What in the world is a ‘female friendly’ golf course??
As we try to get more and more women into the game of golf it seems prudent to discuss how women are treated at golf courses around the world and more importantly, in your own back yard.
It is well-known that golf has been dominated by men for decades. There are attitudes toward women that transcend just the players themselves. The facilities, i.e. golf courses, where women play are either part of the enlightened group of owners, managers and pros or they still exist in the dark ages. There are some very simple and easy ways to determine very quickly if the golf course where you go to play is ‘female friendly’.
Here’s a quick list which is not meant to be all-inclusive:
- When you first arrive at the course do you feel welcome or do you sense that you are invisible to the staff?
- Is the Pro Shop stocked with items of women’s golf clothing, golf equipment and golf accessories? Additionally, is the area where these items are displayed bigger than a small corner hidden towards the back?
- Is there a designated Ladies Rooms inside the Clubhouse or Pro Shop? It would be hard to imagine a violation of this as that is typically a code requirement but you just never know.
- Are there on-course restrooms? Women don’t have the ‘luxury’ of unzipping and relieving themselves in bushes, behind trees and who knows where else!!
- Does the starter ‘warn’ you about slow play and keeping pace when he obviously overlooked giving that same warning to the previous groups of male golfers?
- Does the course have Forward Tees available with a groomed tee box, not an afterthought set up on what used to be the rough?
- Is the forward tee box aligned so that it actually allows the golfer to set up in the direction of the fairway?
- Is there a ball washer at the forward tees?
- Do you get the ‘eye’ if you try to tee off on anything but the forward tees? Another way of checking this out is to find out if the forward tees are referred to as the Ladies Tees. The real truth is that there are a lot of men that should be playing from these tees but their egos won’t allow them so they instead slow up play on the course because their game isn’t strong enough to play further back. The chosen set of tees should be determined by the ability of the player NOT the sex!
- Finally, when you get back to the clubhouse, is there a “Men’s Only” Grill but no “Women’s Only” one?
Hopefully, this gives you a base or a barometer to see if the golf course you play is worthy of your business. If not, perhaps you can work with the management or owners of the golf course to provide some suggestions to help them get into the 21st century.
You may have other criteria that you use to assess the courses where you play. Feel free to pass those along in our comments section below. I would like to compile a list of female friendly golf courses around the globe to post on this blog so feel free to give us the name and location of the golf course you feel qualifies and we’ll check it out.
Thanks for visiting Ladies on the Tee Golf Blog at www.sherrytabb.com. I look forward to your comments.
Tags: forward tees, game of golf, golf, golf courses, Men's Only Grill, playing golf, pro shop, Women's Golf
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March 9th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Sherry,
Very well said. I agree that pressure needs to be put on the owners to Change. Let’s see what we can do to help them make the Change.
Mr Business Golf’s last blog post..Where is Golf on The Social Media Chart?
March 10th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Thanks, Scot! The challenge is finding the right avenues to address these concerns with the course owners without totally alienating them to our cause. It will take a lot of people willing to start the dialogue but I believe it can be done.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
It wasn’t until my husband went to work at our local course that things started to change. One par 3, the vegitation in front of the forward tees was so high, you could not see the flag! Also, there was a tee box that had the surface of an inverted bowl! Actually they were very happy to accommodate the requests. Since it is generally ONLY the women who play the forward tees, many times these issues are completely unknown to the grounds crew. Sometimes, all it takes is a request.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Great insight. My wife and I are very sensitive to the attitude toward women by the golf industry. We hate the term “ladies tees.” They are the FORWARD TEES thank you very much. As a custom clubmaker, my other pet peeve is “ladies shafts” and “ladies clubs.” It’s all marketing. I know a lot of men who need the more flexible shaft, but won’t use it if it has an “L” stamped on it. There’s no industry standard for L, A, R, or X flex shafts so quit using it. Instead use the recommended swing speed (Tom Wishon golf does) or the CPM of the shaft. Now, that I can use to custom fit clubs. It’s been hard for me to respond to women and juniors because my major market is with men. I need that inventory. I simply can’t carry a large inventory of women’s clubs, bags, etc. when the sales are not there. Why is that? What can I do, as a clubmaker, to enhance the golf experience for women? One idea I got from one of my LinkedIn groups is a ladies night at the driving range. The person who did something similar called it “Eve on the Range.” Women golf professionals were brought in for the evening to give tips and lessons, snacks and drinks were available and it was just for the ladies. I want to try that this summer. My only problem is trying to find a lady pro within a reasonable distance. Plus, like I said, there is the cost vs. benefit. I’m 100% in agreement with you and welcome any suggestions as to how I can contribute to change in perceptions, attitudes and obsolete standards.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Good point, Reggie! Sometimes all it takes is to politely point out the problem. It may simply be an oversight. So speak up ladies!
March 10th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Gary, I don’t know that I have the answer but I certainly understand the marketing end of things. If we, women want to be afforded the service and selection we desire we have to be willing to support those that are listening to us. The “Eve on the Range” concept is very appealing and can be very successful if the word gets out to all of the women in the area.
Personally I would say still offer it even if a female golf pro is not available. Just make sure that whoever is providing the instruction is aware of the proper tone and content… In other words do not be condescending but rather welcoming and informational. The worse thing I have ever seen is a golf pro trying to change a golfer’s swing (male or female) to a ‘one size fits all’ method.
Perhaps soliciting input from those that attend as to what they would like to see made available for women at the facility would be insightful??
Thanks again for your comments and your support of women’s golf and golf in general!!
March 14th, 2009 at 6:16 am
Our course seems to be doing everything right.
We hear all the time from women how nice it is to play our course. The women are treated with respect. There is no rushing their play. We have items in the pro shop for women that are displayed nicely. We now carry the SassyGolf gloves and have nice hats and visors. Most women like the wide brim visors for better sun protection on their faces.
We have a lady instructor and have participated in the Take Your Daughter To The Course program. Our Junior Clinic included lots of girls.
We get compliments on our bathrooms. The lady’s room is always clean and is nicely decorated. We have a baker’s rack that we change out with seasonal flowers and decorate for the holidays. Our outdoor bathroom is clean and has a lock.
Our women’s league has an area on the bulletin board for their standings and a birdie board. They can also post photos there. Each year they have a “fun day” with costumes.
All I know is that we have one group of ladies that played at another course, ending up leaving that course because they won’t treated well, and are now happy with our course. All we really did was treat them with respect, give them what they wanted and enjoyed their patronage.
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March 14th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Brenda,
Your course should be part of the norm not the exception. Hopefully we’ll this as a pattern everywhere. Great job!
BTW, the course Brenda is referring to is Country Town Golf Course in Springport, MI. If anyone is around that area please take the time to play a round or two.
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:58 am
I agree that there is much to be learned by golf course management, at many courses today but slowly but surely, as more women speak up, participate and spend thier money out there change will happen. Ladies, remember your dollar is worth the same as his, even on the course and make sure they take notice! Happy golfing!
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Valerie, you’re ’spot on’ when it comes to women speaking up. Thanks for your comment.
September 22nd, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Thanks for the tips, i know you said earlier, but i still unsure how to choose right and get best service for my $$. I’m from NYC, would you personally recommend any golf courses for my wife and daughter (7 years old)
Thanks, Alex
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September 22nd, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Alex, I am not personally familiar with golf courses in the NYC area but know there are many resources online, starting with your favorite search engine. I would also highly recommend asking other golfers that you know what their recommendations are. Depending on the level of play with your wife and daughter don’t overlook the importance of working on basics at the driving range and then move onto a Par 3 course so as not to intimidate or frustrate them early on.
Your budget will dictate what will work best for your family. There are many drills and skills that can be honed on a driving range that will help keep costs down. Many courses today are running specials if your schedule is flexible enough to fit the offerings. Group lessons both adult and junior are good ways to maximize your time and wallet while building a good solid base that will translate to the course when the time and budget allows.
Hope that helps!
February 27th, 2010 at 8:33 am
This is just a quick note on golf Courses: The UN estimates that golf courses use about 2.5 billion gallons/9.5 billion liters of water daily. Many golf courses in the world are irrigated with non-potable water and/or rainwater.