Lately, Golf has undoubtedly entered right into a extra fashionable, forward-thinking, and constructive period. A big contributing issue to this improvement is the outstanding enhance in ladies’s golf participation. However why are extra ladies than ever taking on the game?
The male to feminine ratio of UK Golf participation modified dramatically in 2020 because the variety of ladies taking to UK Golf programs greater than tripled in the course of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic – an increase which noticed practically 1.5 million girls enjoying not less than one full spherical of golf that yr. To mark Worldwide Girls’s Day, we’ve determined to look into the vary of things which have contributed to the big rise of feminine participation in golf.
Limitations to entry
Regrettably, there have lengthy been a number of obstacles to feminine participation in golf, and these have every served to stop extra ladies from taking on the game. Golf is just not recognized for being one of many cheaper sports activities, and the price of taking it up as a full-time passion has actually deterred numerous would-be contributors.
Excessive prices are extensively believed to have been a significant component in stopping many ladies (and males) from taking part in golf. Becoming a member of charges and membership costs are actually not low-cost, to not point out the price of shopping for all the required tools resembling fitted golf golf equipment and clothes. No matter value, although, merely getting maintain of women golf clothes and tools could be troublesome, as outlets are inclined to predominantly cater to male golfers.
Prices apart although, maybe probably the most vital barrier to ladies’s participation has been the widespread notion that golf is a male-dominated sport. Extremely, it was solely 5 years in the past that Muirfield Golf Membership, a prestigious Open observe, was caught up in a sexism row after its refusal to overturn a 228-year men-only rule. A golf membership with an unlimited historical past, most notably for being an everyday on Britain’s iconic golf main championship circuit was stripped of it’s Open Championship standing on account of its choice.
Although a regrettable choice, the Muirfield controversy, and the related media storm, forged a light-weight on how sure sections of the game have been persevering with to fail ladies.
Indicators of progress
At the moment although, we’re seeing unbelievable development in feminine participation, and the obstacles to entry are slowly fading.
Alistair Dunsmuir, editor of the journal, The Golf Enterprise, defined how numerous UK golf golf equipment have been proactive in attracting extra feminine golfers. Sure golf equipment have ensured simpler entry for woman golfers by scrapping feminine becoming a member of charges, reducing membership costs, or placing on free taster periods to get females concerned.
Extra teaching periods have additionally been put into place, supported by feminine golf professionals and training employees at hand. We’ve even seen the emergence of some women-only golf programs that search to supply a pleasant and less-daunting setting for newer feminine golfers. Different programs have introduced in a variety of initiatives, together with the introduction of creches and extra post-golf social actions, to encourage the participation of girls within the sport.
The actual transformation in ladies’s participation occurred in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic largely as a result of golf was among the many first out of doors actions to be permitted as restrictions have been progressively eased. For a lot of ladies, it was the proper alternative to provide the game a go.
Previous to the pandemic, feminine golf participation in UK golf was estimated to be 12-14%. For the reason that pandemic nevertheless, this determine has now risen to an astonishing 28%. Moreover, 95% of the 830,000 ladies who tried golf for the primary time in 2020 stated they may proceed enjoying golf.
Along side the pandemic, the rise of feminine golf influencers served to encourage extra ladies to take to the fairways. Excessive-profile feminine influencers {and professional} tour gamers helped elevate the profile of the ladies’s sport, and dwell protection of {golfing} feminine occasions – together with the Solheim cup and Rose Girls Sequence – created a buzz across the sport.
The outdated stereotypes of golf as an male dominated, elitist sport are progressively being erased – and the big development in feminine participation is probably the strongest indicator that golf is transferring into a brand new period.
