Alison Root

Alison Root is Golf Monthly's women's golf editor. You can find her on Instagram @rootalison

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Awards season is here, but forget the Baftas and Oscars - the shortlist for the England Golf Awards in April is what caught my eye. Among the many deserving finalists across ten categories, one initiative stands out: Skratch Women, which has earned nominations in not one but two categories - the Respect in Golf Award and Women & Girls Trailblazer.

As a young full-time professional in London, Caroline Shukla struggled to find like-minded women to join her for some relaxed golf, and it didn't take long for her to realise she wasn't alone. "There was a real appetite among women in my age range who wanted to try golf, but they didn't know where to go," Shukla explains.

In 2021, Shukla founded Skratch Women, an inclusive community designed to help women get into golf and connect with others who share their passion for the sport. In just three years, more than 100 women have completed a structured golf learning programme at golf clubs in south-west and north London, while just as many have taken part in overseas golf events.