If you had to sum up being captain in three words, what would they be?
Role model, bringing people together, and passion. A role model, because a captain should set an example of fair play, sportsmanship, commitment and the club’s values. Bringing people together, because the role is about connecting members, strengthening their sense of belonging and helping to create a positive club culture. And passion, because my love of golf and enthusiasm for club life are the foundation of everything I do in this role.
You have been captain of the Interclub team for eleven years. What has that experience given you for your new role, and what is different about being club captain?
Over the past eleven years as Interclub captain, I have taken on a great deal of responsibility. Both roles involve motivating people, fostering team spirit, organising activities and being there as a point of contact. In both roles, you also represent the club’s values, within the club and beyond.
The club captain’s role is much broader, though. While the Interclub captain focuses on one team and its competitions, the club captain is there for all the club’s golfers. That includes encouraging club life, running rules and etiquette courses, keeping in touch with the section captains and helping with events such as the Maestraunza, Season Matchplay and Bündnermeisterschaften.
What do you enjoy most about your “new” role? We hear you take a personal interest in players competing in a major team event, such as Interclub or the Bündnermeisterschaften, for the first time. How important is that support to you?
That personal support matters a great deal to me. I have benefited from many people who supported, encouraged and motivated me throughout my journey as a golfer. I am very grateful for that and would like to give something back.
Whether at club tournaments, in a first competition such as Interclub or the Bündnermeisterschaften, or simply on the course, I enjoy helping new golfers with advice and practical support. I want them to feel welcome, make connections and discover how much pleasure golf can bring.
To me, being captain means more than organising competitions. Alongside sporting success, I want us to show fairness, respect and team spirit, and to represent our club well on and off the course. I also want people to see that golf is about more than results. Time spent together on our courses, the friendships and the enjoyment of the game often give us more than any single score. A healthy balance of ambition and a relaxed attitude is part of what makes our sport special.
Has your first season as captain changed the way you see the club?
As captain, you see many things from a different perspective and gain a better understanding of the different needs of members and sections. It has deepened my respect for everyone who contributes to the club, whether as a volunteer or in a professional role.
I have become particularly aware of how much dedication goes into the Ladies, Seniors and Juniors sections to make club life so vibrant.
You are a passionate and accomplished golfer yourself. How important is your own playing experience to your role as captain?
It certainly helps to play golf regularly and with enthusiasm. It means I understand many of the challenges and expectations players have. But playing ability alone is not what matters in a captain.
What matters more to me is setting an example through my behaviour on and off the course: showing fairness and respect, and consistently following the rules and etiquette. As captain, I represent the club too, and I want to stand for its values with conviction.
What are you most looking forward to next season?
First of all, I am looking forward to winter. 😉 After that, it is always special to see so many golfers again at the start of a new season. During the winter months, we often see one another only rarely, if at all. That makes it all the lovelier when club life comes alive again and we can begin a new season together.
