My job in Golf: TV Presenter Di Dougherty

After talking to Di Dougherty, it was clear that she does not just have one job in golf, but several of them.

For five years until 2011 she was the front-of-camera face interviewing players after their rounds during Sky Sports’ coverage of European Tour events.Since then she has branched out big time.

Di is still involved in television, working as a freelance reporter for the Golf Channel. “I go over to Florida every summer and do a week on their breakfast show, Morning Drive,” she says. “And at tournaments in Europe, I do reports for the Morning Show, interviews during the day and a wrap-up when play ends.”

That is not a bad job for someone who at the age of 17 was playing golf for the Cheshire county team off a six handicap. Nor for someone who studied German at Newcastle University and taught for a year in Vienna before gaining a degree in performance art at drama school in London.

As a young girl growing up, Di always thought performance would be part of her life. She tried her hand at acting after college, but admits: “I would go to auditions and get down to the last two but never get through the door. I found it incredibly hard to take. It’s fascinating, though, because I can use many tools I learnt at drama school in the TV environment. The roles were for series and films. It’s a tough career going from one audition to another and I applaud all my friends from drama school who are still acting.”

There are few other setbacks on her CV. “I’m actually about to start a comedy course in North London as I’ve always loved making people laugh. I’ll let you know how stand-up goes!

“I work for England Golf hosting their annual conferences. It’s really inspiring to see all the counties get together and talk about the game and the different initiatives within golf clubs to try to get more members.

“I’m a Lynx Golf ambassador along with Laura Davies and Lydia Hall. Lynx are the official club sponsor of the Women’s British Open and I can’t wait to head up to Turnberry in July to support the brand.

“I also help host the Celebrity Cup each July which is a competition between stars from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales at Celtic Manor that attracts guys like Rob Brydon. Hosting the gala dinner with Andrew Cotter is always great fun.

“I work for the R&A on their Open Championship feed which is ten hours’ live streaming on their website. And the recent newcomer to my list is after-dinner speaking.”

“I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed working at the last two Ryder Cups in Europe, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies. I look forward to this continuing.”

It should be pointed out that Di is married to three-time European Tour winner Nick Dougherty, and they have a son, Max, who will be three in August.

So is it a struggle mixing home life with golf work? “Nick’s fine, he helps me out with everything. He’s a great dad, hands on and absolutely supportive of the work I do. He sees how much I enjoy it and now he does some live TV himself, he loves it.”

Tagged Di Dougherty, golf, My job in Golf, Ryder Cup