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More junior programs, college programs, international talent and bright young stars on the LPGA Tour are putting the focus on women and golf these days. And there’s strength in numbers. In 1997, about 2.6 million women played golf between one and seven times a year, according to the National Golf Foundation. That total nearly doubled to 4.3 million women last year. “There are definitely more women entering the game because there are so many opportunities,” said Mardell Wilkins, a teaching professional at Mission Viejo Country Club and former LPGA Tour player. “The challenge, however, is keeping them in the game because so many find it intimidating or think it will be overwhelming.” Women who play frequently still comprise only 18 percent of the 12.5 million serious golfers who play an average of 37 times a year, according to the National Golf Foundation. “I have been involved in golf tournaments for 17 years and over that time I estimate I’ve seen some 20,000 people participate in pro-ams or corporate outings or some form of organized golf activity,” said Jeff Purser, tournament director for the Toshiba Classic at Newport Country Club. “Of those 20,000, I’d say that no more than 400 have been women, and that might be a high estimate.” Susan Brooks, who is organizing a women’s golf seminar and clinic March 9 as part of this year’s Toshiba Classic activities, says more women are aware of the game. “But a lot of women are intimidated,” Brooks said. “They don’t think they have the time or are athletic enough or that it’s not designed for women.” Come on. Try it, you’ll like it. Regardless of age, athletic ability or schedules, there are a number of reasons to give the game a shot. 1. For Business No other sport or leisure activity helps people get to know each other as quickly and intimately as golf. If someone cheats, is rude, talks too much about themselves or is too hard on themselves, it will manifest on the golf course — and in the boardroom. “The nature of the game of golf just makes it more conducive to getting to know someone and building relationships, far more than any other sport,” Wilkins said. “You can learn so much about a person during a round of golf that you just wouldn’t learn over lunch or drinks.” “I think women approach business and golf a little differently from men,” Brooks said. “I think women are more cognizant of a person’s personality on the course, how they react to a bad shot, or their demeanor. That goes a long way toward telling someone if the person they’re playing golf with is someone they can do business with.” And while deals can be made on the course, most of the benefits come from meeting someone and staying in contact. “It’s really about networking” as opposed to closing the deal on the 19th hole, Wilkins said. “Let’s say you’re a woman who gets paired with a guy who you find amiable and not threatened by,” she said. “He’s into computers and you network and exchange business cards and, two weeks later, the computers in the office go down and you need help and you remember him and trusted him so you give him a call.” The other reason golf is conducive to business is access. Players of different skill levels can play together and, once you’re on the course, everyone’s equal. “A 30-handicapper can play with a scratch golfer and, as long as you know the rules and are aware of pace of play, like when to pick up your ball and move to where your partners are, there shouldn’t be a problem,” Wilkins said. 2. For friends Whether you show up at 2 p.m. for a tee time made that morning, belong to a private club or participate in a charity tournament, you’ll likely meet someone new on the golf course that day. Much like golf can build or strengthen a business relationship, it can establish and maintain a personal one. “There is so much dead time in golf,” Wilkins said. “You’re waiting for the foursome ahead of to you to get off the green, or you’re waiting to tee up, and you’re spending anywhere from four to six hours with a person. You just don’t get that much time with people these days. And you can really build a relationship through that.” Golf also allows people to stay connected with others in times of need. “We’ve got a number of people at our club who have lost a spouse, and through golf they find a place where they can stay connected and not necessarily sit at home and grieve,” Wilkins said. “And we also have some members who’ve lost a spouse and met their new one while playing. So you never know.” 3. For Family Golf is jokingly referred to as a marriage-breaker. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Spending time together on the golf course can be fun. Really. “Ideally, a woman picks up the game because she wants to and not because she feels it’s the only way she can spend some time with her husband or significant other,” Brooks said. “But if you truly are enthusiastic, learning how to play golf is a great way to spend quality time with your husband and kids.” Even if you don’t become hooked by the game, a familiarity with it can help you communicate with someone in your family who is, whether it’s a cousin, father-in-law or son. 4. For your body Golf isn’t as physically demanding as tennis, racquetball or swimming, but any time you’re walking in the fresh air and using muscles that you rarely use, you’re doing something good for your body. And if you want to get serious about the game, there are a host of fitness programs, conditioning centers and health- and fitness-related websites and golf magazines to help you get in shape. From yoga and strength training to flexibility and core strengthening exercises, the work you put into improving your body for golf will show up in every aspect of your life. 5. For your mind Take a breath, soak in the surroundings and focus on the journey rather than the destination. That’s when golf is at its relaxing best. “The nature of golf is that you become so absorbed in the game and the experience that you forget everything else for a few hours,” Wilkins said. “It’s a great stress reliever.” But there are other pragmatic benefits as well. “If you’re a person who loves new challenges and needs to set and try to meet goals, golf is ideal,” Wilkins said. People who are retired, recovering from an injury or just looking for something new can also benefit from a round of golf. “Unless you have some really severe physical limitation, there’s really no reason not to pick up the game,” Wilkins said. “Even if you don’t have a lot of time in your day for golf, that’s OK. You don’t have to play 18 holes. You can play nine, or an executive course or miniature golf if that’s your level. I know a group of 80-year-olds who go out and play a local par-3 course. They’re still enjoying the game.” 6. For the scenery All too often, the closest many women get to the Great Outdoors is a glimpse of it through their windshields while driving to work or dropping the kids off at soccer practice. While a large number of courses in Southern California are located in populated areas, there are just as many in some of the most pristine areas of the region. From desert courses with mountain views to canyon courses where you’re more likely to see a red-tailed hawk than another human to seaside courses, golfers can enjoy a great diversity of terrain. 7. For the life lessons Anyone who’s been involved in junior golf knows that the lessons inspired by the rules and etiquette of the game — respect, honesty, accountability — can stick with a person for life. While adults hopefully incorporate those lessons in their lives already, Wilkins says older women picking up the game can benefit from at least two lessons. The first is balance, both from a physical sense — your swing — to the mental aspect of not worrying about your next shot or thinking about the past. The second is less abstract. “Golf is a great vehicle to learn patience,” Wilkins said. “And I know that’s something many of us work on our entire lives.” 8. For the community Getting involved in a charity golf tournament, whether it’s a fund-raiser for a high school’s music program or the American Red Cross, has wide-ranging benefits. “It’s just as fun to just be involved with a tournament as a volunteer,” Brooks said. “I know our tournament (Toshiba) would be impossible without them.” But participating in a tournament and paying the entry fee helps supply funds to organizations and programs. “The format for most tournaments allows even the worst golfers to go out and have a great time,” Brooks said. “It really is a fun way to positively impact the community.” 9. For the shopping If you’re a woman who believes there’s truth to the adage “if you look good you feel good,” there’s plenty of ways to do both in golf. From golf apparel and accessories to equipment, you can spend hours — and lots and lots of money — on everything from a golf wardrobe to a set of irons. “A lot of the pro shops have made an effort to try to be women-friendly and they’re getting a lot better in terms of [apparel offered],” said Sandra Palmer, the director of women’s golf at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club. “Men buy and women shop, and there’s a big difference between those two.” 10. For the travel Name the location and a golf course or golf resort is likely nearby. Many premier golf resorts, such as La Costa in Carlsbad, are designed with women in mind. La Costa Resort and Spa has several programs that combine golf with lunch, dinner or spa treatments, and the Boulders Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz., offers multi-day getaway packages for women and friends to play and relax at the spa. Golf is also a great way to discover a new part of the world. If you’ve never been to Scotland, check out an online booking company such as www.golfscotland.com, which uses its knowledge of the game’s homeland to plan golf vacations for all budgets and group sizes. SG |
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