Females in the foreground? What golf does to attract more women

Posted by on   /   Posted in golf reviews

Image copyright
Getty Images

Image caption

There are six professional golf trips for ladies

Golf has gone through a roller coaster decade, with the number of challenges for which it was set to be matched only by regular bulletins predicting its demise.

The sport has been accused, among other things, of being white, male, elderly, expensive, time-consuming and generally out of control in an increasingly inclusive world.

In the past 12 months, for every fillip delivered by a controversial event such as Tiger Woods amazing win in the US Masters, it seems there is bad news about the closure of another golf club.

Faced with a similar situation, many companies would like to increase their attractiveness, and experts agree that the greatest growth potential for golf entices more women into sport.

Image copyright
Getty Images

Image caption

The epic Masters of Tiger Woods are recovering catapulted golf in the global spotlight this year

Over the past few years, not only have a number of large clubs – such as the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Muirfield, Royal Troon, Royal Aberdeen and Royal St George's – been their sole memberships – membership has been canceled, but there is now also a positive drive to attract women to the sport.

"A number of UK clubs have tried to attract and attract more women," says Alistair Dunsmuir, editor of The Golf Business magazine.

"They have introduced golf courses for women, and coaching sessions, and have sought to attract more female coaching staff, and they have also tried to create a more social environment where women can stay behind for a glass of wine afterwards.

Image copyright
England Golf

Image caption

Girls Golf Rocks encourages girls to learn and play golf

"Other clubs have introduced crèches so that mothers can play a relaxing round of golf or meet friends at the clubhouse."

He adds: "Golf also wants to increase its appeal to children and teenagers – the sport has realized itself if it wants to grow, it cannot rely solely on older white men."

Meanwhile, participation programs such as Girls Golf Rocks and Love.Golf want to encourage women to give the sport a try.

Greenkeepers and architects

These initiatives are all positive signs of progress, and indeed on a professional level there are six regional golf rounds for women around the world, including in the US, Japan. and Europe.

But in terms of general participation, for example in the UK and Ireland, less than 20% of golfers are women. In Sweden, that figure rises to 29%, but globally, only a quarter of active golfers are women.

And in addition to playing courses and in boardrooms at senior management level, as well as in other roles in industry, progress is slow.

Image copyright
Getty Images

Image caption

The majority of golf green keepers are men

According to research from the Syngenta grass management company, which has been part of the golf industry for more than 30 years, only one fifth of all members of the Golf Club Managers Association – a predominantly British body, but also with a number of international members – are female .

Their research shows that less than 1% of the members of Bigga (British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association) are women.

And currently only two women are members of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects.

& # 39; Grass roots & # 39;

But connecting with a & # 39; significant latent demand for non-golfing & # 39; women ", could generate a value of $ 35 billion (£ 28 billion) per year for the golf industry, Syngenta suggests.

They also said that no fewer than 37 million potential new female players are interested around the world

Meanwhile, more female club managers, greenkeepers, and golf course architects would have greater profitability in the golf industry, according to a leading expert on diversity and integration in business

Image copyright
Getty Images

Image caption

A young girl is playing golf in China

Liz Dimmock, founder and boss of Women Ahead, a social impact organization dedicated to the development of women from schoolroom to boardroom, says that companies and sports with more diverse management teams are more profitable.

But in the US, for example & # 39; the world's largest golf market, women make up less than 9% of club managers, only 1.5% of greenkeepers and there are only a handful of female Members of the Americans have been Society of Golf Course Architects.

"If you want to change the landscape of the sport, there must undoubtedly be more women in the golf – whether it is by larger players on the base or by more women in leadership positions in the sector," she says.

Image copyright
Getty Images

Image caption

Liz Dimmock says there can be financial benefits by getting more women to play golf

"But you need more different minds, from different backgrounds, not just on the basis of gender, you also need people from outside the sports sector, and it's not just about representative numbers, their views also need to be cherished. and included in the decision-making process. "

Mrs Dimmock, who has worked for IMG, KPMG and HSBC, adds:" If golf can do this, then there can be huge benefits on the financial side, with more female participation and more sponsorship opportunities for golf.

"Even when women play sports or watch sports, they often do this as part of a family, which may allow more young girls and boys to be included in sports."

& # 39; Inclusive & # 39;

The R & A is the body that organizes The Open, the oldest major golf championship, and whose 148th tournament is taking place this week in Ro yal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

It has also recently launched a Women in Golf Charter, as part of its three to increase the number of women and girls who play golf and work in the golf industry.

Image copyright
Getty Images

Image caption

Some young women want to follow a career in golf

The charter aims to "inspire an industry-wide commitment to develop a more inclusive culture within golf around the world and to allow more women and girls to thrive and maximize their potential at all levels of sport"

It requires national federations and other golf institutions to focus on encouraging more women and girls to play golf and stay within the sport as club members, while also allowing women to enjoy successful careers working in the golf industry

& # 39; Important step & # 39;

The R & A has provided a first £ 375,000 three-year financing package to its subsidiaries in Australia, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales to support the appointment of new development managers to work on increasing participation of women and girls .

Image copyright
Getty Images

Image caption

There has been a large increase in prize money for the 2019 British Women & # 39; s Open

It has also increased its prize money by 40% for the 2019 AIG Women & # 39; s British Open taking place next month in Woburn, to $ 4.5 million (£ 3.6 million), "in recognition of the interest of the championship and the ladies golf game ".

The Women & # 39; s British Open now offers the second highest prize pool of the five major women's game championships.

R & A boss Martin Slumbers says: "This is an important first step and we know it will take time to get closer to parity with the men's competition."

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.