Annabel Rolley, one of the brightest young talents in international golf media, has joined Australian Golf Digest in a move set to spice up Aussie golf coverage.
Rolley, fresh off a career-defining stint in America as host of the Golf Channel’s popular Lesson Tee Live before being contracted to the CBS network, has signed on to host Australian Golf Digest TV – the country’s most anticipated new digital golf network.
The qualified PGA professional and ALPG member will deliver engaging content around the three pillars of Australian Golf Digest – How To Play, What To Play, Where To Play.
Proud to announce I will now be writing for Golf Digest and will be creating video content for… https://t.co/v3Ro47yX0z
— Annabel Rolley (@AnnabelRolley) May 27, 2016
Rolley arrives home with a glittering resume, including a gig as lead instructor at the David Leadbetter academy before undertaking a broadcast presenting course at NIDA in Sydney. The move paid immediate dividends when Fox Sports hired Rolley to help present the Golf Show. There, she garnered the attention of other networks and was brought back to the US by the NBC network to host the Golf Channel’s Lesson Tee Live.
With her star-spangled contract coming to an end, Australian Golf Digest pounced.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have Annabel on board,” says AGD editor-in-chief Brad Clifton. “She arrives armed with an impressive resume and a clear objective to take golf television in Australia to a new level. Annabel’s a natural TV presenter and talented golf professional, sure. But more importantly, she just gets it – she understands what direction our sport needs to take and that’s what makes her the perfect fit for Australian Golf Digest.”
As part of her new role, Rolley will also write a monthly column for Australian Golf Digest.
“I can’t wait to get stuck in with Australian Golf Digest. It’s such an exciting time,” says Rolley. “It’s really great to be back home and doing what I love.”
Rolley’s dream run began as a trainee professional at the prestigious Royal Sydney Golf Club in 2009. But it quickly took off to the Big Apple when Rolley accepted a teaching professional role at Trump National Golf Club in New York – owned by Presidential candidate Donald Trump.
“I decided I want to pursue a teaching career in the US; that’s where the golf industry really thrives,” says Rolley. “And I was fortunate that Trump National wanted a female pro. It was a dream.”
After personally looking at the Queenslander’s resume, the hotel billionaire handpicked Rolley for his exclusive Westchester golf club. What she didn’t expect, though, was to be re-designing the layout on her first visit.
“On my very first day of work, Trump wanted to meet me so we had lunch,” recalls Rolley. “But he also wanted my thoughts on the course after taking me on a tour. On one particular hole, I said the tee box was in an awkward spot and a tree was in the way. I felt it would be better if the tee box was moved back so the tree wasn’t obstructing the ballflight, especially for pros. Sure enough, the very next day there was a Trump bulldozer there carrying out the work.”
Yet Trump wasn’t the only occupational interaction Rolley had with former US Presidents – or current candidates – while working in New York.
“I’ve met Bill and Hilary Clinton and I even gave Bill some golf lessons,” says Rolley.
Stay tuned for more news on Annabel Rolley and Australian Golf Digest TV.
– Follow Annabel Rolley on Twitter @AnnabelRolley or visit annabelrolley.com
