How can we encourage more women and girls, especially those in their 20s and 30s, to play golf? Over the years this is a question that I’ve been asked repeatedly, and I’ve attempted to answer it on multiple occasions.
Golf is a game that young women don’t naturally gravitate towards, unless they come from a family of golfers or are introduced to the sport at a young age by a partner or friend, and this lack of attraction can be partly attributed to the mystifying exclusiveness associated with golf.
It’s frustrating because those of us that are already familiar with the sport recognise the immense benefits the game offers, but breaking down the preconceived notions that many young women have about golf and its accessibility has proven challenging.
However, last month, I had the opportunity to attend an event at Pitch Golf London, which was organised in partnership with adidas and attended by social media influencer Mia Baker. It was an incredible wow moment for me when I entered a room filled with nearly 150 enthusiastic women in their 20s and 30s, all eager to discuss and experience golf. The golf industry has made significant efforts to engage this demographic, as well as women of all ages who have been identified as an untapped market and vital to the game’s future, but witnessing such a large turnout at a single event was truly inspiring and it’s encouraging for the long-term prospects of the women’s game.
(Image credit: Pitch Golf)
In contrast to many traditional golf clubs that pose barriers for newbie golfers, the atmosphere at Pitch is inviting and inclusive. Anyone can pick up a golf club and call themselves a golfer in their own way, whether it’s regularly playing on a simulator, reaching a competent level for occasional rounds, or simply taking pleasure from holiday golf. It’s a big transition for women to make from ‘social’ golfer to golf club member, but venues like Pitch are helping to provide that stepping stone should women want to make that leap and take the sport far more seriously.
At this event, women were enjoying drinks, eating pizza, and even getting their nails done when they weren’t hitting golf balls. It’s no wonder that this setting appeals to a younger audience and has the potential to attract more women to the sport. Additionally, events like this play a crucial role in dispelling stigmas and misconceptions surrounding golf, and they emphasise that it doesn’t matter how you play, how you dress, or how you look -…
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