Less than 1 percent of golfers turn professional, but England’s Jessica Hall is on the cusp of becoming part of that percentage.
Still an amateur the Durham based golfer is playing the first few LET Access Series (LETAS) events to see if she is ready to make her childhood dreams a reality.
As an amateur, Hall has had some great success and last season the 25-year-old held her own against the pros at the Rose Ladies Open where she placed third after rounds of 72, 70 and 67.
Speaking about the coming year, Hall said: “Turning professional has always been a dream, it’s now a matter of turning professional at the right moment.
“At the Rose Ladies Open, I went out with no expectations and then managed to shoot low. The cameras were out there as well, and it was a great experience playing in front of those.
“I did feel like I was playing for the win, I didn’t really know what the scores were, but I knew I was getting close towards the end. It was one of those days where I had a hot putter. Everything just fell together.”
The pathway to turning professional can be a confusing one especially navigating the world of sponsorship, funds, and administration but Hall has a secret weapon in her bag, LET founder, Women’s British Open champion, and fellow North-East England player Jenny Lee Smith.
“Jenny has been helping me for over a year now, her support is amazing, and she’s helped me out with sponsorship from Ping and funding, she’s an inspiration.”
Another inspiration for Hall is England’s Ian Poulter, a five-time Ryder Cup winner.
“I’ve always liked and followed him. Even though there is a bit of controversy now with him, he’s always been my hero in the game.
“I met him when I was quite young, and I just liked how unique and different he was.
“As an amateur he was never that good, when he turned professional people didn’t believe in him, but he’s proved them wrong.”
Hall first entered the world of golf when she was 10 after wanting to go to junior coaching sessions like her brother.
“I went and I really enjoyed it, I got hooked on it. There wasn’t anyone else playing golf at school. I tried other sports like hockey and netball, they were ok but at that point I knew that all I wanted to do was play golf.
“We had afternoons off for sport, and they would let me go play golf rather than using the time to play a sport I didn’t want to play.
“Then I went out to Fresno State in California on a scholarship for four years and I got a Division One individual title win when I was out there, that was the biggest thing I’ve done.
“That was incredibly special as my parents flew over and it was the first time they watched me play at Fresno.“
Family is everything to Hall. Outside of golf she loves spending time with them and of course her dog Stella as well as her side job of working at the family pub.
“My brother runs a pub, so we live behind it and that takes up a lot of a time. It’s a family business and when my brother is away, I help to manage it.
“I enjoy it now, I’ve got more used to being around people and chatting away.”
Yet Hall wants to swap pulling pints for dropping putts.
“I think turning professional will be difficult, I will be playing for my livelihood. But the transition is on the cards, and it really excites me.
Hall gets her season underway this week at the Terre Blanche Ladies Open which starts on the 12th.
Follow all the action throughout our 2024 season on our socials on @letaccess on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok and LET Access Series on Facebook – #RaiseOurGame.
