England Golf announces appointment of future President

England Golf has solidified its leadership situation for the near future, with the announcement that Scarborough North Cliff's Philip Woodcock has been voted President Elect for 2027, and will take over the organisation's presidency in 2028.

Woodcock is widely regarded as one of the most prominent figures in English Junior Golf, having helped develop a number of nation-leading youth programmes over a four-decade career, and will bring a a wealth of experience in building high-level golfing pathways to the job.

Raised in Yorkshire, Woodcock's golfing journey began at Scarborough North Cliff, where the President, Sir Meredith Whittaker, a friend of his grandfather's gave him an old 7-iron where he spent hours in a field next to the golf course learning how to play.

He would go on to become an accomplished junior golfer, attaining a single-digit handicap and winning his club's Junior Cup. Soon, he transferred his passion for the game into a commitment to growing it through volunteer work, captaining his home club from 1997 and transforming the Scarborough North Cliff's Junior section into a thriving, structured program over a 34-year tenure.

Woodcock has since become one of the leading champions of Junior Golf in Northern England, working as the Junior Development Officer for the East Riding Union, and eventually England Golf Boys’ Regional Manager for Yorkshire, supporting and developing a list of elite players that includes including Dan Bradbury, Alex Fitzpatrick, Sam Bairstow, Ben Schmidt and Josh Berry.

In 2024, Philip was elected President of the Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs, a role he fulfilled with pride, representing the county across the Northern Counties and promoting the game at every level. Now, he steps into his biggest role yet as President Elect of England Golf for 2027, before taking on leadership in 2028.

“I am absolutely delighted in accepting the appointment as President Elect of England Golf for 2027. I must thank the Past Presidents and Board for this incredible honour for which I am deeply grateful. I am looking forward to assisting Patrick Cunningham in his year of Presidency along with continuing to promote our great game, a game I have loved since those early days of starting out with that trusty 7-iron!”