A lifelong lover of design and a dedicated golfer, Ashlea Milner finds joy and balance on the course, where she now shares meaningful moments with her golf-obsessed grandparents.
Designing And Driving
My name is Ashlea Milner and I am 35 years old. I am from Blackpool but moved to Leeds when I was 18 years old and then on to Harrogate, where I live now. I am a Senior Interior Designer and Showroom Manager, recently taking over our Wetherby showroom after returning from maternity leave. I have always wanted to be an interior designer, so I truly love what I do!
Golf is my happy place and my escape. It helps reset and switch off from the demands of work, being a mother to my one-year-old son, and life in general. I have been around golf since childhood, as my grandparents are long-time members of the club across the road from their house and they are golf-obsessed!
I spent many days at the clubhouse with family and friends, but back then, the sport felt male-dominated and unwelcoming to young girls, especially left-handed ones like me. I found it intimidating and did not want to make a fool of myself, so I never really gave it a shot. Thankfully, that changed.
When I finally showed some interest, my grandad found me an old set of left-handed clubs, and a few years ago, my husband got me a nearly new set. Their support means the world. Now, I get to play with my grandparents and create lasting memories doing something we all love.
Tracking Progress
When I first started playing golf, I won a year’s subscription to iGolf through a competition on their website, so I got to see early on what it had to offer. I used to reflect on past rounds to spot areas for improvement, but these days, life as a mum keeps me busy, so iGolf makes improving my game much easier. The golf community I have met through the app has also been so welcoming!
I love tracking my progress, keeping a record of courses played, and connecting with other golfers through the app. Logging shots as I go is a huge help, especially as a beginner with my mind full of swing thoughts, club choices, and distances.
Thanks in part to iGolf, I have recently cut my handicap to 32.5 and am working to reduce it to 28 by the end of the year.
Connections On The Course
Golf is moving in the right direction, but many women still face challenges in the sport. With that said, I love seeing women empowering each other and the growing number of men supporting women in the game.
There are still some who offer unsolicited advice, limit opportunities, or make it harder for women to progress in the sport. I have had plenty of unsolicited advice, often conflicting, so I have learned to tune it out and trust the guidance of my coach instead.
Community has been the biggest reason I have stayed with golf. I have met so many amazing women through local clubs, social media, golf trips, iGolf, and volunteering for the UK Women’s Golf Community (UK WGC) Harrogate hub at Rudding Park.
One of my standout friends is Lisa, who I met at the UK WGC Harrogate launch as we started playing around the same time and often tee up together. There is also Julia, who lives a few hours away, but we stay in touch through Instagram and meet at various golf events.
My new friend Kate brought together a group of golf lovers through a Secret Santa, which turned into a nationwide golf weekend! She has already booked next year’s event, and I will be seeing her and others in August for a round, followed by a few days at the AIG in Wales. Shout out to Beth for organising this girls’ weekend!
I love how every round brings new connections. Just last weekend, I played with a lovely golfer named Jennifer. We had great chats, and I shot my best round yet!
