'Golf Clubs Are Changing Their Attitudes Towards Women' - Carly Booth
Scotland's LET player Carly Booth believes progress is being made but we can do more to get kids, girls in particular, playing golf
To coincide with #BreakTheBias, the campaign theme for International Women’s Day (8 March), we spoke to three-time Ladies European Tour winner Carly Booth who believes that women’s golf has made significant progress in terms of becoming a more gender-neutral sport, but there is still work to be done.
The 29-year old Scottish golfer, who burst onto the amateur scene at the tender age of 11 and played in the Curtis Cup at St Andrews aged 14, said: “When I was growing up, opportunities for young girls were non-existent. I had to play with junior boys or the ladies, and although this helped me to improve more quickly, it wasn’t always what I would have chosen.”
Speaking fresh off the back of a two-day shoot with International Leisure Group (ILG) which incorporates golf retailer and leisure brands American Golf and Online Golf, for which Booth has recently become an ambassador, she enthused about the shoot as an example of how companies are helping to change the face of golf to make the sport more inclusive.
“It was so much fun because there was myself, two male models of varying age, and 8-year-old Maybel Brooks, an up-and-coming golf star who American Golf is supporting in her golf journey. That is what I love to see, the diversity and different generations, showing golf is for everyone.”
This is just one of many small but meaningful changes that Booth, who is currently recovering from shoulder surgery before she kickstarts her LET season at the Madrid Ladies Open in May, has witnessed since turning pro aged 17.
“I feel we’ve made so much progress, women are no longer made to feel that it’s a masculine sport. Men are starting to respect us more and many golf clubs are changing their attitudes towards women, and that has been a really big thing. Some people will always be stuck in their ways, but that’s just the way it is.”
There might be more opportunities for girls to get into golf compared to Booth’s junior days, as well as them feeling more comfortable playing a game that was traditionally a male sport, but she strongly believes that there should be more investment at grassroots level if we are to encourage greater participation, referring to girls in particular.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
“As a country we need to invest in providing more opportunities at school to play golf, as generally kids are only encouraged to play traditional sports like hockey, cricket, netball, tennis etc. Why not organise an after-school bus to take kids to a golf course? Golf clubs should be more open-minded about these ideas, then the club pros are more likely to get on board – organise a 3-hole competition, something to get kids interested.”
In a sport that is constantly talking about increasing equality and diversity, she added that mixed golf at all levels is crucial.
“Henrik (Stenson) and Annika (Sorenstam) did a great job in getting the Scandinavian Mixed off the ground to show that we can actually play golf together, but mixed golf should be introduced to juniors too, as this will help to change traditional club culture so it becomes the norm for future generations.”
Alison Root has over 25 years experience working in media and events, predominantly dedicated to golf, in particular the women’s game. Until 2020, for over a decade Alison edited Women & Golf magazine and website, and is now the full-time Women's Editor for Golf Monthly. Alison is a respected and leading voice in the women's game, overseeing content that communicates to active golfers from grassroots through to the professional scene, and developing collaborative relationships to widen Golf Monthly's female audience across all platforms to elevate women's golf to a new level. She is a 16-handicap golfer (should be better) and despite having had the fantastic opportunity to play some of the best golf courses around the world, Kingsbarns in Scotland is her favourite.
-
Texas Children's Houston Open Tee Times - Rounds One And Two
Scottie Scheffler is in one of the standout groups for the opening two rounds of the Texas Children's Houston Open
By Mike Hall Published
-
Time Is Running Out To Earn A Masters Spot - Here's How These Three PGA Tour Pros Can Keep Augusta Dream Alive (Without Winning)
Three players who aren’t yet confirmed for the Major can give themselves a fighting chance this week – even if they don’t win
By Mike Hall Published
-
LPGA Tour Prize Fund Surpasses $120m After Boost For JM Eagle LA Championship
The JM Eagle LA Championship will offer a record $3.75m, which sees the overall prize fund for the LPGA Tour season now stand at over $120m
By Mike Hall Published
-
Ford Championship Presented By KCC Prize Money Payout 2024
A world-class field heads to Arizona for the inaugural event, where the largest purse of the LPGA Tour season so far is available
By Mike Hall Published
-
Star Amateur Rachel Heck Announces Surprising Decision About Her Future
The former World No.3 amateur wrote a letter - published by No Laying Up - which explained the reasons behind her decision
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Nelly Korda Moves To World Number One After Seri Pak Championship Playoff Victory
Korda defeated Ryann O'Toole with a birdie at the first playoff hole to secure a second LPGA Tour title of 2024
By Matt Cradock Published
-
There Was A Huge Step Forward For Women's Golf This Week, And It's About Time
Female golfers have to work twice as hard as men to achieve equal treatment, but in some areas the gap is finally shrinking
By Alison Root Published
-
Multiple Major Champion And Former World No.1 Announces Retirement Aged 33
So Yeon Ryu has announced her retirement after 17 years as a professional, where she won over 20 times including two Majors
By Elliott Heath Published
-
'School Stresses Me Out A Little Bit More Than Golf Does' - Rose Zhang On Juggling Crazy College Schedule With Pro Career
The 20-year-old Stanford student had an exam and a 15-page paper to complete this week before preparing for her second LPGA Tour event of the year
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
Report: Olympics Set To Add Mixed-Team Golf Event For 2028 Los Angeles Games
Olympic officials are reportedly close to finalizing a mixed-team competition involving male and female players for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles
By Joel Kulasingham Published