Industry leaders, golf club representatives, volunteers, and stakeholders gathered at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham on Friday, October 9, for England Golf’s Women and Girls Summit. Supported by headline sponsor Your Golf Travel, the event focused on breaking down barriers, challenging perceptions, and establishing welcoming environments to grow female participation in golf.
The summit addressed participation challenges beyond introducing the game to new players. Discussions highlighted the need for golf clubs to examine their environments, user experiences, and systemic obstacles that prevent women and girls from engaging with the sport.
A central takeaway was incorporating inclusion and accessibility into daily club operations. Attendees emphasized that clubs are responsible for offering comfortable, supportive spaces where women and girls can develop from initial introduction through to long-term membership.
Delegates explored strategies to align golf with broader interests, such as social interaction, community engagement, and personal wellbeing. Speakers noted that new golfers often have different motivations than existing members, requiring clubs to rethink traditional approaches and offer flexible entry points to reach wider audiences.
The summit underscored industry-wide collaboration, focusing on sharing successful initiatives and implementing practical actions based on individual club experiences.
Reflections from the event noted that while purposeful work is underway across the country to promote inclusion, the ongoing challenge is to sustain this momentum, re-examine established thinking, and ensure women and girls have continued opportunities to play and progress in the game.
