Stars lead new drive to get more women playing golf

Ladies Tour star Charley Hull and BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty are leading a new drive to get more women playing golf.

A video campaign called #ThisGirlGolfs is designed to shift the perception that it’s a man’s game, and inspire participation by showcasing women who are already enjoying the game at all levels.

The short film below features women and girls of all ages and backgrounds showing how they fit golf into their lives and enjoy the game.

Charley and fellow pro Henni Zuël, are joined by amateurs traveling to practice sessions on the tube, honing their skills at urban driving ranges, and learning how to play golf.

Charley Hull, one of England’s biggest stars of the ladies tour, said: “I have always had a love of golf, picking up my first club aged two. It’s a fantastic game to play with friends, a great way to relax and get outdoors. It’s been great to be part of #ThisGirlGolfs I hope it will encourage girls to head down to their local driving range or golf club and give it a go.”

The PGA and England Golf are supporting #ThisGirlGolfs as part of their ‘Raising Our Game’ strategy, the aim of which is to reverse the decline of club members.

David Joy, CEO of England Golf, said: “We are aware, like many other sports, golf faces some issues, there are significant trends in declining participation at all levels that we can’t ignore. With the help of #ThisGirlGolfs campaign, we hope to work together with the golfing community to encourage more women and girls into the sport and enjoy the benefits the game can give.”

Sandy Jones, CEO of The PGA, added: “Golf is actually a very accessible, welcoming and enjoyable environment and we want to get that message across to women who may not have considered golf as an option. This is a great opportunity to both raise the profile of golf, break down myths and misconceptions and to actively encourage women of all ages to see golf as a realistic choice – whether that is for personal, professional, business or social reasons.”

Female golf: the current picture in Britain

• In Great Britain, female participation accounts for 12% of total participation (adults who play at least once a year) for the last two years – a decline from 15% in 2011.
• Just over 50% of England’s population is female – only 13% of English golfers are female and 14% are affiliated members of England Golf
• In Germany, 38% of golfers are female; in France 28%; in Sweden 29%
• Since 2004, female membership has fallen by 27% at English golf clubs
• On average, there are 70 women members each club in England
• 640,000 females said they were interested in taking up golf in a 2014 survey (Syngenta – ‘The Opportunity to Grow Golf: Female Participation’)
• 98,000 females are currently members of golf clubs in England
• 88,700 females play golf at least once a week in England; 146,300 play once a month
• The average age of a female golfer playing once a week or more in England is 50
• Females between the age of 16 and 35 account for 25% of female core participation
• The average annual female membership for 2014 was £848 – for a junior girl it was £117
• Over half of men who have sons say that their son(s) play golf; 12% of men who have daughters say that their daughters play

Thanks to Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS), England Golf & Syngenta for their help with the statistics above.