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Raise Your Game: How did you start playing golf?

Sarah Jones: I started playing golf at 13 at my home club in Pennard on Gower, then played for Wales, then represented Great Britain. I used to play hockey and football as a kid... I love all sports.

RYG: What are the skills needed in golf?

SJ: You need to have a lot of concentration, and confidence. You have to be very fit doing 36 holes in 8-10 hours in one day. You need to be focused as it uses up a lot of your concentration. You must enjoy it. You have to be passionate and love the sport as it is very frustrating at times. You need to practise an awful lot so dedication is key.

RYG: What part of your game is the strongest? Is it your drive or putting?

SJ: Unfortunately, I was in a nasty car accident in November 2005 when I hurt my knee and back which resulted in surgery. I also had to deal with a recurring stress fracture in my wrist from the previous year that meant I was out for one year. In this time I had to take it easy and just do light exercises so golf was a no-no.

I returned to golf in May this year so I have only been practising and playing properly for about 2 months. Before my accident and operations I really concentrated on my short game... it was great! Now however, I have a good drive going on, I'm really confident with my drive at the moment.

RYG: How committed do you have to be to be a professional female golfer?

SJ: It's a lot of hard work on and off the golf course, you have to put a lot of practice in, and a lot of psychological exercise and physical fitness purely to be confident in yourself.

RYG: What motivates you?

SJ: I want to do well! People support me and it gives me a boost. I want to do myself proud, as well as for my peers and friends at the golf club. They are so supportive of me and I don't want to let them or myself down.

RYG: How much practice do you have to put in to compete at your level?

SJ: Each person is different; it depends on what works for the individual. I went through stages of doing a lot of practising, now I break it up and vary it. I vary the routine to keep it fresh so I don't get bored. I do a bit at the gym, then a few holes of golf. I practise 2-3 hours a day on average. It's hard going as I'm juggling two other jobs as well as keeping on top of my golfing career.

RYG: What is the Ladies Championship and why is it important to women?

SJ: It is the Championship of Europe; they are calling it the Wales Open - it is the third highest money ranking competition in the European Tour. A lot of good players are coming down to Llanelli for the event, and it's a really exciting prospect. As a club, we are hoping for a lot of support from the Welsh spectators in the area.

Fingers crossed this will encourage more young female players to get into golf. When I was a child there was nothing like this and virtually no female golfers on the scene. The kids can come down to Machynys Golf Course and get to see how the game is played by professional golfers. I love the fact that junior coaching begins from 4-5 years, it is so wonderful to see young juniors and girls getting into it at long last. It has always been a predominantly male sport but now times a changing and developing.

RYG: How hard have you had to work to get results in the golfing world?

SJ: Very hard, I have had to work hard to make an impression in the golfing sphere. I'm not your conventional girlie girl I always have been an individual and single-minded. If you're going to play golf you want to be selected on your ability and talent. As with all sports, you have your ups and downs, good days and bad but you have to stick in there. It is important to be strong and persevere. Resilience is a very important attribute to have, as playing golf is mentally hard work. When you are down, you can keep getting kicked and feel the pressure from others, but you have got to keep that determination going if you want to succeed.

RYG: What lessons in life has playing and competing in golf taught you?

SJ: I think you mature very quickly, I have literally been all over the world with teams and playing individually. You have to learn to cope on your own within certain situations. I don't have problems with going away and travelling or talking to people. Golf gives you lots of confidence to do things, I look at other people my age and they can't do certain things which I could do quite easily. The main thing is fending for my self.

Obviously, there are all the technical skills that go hand in hand with golfing, as well as the discipline and remaining focused. Learning to play golf has also given me good time management. I know now that you don't get anywhere in life without working hard, and when you do, you can achieve amazing results.

RYG: Any advice to youngsters thinking about taking up golf?

SJ: Try it just to see if you like it first. Not just the one session as you have to to do it a couple of times to get a feel for it, it's one of those sports that can take a long time to grasp. If you are lucky enough to be a natural at the sport then its going to be easy, but if you really want to do it and you're not natural you just have to stick with it as it will be very frustrating and hard like starting any new sport is.

There is a plus side, like today for instance when it's a beautiful day nothing beats being out in the sunshine and open air practising. It also brings you in contact with like-minded people so you make plenty of friends along the way. If you get to be very good at golf you can travel all over and win prize money which is always a bonus.

I would definitely go to a professional golf course and make an appointment for an initial lesson. You learn all about the safety in holding club, the various ways of swinging the ball, different grips and balls... there just is so much to know. And the kids will be among other kids their own age so they can develop their skills and confidence socially.

RYG: What are your plans and hopes for the future?

SJ: At the moment I'm just getting back into it after my recovery from a car accident. I'm feeling a combination of excitement and nerves about competing again at Machynys at the end of August (2006). Hopefully, I will continue playing golf for a long time to come. I still want to and aim to play at a very high level.

My other route is the PGA Course that I am just about to begin. It is a 3 year university course so when it ends I will be a PGA professional, meaning that I can coach as well as playing golf and touring. It is a good career for me to fall back on too because it is something that I thoroughly love doing.