Mark Ferguson speaks to the Olympic medallist about her new career…
In 2012, Chloe Rogers was a Team GB hockey star, winning bronze at a remarkable home Olympics. Last summer she announced her retirement from the game, but that doesn’t mean she’s taking it easy as she tees up a career as a professional golfer.
The 29-year-old from Essex had a glittering career in hockey, representing England and Great Britain 162 times, winning nine medals including two bronze medals at the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games. With her ambition and will to achieve, you’d be unwise to rule out similar success on the fairways and greens.
Rogers said: “I’m a very competitive person, who loves a challenge. You have to aim far and high to achieve in life.
“I would love to be playing golf as a career, so I guess a spot on the Ladies Tour would be my ultimate dream.”
The former Olympian has a habit of winning, and her competitiveness is exactly the same in golf. The aim is to challenge for titles on the Ladies European Tour.
She was crowned 2004 Essex Ladies Champion and also won the 2007 British Universities Women’s Individual Strokeplay Championship.
Golf has always been one of Rogers’ passions and although the sport took a backseat for hockey during her career, it was always her desire to return to the sport.
“I had always played golf as a junior and played pretty competitively up to about the age of 17, but then it had to take a backseat due to the hockey. I just didn’t have the time to commit to a high level,” she explains.
“I always carried on playing golf for fun and enjoyment, but never at a serious level. I always had the desire to come back to the sport at some point to see what level I could get to and that was probably my ambition after London 2012.
“It’s now time to commit to golf. I was also content and satisfied with what I achieved in hockey which allowed me to move on.”
Rogers is currently working as assistant golf pro at Celtic Manor in Wales, which hosted some of the biggest names in golf when it staged the 2010 Ryder Cup. She is also working towards her PGA qualification and when spring comes around she will be looking to compete in as many tournaments as possible.