Golf's Evolution: Why More Women Are Saying 'Yes' to the Game
Remember Patty Berg? Back in ’46, she snagged the first U.S. Women’s Open. Took home $5,600 in war bonds. Wild, right? Fast forward eighty years, and the U.S. Women’s Open is a whole different beast. We’re talking 156 of the absolute best female players duking it out at Riviera for a cool $12 million purse. The numbers alone tell a story. A damn good one. But stats? They only scratch the surface.
Golf’s booming. Like, really booming. And women are a massive part of that surge. We’re seeing nearly 8 million women playing in the U.S., a 46% jump since 2019. They’re now 28% of all golfers. Spending billions. Yet, for so many, golf still feels like some exclusive club. Unwritten rules. Weird codes of conduct. It just doesn’t feel… welcoming. Despite all the progress, there’s still a gap. A gap that locks women out of the camaraderie, the competition, and yeah, those all-important relationships and opportunities that golf just seems to churn out.
That’s the gap some folks are determined to close. And they’re making damn good progress.
Bridging the Divide: An Immersive Golf Experience
Picture this: The U.S. Women’s Open, presented by Ally. They hosted an event, “Golf with Us.” Forty female business pros, many new to the game, got an intense day of instruction and just… talking. On the range, eight pros were on hand, covering everything. Full swing, short game, putting. Some shots were pure magic, others… well, let’s just say they were memorable. Nobody was keeping score. The goal wasn’t to turn them into pros overnight. It was something bigger: getting these women comfortable and confident with a game that’s got serious perks, both on and off the course.
Tisha Alyn, a former pro, media personality, and entrepreneur, moderated a panel. She’s been in golf her whole life. For her, it’s been the source of *every* opportunity, *most* friendships, *most* connections, *most* employees. She knew she was an outlier in that room. A quick show of hands confirmed it. Most had played before. But business deals on the course? Crickets. That gulf. It’s real.
Her panelists knew it all too well. Lauren Campbell from Ally, who grew up with golf through her dad, has spent her career making the game more inviting for women. Kat Harwood from Deloitte started as a cart passenger, just enjoying the ride. Curiosity got the best of her. She started swinging. Liked it. Wasn’t terrible. Katie Conway, USGA’s senior director of partnerships, grew up a fan’s daughter. Weekends revolved around golf. Even worked at courses. But never picked up a club. Eleven years in, she’s still learning. Still trying to break 100.
And that’s exactly the point. It’s not about the score. Not yet, anyway.
Game-Changing Advice for Aspiring Golfers
The panel dropped some serious wisdom. Conway talked about treating every round as a learning opportunity. A swing tip. Etiquette. The rhythm of the game. She played Pebble Beach once. Didn’t set any records, but she focused on the one hole she played damn well. That’s the mindset. “Women are less exposed to golf,” she said. “And we’re probably harder on ourselves than we should be.” Find that one good shot. Hold onto it.
Harwood had a perfect follow-up: Don’t make a production out of the bad shots. No dramatic sighs. No apologizing to your playing partners. “I realized I was drawing attention to my bad shots,” she admitted. Most of the judgment golfers fear? It’s all in their heads. Nobody cares how you play as long as you’re not slowing things down. “Just pick up the ball and move on.” Solid advice.
And then there’s the “go all in” philosophy. For a while, Harwood never took a lesson. Used it as an excuse. Then she realized how ridiculous that was. “I wouldn’t do that in any other aspect of my life.” Want to cook? Take a class. Golf deserves the same respect. It’s not some casual hobby you just stumble into and magically master. It takes effort. It takes learning.
Confidence on the Course: Mindset Matters
The women in the audience weren’t beginners in life. They were accomplished professionals, mothers, wives. But Alyn was blunt about how long it can take to feel truly at home in the game. And how to handle those daunting moments. Being the only woman at a golf outing? It’s not that different from being the only woman in a boardroom. Both can be intimidating as hell. But both can be flipped. Some mental gymnastics are all it takes. “You might think, ‘Holy crap, there are only two or three women in this room,’” she said. “I’m like, ‘Heck yeah, I’m here.’”
Confidence on the course can be a matter of faking it ‘til you make it. “You all are badasses in this room. You have so much conviction in whatever you try.” Apply that same mentality to golf. Eventually, that feeling becomes real. It stops being an act. It becomes you.
And whatever you’re feeling out there? Remember this: It’s a game. It’s supposed to be fun. It’s not life or death. It’s not a performance review. It’s not a high-stakes negotiation. It’s just… golf.
Breaking Down Barriers: The Industry’s Role
The problem is, golf can feel so serious. Walled off by barriers – some real, some imagined – that the industry is actually trying to tear down. Look at the U.S. Women’s Open itself. The oldest championship in women’s golf. Its growth over eight decades is a damn good reflection of the game’s changing face. It’s not just for the old guard anymore. It’s for everyone.
As Conway pointed out, you don’t need to be a pro to be part of the picture. She’s not delusional about her game. Still aiming to break 100. But her bigger ambition? It’s not measured in strokes. In the past, when work outings came up, she’d hesitate. Ask tentative questions. Would she be the only woman? Did they know her skill level? She wants to ditch that self-doubt. The USGA, along with partners like Ally, are actively working to make golf more accessible.
“I’d love to get to a place where I just say yes,” she said. “I’d be happy to play with those clients without any caveats.”
She urged the women in the room to do the same. Whether it’s an invite to the driving range, a mini-golf outing, or a company scramble. Just say yes. It doesn’t have to be a tournament. It doesn’t have to be a full 18 holes. A quick nine. A practice session. Anything. Just get out there.
“Just say yes to golf somewhere in your life,” she advised. “It will change your life personally and professionally.” And honestly? She’s probably right. Golf has a way of doing that. It opens doors you never knew existed. It builds connections you never anticipated. It teaches you lessons you can apply everywhere. So, if you’ve been on the fence, thinking golf isn’t for you? Think again. The game is evolving. It’s becoming more inclusive. And it’s waiting for you to say yes.