Darcey Harry is Driving Her Own Path
In June 2025, Darcey Harry’s dreams came true.
“I've been the luckiest professional golfer in the world to have had the British Open at my home course as a rookie.”
Harry won the Hulencourt Women’s Open in Belgium to qualify for the final major of that year, the AIG Women’s Open, staged at her home club, Royal Porthcawl. “I think that was just so special and to do it in my first year and the whole build-up to qualify. Honestly, it was a dream.”
Photo Credit: Darcey Harry
However, that dream didn’t always seem a possibility for Dacrey when growing up. “I always had a dream to be a professional golfer, but never really thought it was possible.” While many young golfers take the American route to pursue a career in golf, Harry decided to get a degree in the UK.
“I’m super passionate about horses, so I went to the Royal Agricultural University to study equine science.” Before making the decision to go, Harry was told “If you go to the university in the UK, you will be sacrificing a potential future in golf.” Despite the negativity surrounding her choice, Darcey followed her heart and says, “It all worked out, and I think I proved a lot of people wrong.”
After doing what everyone had told her she couldn’t, Darcey “wants to inspire a lot more people to look at the opportunity to stay in the UK and go to university", describing it as one of the best experiences and choices she’s ever made.
“It’s sort of inspiring to look back on it as well, because there are established pathways, I suppose it takes quite a lot of bravery to step outside of that. I think you learn so much in the UK, you’re closer to home, and there was a lot more support than I thought there was going to be.”
Throughout her studies, Harry was a part of the R&A Student Tour Series, winning in 2023 at the Spain event hosted at the Parador de Malaga Golf Club.. The tour ‘aims to provide competitive opportunities to student golfers who are enrolled in tertiary education at an establishment located outside the USA and Mexico.’
“If they [R&A] hadn't stepped forward and really taken control of British and European Universities' golf pathways, I don’t think I would probably be here right now. They put on a little tour, and we’d go to some fabulous places. They were such great events and kept me going through the years when I wasn't part of the golf academy or anything like that.”
Women’s golf in Europe has recently surged in popularity, with data from The R&A and the European Golf Association (EGA) showing women now make up 34% of all adult golfers across key global markets.
“It’s crazy how big it is in Europe now for women, so it’d be great to grow it a little bit more now in Wales. I think COVID probably did great things for golf, and a lot of young people did pick it up. So it’d be great to just continue that and keep inspiring people,” Darcey reflected on the growth.
The National Survey for Wales revealed that golf has become the biggest participation sport or game in the country, with around 100,000 adults getting involved in just a four-week period, with women’s golf nearly tripling in participation over the past three years.
“A lot of people start on the driving ranges and decide I’m ready to go on the golf course. Then they get hooked on that, and they start their golf life then. A lot of friends that I know, I go to play with them, and it is very therapeutic, it’s a real mixture of everything–you get to be outdoors, it’s a socialising thing, it brings out the competitiveness and in a game when every hole is different, it’s very stimulating for the brain.”
“It takes a lot of quick thinking, and I think you can learn patience, but you also learn to be creative and appreciate something that is very difficult to do.”
Growing up playing golf, Darcey struggled to enjoy playing golf due to a lack of girls who played, and the “golf clothes were just terrible.” She told us, “It’s a massive thing to play a sport that I, A, feel good going and B, feel like I enjoy it.” Since turning professional in late 2024, Darcey has been sponsored by the brand Malbon, “I got such a great clothing sponsor, and it’s really opened doors for me to really experiment with my fashion on the course.”
Photo Credit: Darcey Harry
“I think even if we’re having a bad day, at least I’ve got a great outfit on. I think it's a big thing for women, and I hope all the other people will want to hop on and experiment with what they wear, it is limitless with what is out there.”
In this modern, digital world, social media has played a massive role In gaining sponsorships for Darcey. “Social media is a massive point in every athlete’s career, which is a shame because a lot of people don’t have time to do it, and you do find that you lose a lot of sponsorships to influencers who do that as a living.”
It is estimated that around 76% of active athletes with a social media presence endorse at least one brand. “You do kind of want to hope that you have a few sponsors who will help along the way. For women athletes, you’re not just trying to deal with the competition, but looking your best, making sure you speak nicely, portray yourself great and then on top of that, you have social media, so there are a lot of things behind the scenes. It’s just getting the right team around you to support you and help you through that.”
Throughout her career, Darcey has been backed by the people of Wales. “It’s amazing being part of a country that’s so small, and everyone’s very close-knit in Wales, the passion around being Welsh is great. Not many people get to experience that type of culture and passion, and a lot of people will never understand how close we are as a nation.
“I love having the Welsh flag because it is very different to every other flag. You’d be surprised how many people always go, ‘Where’s Wales?” I’m very proud to be Welsh.”
Playing at the British Open at her home course, Darcey felt the love. “For me to witness all the spectators and to have so much backing, passion and people cheating me on, I’d probably say I’ve never really had that again.
It was just so special to be given that opportunity to do it, and I do hope that we’ll have more professional women’s golf events because there was so much great feedback. I think everyone enjoyed the hospitality of Welsh people and we do have a lot to show the world.”
Looking ahead, Darcey tells us, "I've got a lot of goals. The two main goals as a golfer I’d love to win a major and I’d love to play the Solheim Cup. Whether that's a five-year or 10-year goal, you never know because it could happen next year.
“Golf is so untelling and something amazing can be around the corner, but when I do come to the end of my career, I would love to have said I’ve achieved that. As a person, going around the world and saying that I’ve learned about loads of different cultures and picking up lots of different languages, but also developing into someone who’s confident and professional. Really, say that I’ve done everything I wanted to do.”
“To every young girl dreaming of picking up a golf club, Darcey tells them, “Just to dream big and keep dreaming. You always have a goal and just really enjoy the process.
“No dream is too big.”