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The State of Women's
Golf
With regards to the "State of Women's Golf".
Jane, I can readily sympathise with your frustration with the elitist manner
which you are finding
at your new golf club. (I found your anecdotes to be somewhat horrifying.)
But I am hopeful that it is not rampant among all southern clubs. I, myself,
took up golf last year, and as the youngest woman at the club by at least
a couple of decades and a hacker to boot, was made to feel extremely welcome.
The ladies welcomed me with arms wide open, and indeed, although our monthly
medals were played in grades, the low markers were particularly encouraging
and often invited me to play with them. I am sure that the encouragement
and assistance I have received have been part of the reason that I reduced
my handicap from 40 to 27 in a matter of only months. As I have now relocated
further south, and am eagerly awaiting my first ladies comp at my new club,
I am hopeful that I don't encounter the attitudes that you have, rather,
that I find a warm welcome like that of my old club. I'll be sure to let
you know!
Jodie 7/3/04
I am an accredited Club Referee and have been on the executive of two golf
clubs, and match committee of one of them.
I was under the impression that the aim of Golf Clubs was to promote and
develop the game of Golf.
As a relative newcomer to "Womens Golf", having predominantly played
above the Tropic of Capricorn and that mostly in smaller Clubs where Medleys
were the order of the day, I have found the transition to playing mostly
Womens Golf in the southern (older) states just a bit too strong for my blood.
The fact remains that most of us come to Golf after we have raised kids etc,
etc. Women Golfers, by and large, are not a young group.
I have seen time and time again promising young players (with lovely figures)ostracised
because their shorts were too fitting/there was no collar on their shirt/their
shirt was too fitting, ad nauseum. Give it a break, remember mini skirts
and bikinis???
I have seen time and time again newcomers, who are struggling just to hit
the ball, become demoralised because the "experienced" competitor
marking their card watched them break rules and applied penalties, when a
few well chosen words could have avoided the extra strokes or disqualification
and made for a pleasant, helpful round.
I have seen time and time again members who, for one reason or another, had
not put their names down on time sheets sent home because the Committee "Could
not break the rules and send out a group larger than 4 at the end of the
field. Do you mind?
I have seen a Member sent home after turning up for her first game of golf
because she did not have a handicap/would have made a group of 5( hmm)/it
would penalise the others if she had tagged along (how?)/it is against the
WGA Handicapping Rules for her to play in Competitions for handicapping purposes
(wrong again, Extra Day cards are just that - extra!)
I have had heated exchanges with two Match Committee Representatives who
feel that Comps should be played strictly in divisions. It seems very difficult
for these women to comprehend that handicaps serve a levelling purpose (bear
in mind I am talking about massive fields of about 50 players, sigh)"I
come out to enjoy my golf, not nursemaid hackers or waste my time teaching
them" Do you mind?
I have had the temerity to challenge, in writing, a Match Committee rule
and received no reply, other than "Your comments have been noted" I
then wrote to the Board of the Club and was told it was a matter for the
Woman Golf Committee - - how helpful is that?
I'm tired of querying wrong decisions from Match Committees, who can't interpet
the rules and/or attend training courses to gain the knowledge needed to
become an effective Match person.
I could cite further examples but feel the above suffice.
I have made some good friends among Women Golfers and thoroughly enjoy my
rounds with them but, as a group, it's a nightmare. Rigid, unsporting, elitist,
ignorant and planning to stay that way.
Do I stay and fight the good fight or just dive for the Medley Comps, where
we can play serious golf and the women, with their husbands around, seem
to become more amenable?
How many of me are there out there - disillusioned with Womens Golf?
Jane 11/12/03 Obtaining
Equal Voting Rights for Women
in Golf Clubs
In answer to Fay (1/10/2002)
I would be demanding my competition
fees back from your members
as you have paid to play in
a competition,and all the ladies
cards returned should have been
used in the days competition.
A medley is a competition where
this out with Womens Golf NSW
Bruna 25/12/02
I
belong to Chatswood Golf Club
and last night male members
voted for a change in the club
constitution to comply with
the Discrimination Act.
Many
associates - particularly business
weekend players have been wanting
this for a very long time. We
wanted choice in playing Saturday
and Sunday and we wanted the
right to Vote. After this very
long wait we are finally getting
what we want so there are now
5-day, 6-day and 7-day memberships
on offer for both men and women.
All lady members are now automatically
on 6-day memberships until we
make the decision to change
up or down - which will most
likely take place at membership
renewal time early January 2003.
However
there is lots of sorting out
to be done as yet. Men may now
have access to a competition
on Thursdays if they want it
and details are yet to be sorted
out as to how they mix in with
the usual ladies comp on that
day.
Depending
on your club's constitution,
you may need to take action
against the club if they are
not complying re the Anti-Discrimination
Act. As a starting point it
is a good idea to obtain a copy
of your own constitution. From
there you'll be able to see
how the club is operating. If
your constitution does not comply
- changes to the constitution
are required by law to allow
full membership opportunities
for all classes of memberships
with everyone having the rights
to vote. Associates should be
preparing well worded letters
to the Club President, the Board,
the General Manager and anyone
else you need to make your position
and requirements known.
The
club must do something about
it and you have every right
to seek legal advice to address
your concerns. The penalties
for non-compliance are quite
high in financial terms if they
do not take action. Advice may
be available from the NSW (or
your state) Ladies Golf Union
or Association too. Re other
notes - you do need 8 players
to make up a Lady Members competition
within any competition, be it
medley or a male comp where
women play on the same day within
the same competition timeframe.
For
example only Full members can
play on Saturdays however to
have a comp Lady Members must
have 8 players or more. If you
have less than 8 you can play
but there is no Lady Mambers
comp on that day - which would
be seen by players as a practice
round. In other Clubs eg Pacific
in Qld, Castle Cove in Sydney
they have a number of tee times
and they make sure they have
their players each week so that
the competition is live. This
is fairly common practice in
clubs where they have full membership
rights. Other clubs allow women
to put their names anywhere
in the field. My advice - find
out where you stand with your
club constitution.
Organise
yourselves, educate yourselves
on the issues and the Anti-Discrimination
Laws. Then get to putting your
requirements in writing - regularly
as needed to force the changes
and enjoy the results when the
changes occur.
NOTE:
Many associates are not really
interested in making these changes
as they may perceive they have
everything they want now. Be
aware of this as they can slow
things down too. Pam 3/11/02
I
am a lady member of Tuncurry
Golf Club paying full membership
fees. The men run a Medley Competition
on Thursdays and ladies pay
the same competition fee as
the men which includes a compulsory
ball comp. However they segregate
the women in the field and treat
them as being in their own competition.
One lady had sufficient points
for a win but was told there
was no competition as not sufficient
players. Weren't all the participating
lady players entitled to a refund
except for their green fees?
The ladies' fields have been
dwindling as there is virtually
nothing to play for. Aren't
the men discriminating against
the women in making a separate
competition out of a medley?
Remember we pay full fees. Your
advice would be welcome. Fay
1/10/02
I
need to know any information
you may have to overcome discrimination
in Spring Lake Golf Club, We
are a majority at the club but
out of 15 trustees we have no
women. Helen 26/8/02
If
women were to pay an equal amount
of money shouldn't they be given
the same voting rights as the
men? Some clubs make the wives
pay an equal amount as the men
but this would almost double
the dues shouldn' the dues be
considered as coming half from
the men and half from their
wives? Helen 26/8/02
I
would be interested in a story
about any research Women In
Golf has done regarding equal
rights for women members of
golf clubs in particular voting
rights. At my club at the moment
the constitution has to be changed
to comply with anti discrimination
laws, we are constantly coming
up against a brick wall with
regard to giving women members
the right to vote on club issues.
Have you had any other comments
regarding these matters. Chris
At
my club Women are on an equal
with the male members. We are
all "members", not male or associates
as we all pay the same amount
to be a full member of the Golf
Club. Only full members are
able to vote. I have been a
Director of our club for ten
years and women members have
the same rights as the male
as to which days we can play
etc. If your club is a member
of the Registered Clubs Association,
i have a feeling that it should
comply with their regulations
concerning membership. It all
comes down to membership categories,
however if a woman wanted to
become a full member I do not
think that they would be able
to not accept it. You should
be able to get clarification
on this from the Registered
Clubs Association. They are
on the internet at http://www.clubsnsw.com.au/
Bruna of Griffith
Thank
you for your reply from Bruna
of Griffith I also originally
came from a club where everyone
paid the same and was considered
a full member etc. this seems
to be the norm in country clubs
but it is very different in
city clubs where the waiting
lists are long and fees are
higher. Our club has since changed
its constitution to take away
gender bias and make each class
of membership open to both male
and female. So now we still
have associate members and full
members but men can become associates
and women can become full members
however they did not go so far
as to give associate members
voting rights. We will continue
to battle on this as this can
still be considered discriminatory
under the act. The board says
unless you pay full fees you
cannot vote, however there are
members of the club who pay
less fees than an associate
member and have the right to
vote. It will also be interesting
to see what happens when the
first female applies to become
a full member and wishes to
play on a Saturday. The board
thinks it has solved its problem
by removing its gender bias
from the constitution but in
our eyes it has created more
problems for itself and the
simple solution is to give all
members the vote. I will keep
you informed. Regards Chris
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Are
golf lessons too expensive.
Are they worthwhile
Lessons
are indeed worthwhile. We all
develop bad habits and it really
is depressing and distressing
to have round after round of
fairly indifferent golf, when
very often all one needs is
a small reminder and/or correction
from the pro. Lessons are pretty
expensive but then again most
people have invested a fair
amount of time and money and
why not try and get the best
return on your investment!.
Shiela
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Coverage
of Women's Golf tours
I
am currently in Houston, Texas
on holiday and have watched
some ladies golf on television.
I saw Sorenstam win the Nabisco
Championship. Ladies golf gets
alot more publicity here in
America and more prizemoney
and I'm sure the trend will
continue in Australia. With
great role models such as Karrie
Webb the future of Australian
ladies golf is bright. Rebecca
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Ladies Golf Fashion and restrictions
My
name is Vonny Collison,I started
playing golf a few years ago,and
found no fashionable golf clothes
for ladies. SO I started my
own,my range is called TITANIA
GOLF WEAR and it is fantastic!,like
any new business i've had a
lot to learn and made mistakes
however my range has caught
the eye of one of Australias
best and glamourous lady golfers
and we are just about to join
forces,i can't say too much
just yet but relax we will bring
fashion to the golf course in
a big way.We are going to name
the new range after her so you
will not miss it when you hear
it i just cant tell you who
she is just jet.If you are looking
for Titania in the shops you
more than likely wont find any
as they sold out straight away.
HERE'S TO FASHION ON THE GOLF
COURSE vonny 6/1/03 Vonney please
email me back as your return
email address was not recognised.
What
fashions in Ladies Golf? I am
on the way back to golf after
an 8 year break(and a 2 {maybe
2.5) size increase) and I'm
having a real struggle finding
anything halfway decent, at
a reasonable price, to wear
on the golf course. endowed
sisters??????? uncharitable.
Jane 6/1/03
I
think the dress standards for
ladies are appropriate - however,
if these standards are to be
in place - we need to be able
to buy attire that fits these
rules! As
a new player to the sport, I
found most of my modern fashions
unacceptable on Sydney's courses
(baggy shorts with large cargo-style
pockets especially).
I
went in search of specific ladies
golf attire and found virtually
none in the Sydney metropolitan
area. I am a small build - size
6 - and most golf stores only
carried sizes 10 (more like
size 12) and upward - and even
then, the ranges of clothing
were pitiful. In the end, I
canvassed shopping centres and
major retailers and found nothing
in the current fashions that
were appropriate - e.g. elasticised
waists on shorts/skirts.
Finally
after days of driving, searching
and frustration - I had to make
my own skirts and shorts to
wear! As a young player, I think
the current dress standards
of golf are worth keeping -
as long as there are companies
out there willing to dress lady
players of all shapes and sizes
(especially younger and smaller
ones like me!) . Amanda 21/11/02
I
agree with bruro. I would like
to see more young women play
golf, and the way to encourage
this is fashion. Perhaps leggings
and shorts skirts for winter
fashion this year !! What is
your view?? I am living in a
country town that needs to update.
Vonnie
I
think the majority of lady golfers
wear very sensible clothes on
the golf course, and it is up
to the Club and its Pro shop
to educate the public in what
is acceptable at their club.
As for the Lady Professionals
I feel that they all dress according
to what suits their shapes and
sizes and with the band of young
upcomming attractive girls that
Australia has at the moment
it can only be a plus for Womens
Golf. Do we want to turn the
young girls away with too many
restrictions? Its hard enough
to get them interested now!!
bruroo
I
think we do need dress restrictions
and they be used as a guide
only. Most women golfers do
dress appropriately when on
the course and look neat and
tidy. I watched the Ladies Australian
Open at Yarra Yarra and was
not impressed with the dress
of some of the professional
players. Especially the short
shorts one professional had
on I know it was hot, but her
dress was suitable for the beach
not on the golf course. Are
there no dress restrictions
for professional lady golfers
when playing in a tournament?
I could be wrong but I believe
the men pros are required to
conform to a standard of dress
set down by the governing body
when they play in tournaments.
Coral
On
some public courses, there are
rules of dress applied to members
and associate members, but the
public are allowed to dress
however they please (including
T-shirts, joggers, and skimpy
tops and 'barely there' short
shorts and mini skirts. I think
those ladies who have nice legs
should be permitted to wear
shorter shorts, within a reasonable
length i.e. 6" above the ground
when kneeling. Buffy
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Handicapping
system the same for Men and
Women ???
Ladies
playing Matchplay should give
all strokes up to 36 handicap,
and this should include eclectics
as well. The men give all strokes,
up to 27 handicap, and it seems
to work O'K. Kitty 23/8/02
I
agree with Di re handicapping
systems. I think the reason
for the womens being different
to the mens is the number of
players. It would be nice also
if the rule book was written
in such a way as to everyone
being able to come to the same
interpretation. It was very
sad to see Sergio take a penalty
on a interpretation difference.
Bruna
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