With participation figures declining, attracting more females to golf could help turn the corner. What more can be done to achieve this?
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.
This story is from the Open 2018 edition of Golf Monthly.
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This story is from the Open 2018 edition of Golf Monthly.
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Is it Time for the Presidents Cup to Be Scrapped? - The next instalment of the USA v Internationals match takes place in Canada at the end of September. But should the one-sided affair continue?
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