Leaked Email To Pro Suggests Practice Facilities Only Available For Men
The email from an unnamed club to a pro with Epson Tour status explains she is not entitled to practice privileges
There is no doubt that great strides have been made in recent years as women campaign for equal rights to men at golf clubs.
That has been helped by proposals including how pro shops and clubs can cater for female golfers. Even higher up in the game, progress is undoubtedly being made too. For example, August’s AIG Women’s Open marked another milestone moment as venue Muirfield hosted a women’s Major for the first time.
However, there are often reminders that work needs to be done in the game to ensure women have the same privileges as men. One such example has come to light in the form of a leaked email published by Twitter account Monday Q Info. The email was sent by an unnamed club to an Epson Tour member explaining its policy on offering practice privileges with tour status.
The letter says: "Thank you for your Inquiry. Our property only extends practice/playing privileges to players on the following tours: PGA Tour, Champions Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Latino America, Forme Tour and PGA Tour China." Tellingly, each of those is a men’s tour, meaning that the pro is not eligible as she belongs to the official developmental tour of the LPGA Tour.
Dear Clubs,The below letter is to a player with Epson Tour status. In layman’s terms this says they do in fact let players w status have practice privileges (for free)…but only if you’re a male. But they would be happy to this woman pro a membership Pretty shitty pic.twitter.com/sgAK7K4fAfDecember 12, 2022
The email continues: “I am happy to help out on the rare occasion but am required to follow our company’s policies.” The email concludes by offering another contact to the pro for information on becoming a member
While the latter two points my seem encouraging - namely, that tweaks to the policies can be made and that women are eligible for membership, the fact that no women’s tours are listed as applicable for practice privileges suggests that, while encouraging progress is being made to ensure inclusivity to women in the game, there is still a long way to go before that particular battle is won.
Looking for the perfect gift for the festive season? Check out the best Christmas Golf Gift Ideas
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.
Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
-
LIV Golf Pair Hint At Ryder Cup-Style Match Against PGA Tour
Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau have hinted that their 'Showdown' match with Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler could be just a preview of a Ryder Cup style LIV Golf-PGA Tour clash in the future
By Paul Higham Published
-
'It Was Really About Us Taking This Into Our Own Hands' - McIlroy On How PGA Tour-LIV Golf Showdown Came To Fruition
Rory McIlroy says the players organized the PGA Tour-LIV Golf Showdown match themselves to show fans they're trying to bring the sport back together
By Paul Higham Published
-
R&A Introduces New Transgender Policy For Top Women's Golf Events
The R&A has introduced a new transgender policy prohibiting golfers who have been through male puberty from taking part in top women's events
By Paul Higham Published
-
Tony Finau Pulls Out Of Grant Thornton Invitational
Tony Finau has withdrawn from the Grant Thornton Invitational due to a knee injury, with his place alongside Nelly Korda being taken up by Daniel Berger
By Paul Higham Published
-
NCAA Div 1 Champion, World No.14 And LET Winners Amongst 26 Players Who Secured 2025 LPGA Tour Cards
After almost a week of drama, 26 players have secured their playing rights on the LPGA Tour for 2025, with 10 rookies joining the top circuit
By Matt Cradock Published
-
American Pro DQ'd From LET Q-School Without Hitting A Shot
Gabby Lemieux travelled over to North Africa for Ladies European Tour Q-School but was disqualified on the first morning of action
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Grant Thornton Invitational Odds, Picks And Predictions
The mixed pairs event returns for another year, with 32 of the biggest names from both the PGA and LPGA Tour circuits featuring once again
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Nelly Korda One Of Three Golfers In Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2024 As Tennis Continues To Dominate
Korda topped the total earnings for a female golfer in 2024, but one of her rivals picked up more money from on-course achievements...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
‘Every Time I Would Think About It Or I'd Have Them Conversations, I Would Get A Little Bit Upset' - Amy Boulden Opens Up On Retirement Decision
Amy Boulden officially retired from pro golf recently but shared that she is not completely closed off to the idea of making tour starts again one day...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
'The Greatest Achievement I’ve Earned In My Life Taken From Me” - Transgender Golfer Hailey Davidson Responds To LPGA Ban
Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson has responded to being banned by the LPGA with several posts on social media crtitcizing the decision
By Paul Higham Published