Up-and-coming star Billie-Jo Smith has been rewarded for her rapid rise through the professional golfing ranks by signing a deal to become a touring pro ambassador for The QHotels Collection.
Despite only turning professional in January, Smith, already has her sights set on becoming a full-time member of the Ladies European Tour after a number of impressive recent performances.
The QHotels Collection moved quickly to finalise a partnership with the 23-year-old, who grew up close to Belton Woods Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort in Lincolnshire, following her recent victory in the Northern Ireland Open last month which propelled her to final qualifying for the 2022 AIG Women’s Open.
As part of the agreement, Smith will be given tour apparel as well as access to Belton Woods as a base for her training as she looks to move up the world rankings.
Smith said: “Since I turned pro, I was looking for a golf club where the facilities were good and somewhere that was quite laid back as well. They [Belton Woods] have two golf courses that are kept in great condition, they also have practice areas, and then they’ve got the health club as well, so I felt like it was a place I could train and do everything I needed to do in one place.
“The type of venues that we play at are quite similar to Belton in terms of things such as the greens and basically how the course is, so I thought that, again, it would be a really good place to train, because I would be emulating what I would be playing on the LET.”
Keith Pickard, The QHotels Collection’s director of golf, spa and leisure, said: “The women’s game is becoming more and more competitive year on year, and we are delighted to be partnering with Billie-Jo, who is an incredibly talented young player with a huge future.
“We believe that she has the potential to go really far in her career and we are looking forward to supporting that ambition with a location for her to train and all the apparel she could need.”
Smith will be in action again this month as she competes in the 2022 SkaftᶠOpen in Sweden against some of the LET’s highest performing players.
She added: “By the end of the year, I would like to improve my ranking on the LET so that I can play on more events next year and work my way towards a full card that I can play in all the events with. Things have started really well for me, so now it’s just about continuing to improve.”
Belton Woods Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort is one of seven top golf resorts in England and Scotland in The QHotels Collection alongside Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort in Hexham, Northumberland; Dunston Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, in Norwich; Oulton Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, Leeds; Telford Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, in Shropshire; DoubleTree by Hilton Forest Pines Spa & Golf Resort, in Brigg; and DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Westerwood Spa & Golf Resort.
www.beltonwoods.co.uk/ | www.qhotels.co.uk/golf