Despite efforts to diversify the game, the number of women and girls at golf clubs remains disproportionately (and shockingly) low compared to men and boys. This imbalance underscores the urgent need to drive female participation at all levels of the sport. What is glaringly obvious from the latest data is that for golf to grow and thrive, we urgently need to create a more inclusive environment at golf clubs, addressing not only gender imbalances but also age, ethnic diversity, health and disability accessibility, and socioeconomic representation. The numbers might not make for particularly enjoyable reading, but they do demonstrate the scale of the opportunity for growth.
A global perspective: Female golf participation worldwide
According to The R&A’s Global Golf Participation Report (2023), women constitute only 23% of adult registered golfers globally.
And while the number of on-course golfers in R&A-affiliated markets has surged to 39.6 million – a 34% increase since 2016 – it’s not really clear how this growth has translated into female participation. Looking at the figures though, I’d hazard a guess it’s not proportionate.
England, which ranks fourth among the top-five markets, reflects this disparity. According to The R&A’s report, there are 3.4 million adult golfers in England, yet the latest from England Golf shows that only 14% of golf club members are female.
National snapshots: The state of female golf membership
England: 14% of golf club members are women
England Golf’s recent Golf DNA report reveals that only 14% of golf club members are female.
Despite 45% of clubs offering women’s academies and 91% providing weekend competitions for women, these initiatives have yet to significantly shift the gender balance. Notably, the average number of women on a golf club's board or management committee is just two, which is equivalent to 22%.
Scotland: 12% of golf club members are female
Scottish Golf’s 2023 Annual Review indicates that only 12% of golf club members are female, significantly lower than the national average of 35% across Scottish club sports. While junior membership has seen a 7.3% increase, only 17% of these juniors are girls.
In 2023, Scottish Golf also carried out a Golfer Equality Survey. Involving over 18,000 participants, the aim of the survey was to assess how well golf in Scotland mirrors the broader society:
- 19% of golfers completing the survey were female
- 67% were aged 65-74 and 55-64
- 99% were White British or White Scottish
- 13% had ‘a little’ limitation through health / disability, and 3% ‘a lot’
- 5% lived in Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) zones 1 or 2 (high deprivation)
- 38% lived in zones 9 or 10 (low deprivation)
Ireland: 19% of golf club members are female
According to Golf Ireland’s Strategic Plan 2022 – 2026, there are 205,679 golf club members in Ireland. And despite golf being in the top four participation sports on the island of Ireland, only 19% of golf club members are female and just 2% are girls.
What is promising though is that 182 clubs in Ireland have formally committed to signing the Women in Golf Charter. And 250+clubs have delivered Get into Golf programmes, with a 68% conversion rate from programme to membership
Wales
Everyone’s Game, Wales Golf’s five-year strategy, doesn’t dive too deeply into the number of women and girls currently participating in golf in Wales, other than:
- There are 88,000 golfers in Wales, and 53,682 are golf club members
- 55 clubs in Wales ran New2Golf Schemes in 2022, and 60% of the participants were female
However, as “Improve our recruitment and retention programmes for women and girls” is the first goal under one of four strategic pillars, Shaping the future, it’s safe to assume that the percentage of females golfers in Wales is probably somewhere close to the rest of the country – between 12% and 19%.
Strategies for attracting more women and girls to golf
I understand that addressing the gender imbalance in golf is not a quick fix. And there definitely isn’t a one-size-fits-all all solution, either. It’s clearly a multifaceted, complicated and slow process, and I think there are a lot of really effective strategies already in place.
I think though that there are a few basics we need to address before we will see any real progress:
- Inclusivity is not a tickbox exercise: Too often, strategies to address gender imbalances are superficial. To actually have an impact, inclusivity has to be a value that run deeps throughout an organisation.
- Clear pathways for all players: Developing and promoting female-focused initiatives, like academies and introductory courses, can help break down barriers to entry. However, clear and progressive pathways are important for all levels of participation. All too often I think we focus on beginners and social players.
- Enhancing visibility and representation: If you can’t see it, you can’t be it. Increasing the number of women in the highest level of the game and within leadership roles will inspire more women and girls to take up and stay engaged in golf.
- More flexibility: Providing more flexible and affordable membership options is important for making golf more accessible to women, particularly those balancing work and family commitments.
- Leverage the ethos of habit stacking: Time is such a huge barrier to participation for women, and I feel very strongly that we should be leveraging the ethos of habit stacking to help; combining an old habit with a new one to create a new routine easily. For example, I take my little boy for a walk to the park every day. If there was a play area or creche at the golf club, I could walk there and hit some balls whilst he plays there instead of at the park.
What do you think? Share your ideas or experiences with me by emailing [emailprotected].
