The R&A unveiled its new Women in Golf Charter in May 2018 as part of the organisation’s global drive to increase the number of women and girls participating in golf and to encourage more opportunities for women to work within the golf industry.
The Women in Golf Charter intends to inspire an industry-wide commitment to developing a more inclusive culture within golf around the world and enable more women and girls to flourish and maximise their potential at all levels of the sport. More than 70 clubs in Scotland have now committed to the Charter and we’re looking for even more.
Adoption of the Charter requires national associations, clubs and other golf bodies to build on and develop initiatives which will focus on encouraging more women and girls to play golf and stay within the sport as members of clubs, while also empowering women to enjoy successful careers working within the golf industry.
The Women in Golf Charter specifically aims to:
- Strengthen the focus on gender balance and provide a united position for the golf industry
- Commit national federations and organisations to support measures targeted at increasing participation of women, girls and families in golf
- Call upon signatories to take positive action to support the recruitment, retention and progression of women working at all levels of the sport
- Set individual targets for national associations for participation and membership and reporting progress annually
- Develop an inclusive environment for women and girls within golf
Women in Golf Charter – Signatories
This section of the website provides signposts to the Women in Golf Charter sign-up form, Membership Equality Guidance and our recommended club commitments, while additional support can be accessed through your Regional Club Development Officer or via Carol Harvey, Scottish Golf’s Women and Young People Development Manager.
Club Commitments and Registration Form:
As a signatory of the Charter and as part of our aim to grow female membership in Scotland we are encouraging all affiliated clubs across the country to make their own commitment to the Charter. The Charter aims to make the game more accessible and inclusive for everyone and involves making a minimum of three commitments that the club will implement. Scottish Golf’s Development Team will work with clubs to take positive steps towards achieving their commitments.
From making the switch to ability-based tees to staging male and female events on the same day, there are a range of options that clubs can commit to as part of the Charter.
To pledge your commitment to the Charter please complete the registration form below.
> Registration Form
Once your commitments have been selected you should now complete the following:
- Assign timescales to your pledges acknowledging that they are time specific;
- Link your commitments to the club’s business plan and/or create your own Club Charter specific to Women and Golf;
- Publicise your commitments to your members;
- Share your pledge with your Scottish Golf Regional Club Development Officer.
- Once complete, your Club will be recognised as an R&A Women in Golf signatory and your commitments will be listed on The R&A and Scottish Golf websites.
Women’s Membership Advice Note
As part of our commitment to the Women in Golf Charter, we are pleased to provide clubs with guidance on recommendations for changes required to deliver equality of membership. Please click on the link to download our updated advice note, with additional support available via your Regional Club Development Officer.
> Women’s Membership Advice Note
Scottish Golf – Women in Golf Charter Pledge
Scottish Golf, the governing body for golf in Scotland, is proud to have signed The R&A ‘Women in Golf Charter’ and pledge our support to work towards its goals, together with our clubs, golfers, stakeholders and partners.
Our commitment to the Charter is underlined by the new Scottish Golf Strategy, which encompasses our primary strategic priority of increasing national membership through growing the number of women and junior members by 15,000 over the next four years.
Our activity will focus on the following key areas to address gender imbalance and cultural change across golf clubs in Scotland, including:
- Increase the percentage of female members from its current level of 13%
- Increase representation of women on club committees, senior roles and workforce within clubs through influencing modern, good practice governance
- Drive membership equality, including non-gender specific tee-times availability
- Promote gender neutral tees with a change of positioning to ability level tees
- Increase awareness of the need for culture and behavioural change within golf clubs
- Showcase female role models at all levels of the game including Tour professionals, leading amateurs, coaches, club managers, volunteers, members and beginner golfers
- Promote change within the golf club environment to achieve an inclusive, welcoming and family-friendly experience for all
- Deliver national participation programmes for juniors and beginners that are tailored to suit the needs of prospective female golfers
- Working with clubs in promoting a wide range of events and formats to cater for all golfers and potential golfers regardless of background or ability.
In addition to signing our pledge to the Charter, raising the profile of Women in Golf has been at the heart of our organisation since its formation in October 2015, with the following already achieved:
- We have had a female Chair since October 2015;
- Our current President is female;
- 50% of our executive workforce are female;
- 33% of our Non-Executive Board are female;
- 40% of our Senior Management Team are female;
- Equal opportunities for elite level female amateur golfers since amalgamation in 2015
- Achievement of sportscotland’s Equality Standards Foundation Level with a commitment to achieving Intermediary Level.
We look forward to working with The R&A to promote the Charter, encourage our clubs to commit to actions within the Charter and grow the number of women and girls playing and working within golf in Scotland.
