England Golf is delighted to announce that Mark Bardsley and Joanna Dennis have joined its Board of Directors, following Wednesday’s AGM at Woodhall Spa.
The duo have begun their initial three-year terms which will see them stand for re-election in 2028.
Mark enjoyed a career in the Consumer Finance Sector from 1985 to 2008, where he held a number of senior positions, including being a CEO, and spent 11 years setting up and managing successful consumer lending businesses in Czechia, Poland and Russia.
After retiring from financial services in 2017, he joined the Board of the Lancashire Golf Union in 2018, before becoming the full-time County Secretary from 2021-2024. During this period, he served as County Handicap Adviser and was also the Voting Member for both England Golf and Woodhall Spa Land Holdings (WSLH), and took a lead role in effecting the membership changes in WSLH which saw the Ladies Associations admitted.
When joining the Board, he took responsibility for the Boys’ Under 16 Squad amongst other duties, while he is also a Level 2 Rules Official.
More recently he initiated the process which saw the Lancashire Men’s Union and Lancashire Ladies Association unify in 2024, to become the largest unified county in England.
Mark’s golfing journey started at just eight years old, learning the game on municipal courses before joining his one and only club, Ormskirk Golf Club, where he is still a member and holds a Handicap Index® of 5.6. He has also worked on numerous club committees, serving as both Finance Chairman and Green Chairman, and was Club Captain in 2024. He currently acts as Chairman of the Governance Committee.
Mark said: “I am delighted to be joining the England Golf Board at such an exciting time. The project to redevelop the National Golf Centre is ambitious and iconic and I look forward to seeing its progress in the coming years. I am very much looking forward to working with the Executive Team and fellow Non-Executive Directors to further grow and enhance the amateur game in England.”
Meanwhile, Joanna has over 30 years’ experience in financial leadership, governance and business strategy and has held Finance Director roles across corporate, franchise and non-profit sectors, winning a national award ‘Finance Director of the Year – Growing Business’ in 2005.
Joanna founded, grew and sold her own accountancy practice and was one of the founders who sold a UK-wide bookkeeping franchise – Rosemary Bookkeeping – which remains one of the top franchises (by volume) in the UK. She served as Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of Home-Start UK, a national charity.
Joanna’s golfing experience spans playing, governance and leadership roles, having become hooked on golf 20 years ago. Her lowest handicap has been 11 while she participates in club and county individual and team competitions, and continues to be an active member of Knole Park Golf Club in Sevenoaks, Kent.
Joanna researched and published a book called ‘100 Years of Lady Captains’, documenting the history and contributions of the women at Knole Park Golf Club, where she has been a Co-Captain and served on the management, golf, and house committees.
Joanna has been Honorary Treasurer of Kent County Ladies Golf Association and was the first woman director of Kent Golf Union (Kent men) prior to unification of the two bodies in 2020. As Finance Director/Treasurer of the unified body, she played a key role in updating the financial systems and processes, and was part of the team that won the 2022 County of the Year at the England Golf Awards.
Joanna said: “I’m delighted to have been elected and look forward to working with the Board and county organisations in promoting this great game of ours.”
Mark enjoyed a career in the Consumer Finance Sector from 1985 to 2008, where he held a number of senior positions, including being a CEO, and spent 11 years setting up and managing successful consumer lending businesses in Czechia, Poland and Russia.
After retiring from financial services in 2017, he joined the Board of the Lancashire Golf Union in 2018, before becoming the full-time County Secretary from 2021-2024. During this period, he served as County Handicap Adviser and was also the Voting Member for both England Golf and Woodhall Spa Land Holdings (WSLH), and took a lead role in effecting the membership changes in WSLH which saw the Ladies Associations admitted.
When joining the Board, he took responsibility for the Boys’ Under 16 Squad amongst other duties, while he is also a Level 2 Rules Official.
More recently he initiated the process which saw the Lancashire Men’s Union and Lancashire Ladies Association unify in 2024, to become the largest unified county in England.
Mark’s golfing journey started at just eight years old, learning the game on municipal courses before joining his one and only club, Ormskirk Golf Club, where he is still a member and holds a Handicap Index® of 5.6. He has also worked on numerous club committees, serving as both Finance Chairman and Green Chairman, and was Club Captain in 2024. He currently acts as Chairman of the Governance Committee.
Mark said: “I am delighted to be joining the England Golf Board at such an exciting time. The project to redevelop the National Golf Centre is ambitious and iconic and I look forward to seeing its progress in the coming years. I am very much looking forward to working with the Executive Team and fellow Non-Executive Directors to further grow and enhance the amateur game in England.”
Meanwhile, Joanna has over 30 years’ experience in financial leadership, governance and business strategy and has held Finance Director roles across corporate, franchise and non-profit sectors, winning a national award ‘Finance Director of the Year – Growing Business’ in 2005.
Joanna founded, grew and sold her own accountancy practice and was one of the founders who sold a UK-wide bookkeeping franchise – Rosemary Bookkeeping – which remains one of the top franchises (by volume) in the UK. She served as Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of Home-Start UK, a national charity.
Joanna’s golfing experience spans playing, governance and leadership roles, having become hooked on golf 20 years ago. Her lowest handicap has been 11 while she participates in club and county individual and team competitions, and continues to be an active member of Knole Park Golf Club in Sevenoaks, Kent.
Joanna researched and published a book called ‘100 Years of Lady Captains’, documenting the history and contributions of the women at Knole Park Golf Club, where she has been a Co-Captain and served on the management, golf, and house committees.
Joanna has been Honorary Treasurer of Kent County Ladies Golf Association and was the first woman director of Kent Golf Union (Kent men) prior to unification of the two bodies in 2020. As Finance Director/Treasurer of the unified body, she played a key role in updating the financial systems and processes, and was part of the team that won the 2022 County of the Year at the England Golf Awards.
Joanna said: “I’m delighted to have been elected and look forward to working with the Board and county organisations in promoting this great game of ours.”
ENDS
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org