Women’s sport, in general, has seen a huge spike in interest over the last decade or so and that trend has been no different in the case of golf. 
The Solheim Cup, the women’s equivalent of the Ryder Cup, was attended by 130,000 fans in 2021 and broadcast to around 700 million homes in 239 countries/territories. That is just the tip of the iceberg. The women’s game has enjoyed huge growth and there may be a case that the pandemic has played a role in that, with the number of women playing golf in the UK increasing from 400,000 to 1.5 million.
Until Covid-19 hit, female players would usually make up only around 10% of all players, with that increasing to 28%. That means that just over one in four golfers are female and there is no sign of it stopping there.
Female Role Models
As the women’s game has increased, so too has the number of female role models that girls and women have to look up to. This includes Jin Young Ko, Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko and Patty Tavatanakit who are at the top of the world sport, as well as the likes of the legendary Mickey Wright, Patty Berg and Annika Sorenstam.
As more and more women are seen on the global stage competing at the highest level, taking the spotlight, that will undoubtedly encourage more and more young girls to ask for a set of golf clubs for their birthday. How golf and, specifically, the LPGA, market the game, tournaments and players is crucial.
Having already mentioned that last year’s Solheim Cup was the most viewed in history, that is well supplemented with plenty of televised action around the world. As per the LPGA’s Audience Overview, an average of 3.4 million unique viewers watch each LPGA broadcast across all media channels, with over 500 hours of live broadcast globally.
That coverage provides players with ample opportunity to showcase their talents, as well as for fans of the game to watch on. The hope is that young girls, who may not have otherwise had much of an interest in golf, may see someone who they can relate to swinging a club and want to follow their lead.
Accessibility
Golf has become more accessible for girls and women, with more and more clubs admitting female members that were historically male-only. In 2022, it seems crazy to think of clubs refusing to admit female members, but it wasn’t until 2019 when Glasgow Golf Club welcomed their first female member.
With generations of girls and women denied the opportunity to play at clubs up and down the country, it is little wonder why it has taken as long as it has for the female game to thrive as much as it has. Now, with attitudes changing for the better, thousands of girls now have the opportunity to play the sport that their mothers and grandmothers may have been denied.
As golf is a non-contact sport, there is little reason why boys and girls cannot compete alongside each other. This means that there is a reduced necessity for all-girl competitions (although there will always be a place for them) when girls can play against the boys on an even playing field. Of course, in the case of adults there is a major difference in terms of strength and driving distance, so men and women’s competitions are needed.
Rewards and Prize Money
In 2022, there will be a massive increase in prize money. The US Women’s Open’s overall prize money will increase from $5.5 million in 2021 to $10 million, with that figure increasing further to $12 million over the next five years. In contrast, the overall prize fund for the men’s US Open was $12.5 million for 2021.
The increase in the rewards on offer means that golf suddenly becomes a much more viable career choice for players outside of the world’s top few. Women can work towards a career in golf, dedicating the time and resources required to be the best they can be, rather than juggling practice and tournaments around a day job. This increases the overall standard of the field.
With more on offer and an ever-increasing opportunity to both watch and play, women’s golf’s rise is set to continue long into the future.
