Golf on a course with well-placed trees, Foxtail in Rohnert Park, California.
Earlier this year a golf course in my time zone that’s very popular with women began to make some, er, “improvements.” I noticed that the “improvements” made the course more difficult, so I asked around to find out who instigated them. The architect who had been so proud of the course’s playability? Nope. The municipality, striving to attract more players? Nope.
The answer: The men’s club, some of whom did not deem the course challenging enough.
And this was much to the outrage of the women’s club, which not only was not consulted for its input on the golf course layout, it was not even informed about the changes. Trees just started sprouting up in odd places one day.
GottaGoGolfers, the call to action we issue in our premiere issue asks that you do not let this happen at the golf course you frequent. Do not think for one minute what one woman actually said to me, “Well, most of the players are men, they should be making the decisions.” Golf courses need customers — be they men, women, children or aliens. There is no reason to ignore a segment of the market that might be playing more golf if only the golf course could set up in a more friendly and fun manner, especially if such a setup did not detract from the enjoyment of more accomplished players.
GottaGoGolf Magazine’s premiere issue calls on you to participate in golf course decisions and operations at your local course so that it interests women in taking up the game and inspires women who have left the game to return. Golf courses need business right now; it’s a good time to convince them that her patronage is as valuable as his.
Read the full story in the magazine.
