, always interesting!
Wednesdays are “the Lady’s Days” and we play a relaxed game of golf, its more about having fun actually, both on and off the course! The “Apres golf” when we gather in the clubhouse for the prize presentation, is relaxing and we chat with a drink and some snacks, it’s a cheerful and appreciated time.
The Ladies Captain’s task is mostly about planning the Wednesdays, like what kind of tournament, tee time scheduling, corresponding and organising the prizes.
Every year we throw a Ladies Christmas Party, a great event!...something that is organised by the Captain, great fun! Captain’s Day is another event and a fundraising for a good cause and it involves the two Captains, both the Ladies and the Mens Captain.
For me personally being a Captain is also about contributing and a bit of paying back for the good Rockley has given me.
What’s your favorite hole on the course and why?
Hole # 7, is my favorite ! With the big beautiful tree with yellow flowers in the middle, “Pride of India” I have been told is the name of it. It is a distance hole 374/316 yards, par 4, with a hazard area to the right in the middle and bunkers too, both to the right of the green and behind...index 3 and 4. Quite a challenge!
What would you say to someone wanting to come and golf in Barbados and why choose Rockley?
Yes, do come and golf in Barbados!! Barbados is the place for golfing! Ideal climate and several courses to choose from too, great opportunities!
Rockley Golf Club really has its advantages, it is so nearby and easy to reach on the south coast and it has the best value, very price worthy! It is a comprehensive course you can easily walk or cart. There is something for everybody.
You can go out playing on your own or with your friends, whatever you prefer. If you need or would like some guidance you can book a lesson. There is a practice area being made, it’s always good to get some putting practice and to dust off the swing.
You are always welcome to join the pot on a Tuesday or a Thursday. This mostly attracts men but women do join too and then there is of course the Ladies Wednesday.
Saturdays there is always some club tournament. The friendly staff in the Proshop will be happy to help too.
Rockley has many returning golfers that come and stay for different periods of time and some has been coming for ages...
....that gives an idea how well liked and popular Rockley is.
