Driving women’s and girls’ participation in the game is a subject that has long been discussed within the golf industry. In May 2018, it became a big deal when The R&A, golf’s governing body, made a serious commitment to advance change in the women’s game. This included a global investment of £80 million in women’s, girls’ and mixed golf over the next ten years.
Underpinning the investment is the Women in Golf Charter, which asks golf to pledge its support for increasing the number of women playing, and working in, the game.
National federations and other golf bodies that adopt the charter are required to build on current initiatives and develop new projects, with targets set for participation and membership and progress reported annually.
For the charter to succeed, golf clubs have a fundamental role to play in changing culture, as Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, emphasised at the launch event, attended by representatives of golf bodies worldwide. “The reality is that if we continue to offer the same product that we’re offering today, we will not grow as a sport. It hasn’t worked
