Par Excellence Demo

Advice to women golfers (and it’s not how to hit a ball) Golf is a male-dominated sport and likely to remain so for years to come. But more and more women are taking up golf and want the industry to address their specific needs. The only way to achieve this, however, is to get organised. By Nancy Berkley, President, Berkley Consulting I f you have never played golf, have already given it up or only play a few times a year, you know that the game needs to be more women-friendly. In spite of the many new initiatives and programs for women golfers, the reality is that golf operations will be maledominated for years to come. Out of a total of 30,000 golf professionals in the PGA and LPGA teaching certifications programs, only about 2,000 are women. More women are entering all levels of the golf industry, from instruction to manufacturing, but the percentage of women will increase slowly. Not only is the industry male-dominated, but women golfers are a challenging marketing segment. Women feel intimidated and need nurturing, especially at the start of their learning curve. In addition, many women complain that an 18-hole round of golf takes too long and that it’s hard to find other women or partners to play with. I sympathize with these responses. But I would rather roll up my sleeves and solve the problems than wring my hands about them – and you can’t do both at the same time. My recent book – ‘Women Welcome Here: A Guide to Growing Women’s Golf’* – is filled with suggestions about how to make golf more women-friendly. One chapter offers advice specifically for women golfers about their role in growing the game. Here’s my advice: Get organized The key to getting things done at a golf course or club is to have designated representatives and some form of women’s golf organization, formal or informal. Even if there are just a few women trying to get a program organized, designate a spokesperson or some interim officer who can communicate with the leadership of the course or organizations involved. Nothing is more frustrating to most golf professionals – and less likely to produce change – than a dozen women proposing individual suggestions to the pro shop. Remember that, as a proponent of women’s golf, you have to know your customers. Are they just a certain segment – working women, for example – or are you thinking more broadly and trying to organize a weekday morning ‘golf school’ program? Perhaps you want to start a girls’ golf club or a super-senior (women 65 and older)? Make sure you have talked with your customers about what they want and counted them. Knowing your customers will give you the most credibility when you take your ideas to the management. Know your customer There are many different ways for women to enjoy this game. You may be a competitive golfer, even though most women are not. You may like 18 holes, while an increasing number of women prefer nine. You may like the new instructor and others don’t. Your role as a leader is to balance your interest with the interest of different segments and somehow make sure that more women golf more and enjoy it more. Think beyond selfish

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Par Excellence Demo

Par Excellence Demo Contents Why I am Optimistic about Women in Business All the Presidents, Women Maverick Who Took on a Start-Up-and Learned a Valuable Lesson Golf Advice to Women Golfers (And it's Not How to Hit a Ball) Lifestyle You Shall go to the Ball, Cinderella (But First you Have to Get Real...) Travel Health

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