How Can We Get More Women And Girls Into Golf?

With participation figures declining, attracting more females to golf could help turn the corner. What more can be done to achieve this?

- Fergus Bisset

Only 14% of club members in the UK and Ireland are female. There are two ways to look at that statistic: from a negative standpoint, emphasising the stereotype that golf is the preserve of middle-aged, middle-class men; or, from a more positive angle, that the low number of women presents a tremendous opportunity to grow the game by increasing female participation.

Research by Syngenta conducted in 2016 suggested that latent female golfers could be worth $35 billion to the industry worldwide. At a time when Sports Marketing Surveys Inc’s global participation reports show a decline in golfing numbers of 2.4% since 2012, this should be an opportunity the game pursues with vigour.

A report commissioned by The R&A and published earlier this year, considered women’s, girls’ and family participation in golf and highlighted the opportunity that exists globally. Following the report, The R&A, working in collaboration with the wider golf industry, published the Women in Golf Charter that seeks to develop a more inclusive culture and increase the number of women and girls playing.

One of the key steps The R&A has made in order to make this vision a reality is a commitment to invest £80m over the next ten years to help fuel this growth. This includes an initial three-year funding package to support new women’s golf development managers in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Australia.