Mark Slater: The Gap Between Golf And Other Sports<\/p>\n The initial reason for writing this piece is that one of my pupils, Mark Slater, recently returned from a golfing trip around the North of England with some eye-opening reflections on how it might feel to be a female golfer<\/a>.<\/p>\n You may like<\/p>\n It\u2019s interesting to note how other sports have significantly increased female players in the past ten years, football and rugby to name two. Football in particular has attracted many thousands of new players whilst in my local golf club there\u2019s no noticeable increase on the course over the same period.<\/p>\n I was fortunate to play at Formby<\/a> a couple of months ago and couldn\u2019t help being impressed by the magnificent clubhouse and superb course. Then I learnt this is the men\u2019s clubhouse and the ladies have their own clubhouse obscured by the single storey pro shop, and a separate course to play on. I was oblivious to the fact that there are still ladies-only golf clubs.<\/p>\n On the positive side, I know several fellow players whose partners are now actively learning the game. Maybe it just takes more time than other sports, so more of an evolution than revolution.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Golf Monthly – Kevin Murray)<\/p>\n Eddie Bullock: Redefining The Culture<\/p>\n Eddie Bullock runs a golf consultancy and has worked in the golf industry for a very long time. He sees a significant shift happening in women’s golf, one that demands a complete cultural rethink.<\/p>\n It deserves attention\u2026 not as a side note, but a sign of where the game as a whole is heading. The traditional architecture of women’s golf culture simply doesn\u2019t match the lifestyles of today\u2019s players.<\/p>\n More women entering the game are business owners, professionals, and multi-taskers whose time is precious. They\u2019re looking at golf that fits life, not the other way around.<\/p>\n What stands out most is that the social value of the game now holds equal weight to performance. Many newcomers are discovering the sport through shared experiences: group coaching<\/a>, social formats, and supportive peer circles.<\/p>\n The World Handicap System<\/a> (WHS) has divided opinion, but it plays an important role for beginners, making progression easier to understand and track. Being able to monitor improvement digitally and relatively quickly has encouraged more women to feel a part of the golfing community from the start.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t about the women’s game \u2018catching up\u2019, it\u2019s about reshaping what golf can be \u2026 inclusive, enjoyable, and genuinely welcoming, which benefits everyone.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Kevin Murray)<\/p>\n Dom Oxley-Thorne (PGA Trainee): On-The-Ground Atmosphere<\/p>\n Dom Oxley-Thorne, a first-year PGA trainee at Salisbury and South Wilts Golf Club has his ear to the ground when it comes to female members and notes some encouraging changes.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve only been properly involved in the golf industry for about a year, but I have seen a definite increase in female participation<\/a> across all types of events, not just the traditional ladies competitions. It feels like there\u2019s a gradual shift towards a more inclusive environment<\/a> where women are seen as an integral part of the golfing community rather than a separate section of it.<\/p>\n But what do female members tell him about how they feel within the club, do they feel valued?<\/p>\n This is a bugbear amongst many female members at a club, shaking the old aged feeling of being second class members has been a tough one across clubs. It can still be a little more difficult for female members to feel fully accepted within the bigger, mixed groups. Some women are hesitant to join in, perhaps worried about being judged or not fitting in.<\/p>\n However, I\u2019ve seen a real positive shift, particularly on weekends, with more women playing alongside what might once have been seen as traditional men\u2019s groups. The fact that these women return week after week suggests they feel welcomed and respected. There\u2019s a strong sense of value and camaraderie within those circles, though I\u2019m not always sure that same level of appreciation is fully mirrored across the wider membership. It\u2019s improving, but there\u2019s still room to grow.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Golf Monthly)<\/p>\n Visibility On Tour<\/p>\n When it comes to professional women\u2019s golf, Oxley-Thorne sees more of it and feels they\u2019re beginning to be recognised, though there\u2019s a long way to go.<\/p>\n The LPGA has made a real impact in recent years, particularly in changing how people view the women\u2019s game. When it\u2019s on the TV in the pro shop, there\u2019s genuine respect from members<\/a> for the standard of golf being played. That visibility is invaluable, as it gives female golfers role models to look up to and helps normalise the idea that elite golf isn\u2019t just for men.<\/p>\n The one area still in need of improvement is the quality of venues used for some professional women\u2019s tournaments. Too often, the courses don\u2019t match the standard of play, which can unintentionally undervalue the level of skill on display. The women\u2019s game deserves to be showcased on the same calibre of courses as the men\u2019s, and as exposure continues to grow, I think we\u2019ll see that gap close.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n The Real Challenge: Mixed Play And Grassroots<\/p>\n Oxley-Thorne doesn\u2019t often play golf with women, and when he does, it\u2019s usually in a mixed competition<\/a> or when he is paired with them in an event. He wouldn\u2019t typically play social golf within ladies groups, mainly because his playing circles are quite separate.<\/p>\n This cultural separation highlights where the women\u2019s game faces its biggest challenge: the pipeline of talent. The number of girls taking up golf at a young age is still relatively low, which means many women only start playing later in life, making an already difficult game even tougher to learn and stick with.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Golf Monthly)<\/p>\n![\"Male](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/xKDJaXntQiQF8JXCaedzaj.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/4DQgBviBvhahTMyPkFQPjg.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"Mixed](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/g4XzToGdgw4atGKiFDyBUU.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"Charley](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DqNEgPh3JDTEyynkXvofmM.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"Mixed](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DDfuZm2p5JENrrewWBwoMJ.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n