Finchley Golf Club have appointed Caroline Bradley as their new full-time professional.

She will take up her appointment in November when David Brown retires after 38 years in the position at Nether Court.

Caroline, 43, is no stranger to Finchley or to the Hertfordshire golf scene.

She has been teaching at the club since 2003 after previous spells at Old Fold Manor, Harpenden Common and Hartsbourne. As an amateur, she represented the county while a member of Hadley Wood.

Although she recalls with disappointment how club politics prevented her taking up a similar job at Hartsbourne five years ago, Caroline is careful not to overplay her appointment, which makes her only the fourth Finchley professional in the club's 79-year history.

"This is a victory for my career, not a victory for women," she said.

"Finchley have allowed me to move forward. They have given me a chance to do what I have always known I can do.

"The support from club members has been fantastic. I have been given so many flowers and more champagne than I could possibly drink."

Caroline did not take up golf until she was 25. Within 18 months she had a handicap of four and saw where her future lay.

"Even when I was playing off 16, it was in the back of my mind I wanted to turn pro. I never had any doubts," she said. "I applied to the PGA and went through three years of training and assignment works. Right from the start, teaching was my passion and my playing took second place."

Her first job in golf was as assistant to Daniel Fitzsimmons at Old Fold Manor in Barnet.

Caroline plans to convert the back of the club shop to accommodate an indoor putting area, an exercise space and a video area. "That should be up and running by next spring," she said. "I see the way forward in body profiling golfers. When you're working with low handicappers you've got to get them more aware of how to get fitter and to get the best out of themselves. For others, golf has to be enjoyable, not purgatory."

David Brown, 65, learned his golf on the Somerset links at Burham and Berrow, where his father Mac became club president and mother Alma was a distinguished county player.

He went on to play for England Boys, British Boys and in the Carris Trophy. He also won a Blue at Cambridge.

But he, like Caroline, knew he wanted to be a club professional. On the day after winning the Somerset U25s' title, he replaced future Open champion Tony Jacklin as Bill Shankland's assistant at Potters Bar.

Five years later, he succeeded Tony Moore at Finchley and has been there ever since.

He wished Caroline every success.

"The club will be very well looked after by her," he said.