It wasn’t all that long ago that a sign stood outside the clubhouse of a very notable club that read ‘No dogs or women allowed. Thankfully, times and attitudes have changed since women were banned from clubhouses, or told they could only play at certain times on weekends. Yet golf still has a long way to go.
Women make up 50 per cent of the UK population, yet just 16 per cent of the nation’s golfers. Just a fifth of the members of the Golf Club Managers Association are female, and there are even fewer female greenkeepers. On tour, there’s a five-fold difference in prize money between the PGA and LPGA Tours.
Things are improving, though. The R&A launched its Women in Golf Charter, part of its drive to increase the number of women and girls playing golf and working within the industry. It also hiked the prize money for the Women’s Open by 40 per cent, with R&A chief Martin Slumbers saying: “This is an important first step and we know it will take time to move closer to achieving parity with the men’s game.”
Figures claim that tapping into a “significant latent demand among non-golfing women” could persuade as many as 37 million prospective new female players to take up the game, bringing an extra £28 billion into the global golf industry.
To gauge the current status of the women’s game – on tour and at club level – we spoke to four key players who really know what’s happening – arguably the greatest female golfer of all time, Annika Sorenstam, Solheim Cup Captain Catriona Matthew, Major winner Georgia Hall and LET star Amy Boulden. Their views on what women’s golf has achieved – and what else can still be done – makes for fascinating reading...
Esta historia es de la edición May 2021 de Golf Asia.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 2021 de Golf Asia.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
VICTORIOUS ASIA AT EFG INTERNATIONAL GOLF CHALLENGE
Junior golfers from Team Asia overcame Team Europe at the second edition of the event that promotes sportsmanship and foster young talent.
CULINARY CROSSROADS
Foodies, it is time to add Macau to your bucket list for both its burgeoning fine dining scene - and vibrant fusion local cuisine.
CYBER TIMES
The Bell & Ross CYBER launches watchmaking into the future.
HERITAGE REIMAGINED
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi reopens its historic heritage wing.
POULTER IMPRESSED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES PATHWAY
Popular English Ryder cup star lan Poulter is confident of Asian Tour's plans for future success.
ASIAN SPIRIT TO THE FORE
The Internationals will look to Maruyama's heroics to propel their Presidents Cup quest.
GLOBAL UNITY
International Team united by the \"Shield\" ahead of Presidents Cup showdown
GIRLS ON FIRE
Representing one's country, either as an amateur or a professional, in a sport you love, is a dream come true. JUSTINE MOSS catches up with the Singapore Golf Association's Women's National Squad to find out more about their dedication to the game.
SOCIAL GOLFER
Popular influencer Christabel Chua (@bellywellyjelly) shares how golf has opened up a whole new world for her.
FAST DOWNHILL CHIP
In this common scenario, your ball has hung up on some longer grass to the side of the green, leaving you a downhill chip on to a fast surface that's running away from you.