Hazel Thompson - Founder & CEO of Excelerator Luxury Golf Tours

Hazel spent 25 years in rural Ireland and Belfast. Her life-long passion for golf comes from her parents, who introduced her to golf at age twelve as part of the family membership. They are both past Irish golf club captains and still today continue to enjoy their club in County Tyrone.

Hazel was a member of one of Australia’s famous sandbelt courses for twelve years. For four years Hazel was on the club’s Social Committee and was a founding member of the club’s inaugural Communications Committee. She represented the club playing many matches in the region. Her name is on a number of trophies and in gold letters on one of only two boards for women displayed in the bar, for winning a prestigious historic event from the 1940’s.

Now a member of one of the world’s top 10 courses in Ireland at Royal Portrush, Hazel represents the club in match team events within the island of Ireland. She has her name on an inaugural silver salver trophy presented in 2022 and was a Winter League Captain 2022/2023. Winner in 2024 of the May Hezlett Cup and The Collins Cup.

She has deep knowledge of golf in both Australia and Ireland and has played golf in USA, Scotland, New Zealand, England and Spain.

Hazel designs and plans exclusive, experiencial tours. She has more than 25 years experience in general management, operations management, directorship roles, lecturing and senior business development management in Ireland, London and in Australia. She holds an Executive MBA from one of the world leading business schools. Hazel worked for many years with EY (Ernst & Young) as an Associate Director and has written for Forbes magazine’s leadership section through her role with the Trusted Advisor Associates.

As well as being a passionate golfer, Hazel is also an avid tennis player with a focus on Real/Royal Tennis. A member of Royal Melbourne Tennis Club and Coleraine Tennis Club, she aspires to play on all 46 Real Tennis courts globally. Beyond sports, Hazel finds joy in sea swimming in Portrush, her hometown on the Atlantic Ocean.

Hazel is highly principled, values driven, tenacious, practical and caring.