FROM pulling pints to sinking putts, Jessica Hall is quite the all-rounder. But when the County Durham golfer takes to the course in the United States in just over a week’s time, her part-time job in her family-owned local will be at the back of her mind. For a week at least, the only chips she will be bothered about will be aimed at the pin rather than served as part of a bar meal.

Hall is one of the country’s most talented female amateur players. She is ranked fourth in Europe in the mid-amateur rankings for Under-25s, with her status having earned her a place on the European team for the prestigious Concession Cup, a Ryder Cup-style event that will be played at the Landings Golf & Athletic Club in Savannah, Georgia, at the start of next month.

The event sees the world’s best mid-amateurs and senior-amateurs going up against each other in mixed-sex teams for Team USA and Europe. Hall is the only English female to have been selected as part of the European line-up, and will be jetting off to the United States ahead of the start of the tournament on November 4.

As a result, she has been begging her brother, George, for time off. Her family own and run The Victoria Inn, known affectionately as ‘The Vic’, in the County Durham village of Witton-le-Wear where she has lived since the age of one. To fund her amateur golfing career, she works as a barmaid and waitress. Or at least she does when she is not on the course.

“It’s ideal really,” said Hall, who is a member at Bishop Auckland Golf Club. “I can make some money to help with my golf, because it’s a family-owned pub, I can get the time off when I’m away playing.

“I’m not normally away as long as this, mind. The Concession Cup is massive in amateur golf – it’s amazing to get to represent Europe and take on the US. It’s certainly going to be the biggest thing I’ve ever been involved in. I can’t wait to get over there and get going.”

Hall started playing golf at the age of seven and first joined Bishop Auckland aged nine. She won the senior County Cup when she was 14, becoming the youngest-ever winner of the competition in the process, and has since claimed as further five County Championship crowns.

She played for the England girls’ team, and after being a pupil at Barnard Castle School and Durham Sixth Form College, secured a scholarship in the US, studying and playing golf at Fresno State University in California.

“It was an amazing experience to be over in the States,” she said. “I’d never really been away from home at all before that, so it was life-changing for me really.

“It was also incredible for my golf. The college system is so good for sport over there – you get the chance to train and play at such a high level. It completely changed my game – I’m so glad I got the chance to go there.”

Upon returning to England, Hall played for the England Women’s team, and last year she represented England in the Home Internationals.

She also secured a place on the LET Access tour, which is the second tier of European women’s golf, at the level just below the fully-fledged Ladies European Tour. She has had two top-ten finishes on the tour this year, and finished as the top amateur at the Get Golfing Women’s Golf Championship.

Jessica Hall with the trophy for being the best amateur at this year's LET Access event at Mill GreenJessica Hall with the trophy for being the best amateur at this year's LET Access event at Mill Green (Image: Jessica Hall)

“It’s been a really good year,” she said. “I feel like my game is in a good place at the minute, and I’m playing well. Getting the chance to play in the Concession Cup is just the next step along really – it’s a reward for what I’ve been doing, but I really want to go over to the US and play well.

“It’s a massive opportunity, but also a big responsibility – you’re playing as part of a team and obviously you want to do well for your team-mates. Hopefully, we’ll have a good tournament and come away with a European win.”