Driving women's and girls' participation in the game is a subject that has long been discussed within the golf industry. In May 2018, it became a big deal when The R&A, golf's governing body, made a serious commitment to advance change in the women's game. This included a global investment of £80 million in women's, girls', and mixed golf over the next ten years.
Underpinning the investment is the Women in Golf Charter, which asks golf to pledge its support for increasing the number of women playing, and working in, the game. National federations and other golf bodies that adopt the charter are required to build on current initiatives and develop new projects, with targets set for participation and membership and progress reported annually.
For the charter to succeed, golf clubs have a fundamental role to play in changing culture, as Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, emphasized at the launch event, attended by representatives of golf bodies worldwide. "The reality is that if we continue to offer the same product that we're offering today, we will not grow as a sport. It hasn't worked for ten years, and there's no reason it's going to work for the next ten years, so we have to change," he said.
However, it's fair to say that getting golf clubs to adopt the charter was never going to be an easy task and initially it was slow progress. For many clubs, it was not a case of being averse to change, but simply a lack of understanding as to how best to embrace a new audience, and the actions they must take (and the roles people must play) to create a female-friendly environment. In addition, many clubs don't have the resources or manpower to action what is required of them.
This story is from the July 2022 edition of Golf Monthly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2022 edition of Golf Monthly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
"I'm just trying to inspire people to play golf”
Golf Monthly meets social media sensation Mia Baker, who is on a mission to get more people into golf... and smiling all the way
A PLACE ΤΟ YOURSELF
Jeremy Ellwood discovers the Old Millhouse in Dalkeith to be the perfect away-from-it-all base for exploring the East Lothian coast's many fine links
Border patrol
Andy Wright ventures due east from his Troon base for a stay at Macdonald Hotels' Cardrona resort in the Borders near Peebles
Moortown
Golf fans know that Dr Alister Mackenzie was the man responsible for Augusta National; many will also be aware that the surgeon-turned-course architect first honed his design skills on his home patch close to Leeds.
Rickie Fowler
The 34-year-old American is back in form and eager to share his favourite tee-to-green tips
How to cure the chipping yips
INSTRUCTION - SAVE PAR
Beef up your ball flight
INSTRUCTION - FAULT FIXER
HYBRID MASTERCLASS
Top 50 Coach Lysa Jones explains how to make the most of this versatile club
The great debate
Nick Bonfield explores the concept of greatness in professional golf and ponders how it should be defined
BREAKING the mould
To mark shoe giant FootJoy's 100th anniversary, Neil Tappin flies out to its HQ near Boston to find out more about the brand's past and future, before setting up tent in the buzzing campsite it sponsors at The Open