26 / 42
WOMEN
REPRESENT
23%OF THE
24.7 MILLION
GOLFERS
PGA OF AMERICA’S
EFFORTS TO GROW WOMEN’S
PARTICIPATION IN GOLF
The golf industry is looking
to grow participation in the
sport and the PGA of America
is answering by encouraging
and inviting women to give
golf a try.
According to the National
Golf Foundation, there were
5.7 million women golfers
in the United States in 2014.
Women represented 23% of
the 24.7 million golfers. Based
on the fact that women are now
the fastest growing segment
of new players entering the
game, the strategy seems to be
working.
In an interview,
Sandy Cross,
the Senior Director of
Diversity and Inclusion for
the PGA of America
, listed the
top efforts to grow women’s
participation and retention in
the game.
1. What are the most
important considerations
for women to try golf?
According to Golf Data Tech,
women that play golf have
found that the three most
positive attributes of the game
are health benefits (90%), the
challenge and competition of
the game (80%) and the social
interaction of playing the game
that allows them to connect
better and more deeply with
family and friends (70%). And
from a business professional
standpoint, it is something that
women should have in their
tool kit.
2. Research showed that
millions of women want
to play golf, but don’t
feel welcome
. How has
the PGA tried to welcome
these women to the game?
The Get Golf Ready program
has proven to be an excellent
entry point for new players
as they are taught the basic
elements of the game in
a friendly group learning
environment. The social
aspects of the program seem
to resonate especially with
women. The PGA found that
62% of the participants in the
program are women and that
upon completing the program
86% continue to practice and
play the game.
BY
RICH O’BRIEN
NWO Golf Links