Wales Golf and Women

Welsh Ladies’ Golf Union (1904–2017)

Founded in 1904, the Welsh Ladies’ Golf Union (WLGU) was created to govern and promote women’s amateur golf across Wales. Like its contemporaries in England and Scotland, it emerged during the early expansion of women’s golf, when regional and national unions were being formed to organise championships, standardise handicapping, and select national teams.

For over a century, the WLGU ran its own championships — most notably the Welsh Ladies’ Amateur Championship, the Girls’ Championship, and inter-county competitions — as well as representing Welsh women internationally through the Ladies’ Golf Union (LGU).
Its administration was volunteer-led, with women serving as presidents, secretaries, selectors, and team captains — many drawn from a strong network of county and club associations that formed the backbone of women’s golf in Wales.

The Union also encouraged the development of young players and maintained close ties with the senior women’s community, ensuring continuity of play and leadership across generations. Through periods of social and sporting change, it remained a respected, independent organisation until the decision was made to merge with the Golf Union of Wales.

Formation and Structure

Wales Golf was established in 2017, bringing together the Golf Union of Wales (1895) and the Welsh Ladies’ Golf Union (1904).
This merger aimed to modernise governance, unify resources, and promote equality across all levels of the game. Wales Golf is responsible for developing, supporting, and promoting amateur golf for men, women, and juniors, working in alignment with the R&A and Sport Wales.

Role in Women’s Golf

Continuing the WLGU’s legacy, Wales Golf remains deeply committed to women’s participation.
It oversees women’s and girls’ national championships, talent development pathways, and supports counties and clubs to increase female membership and leadership.
The organisation actively promotes gender balance in golf administration, coaching, and officiating, and has embedded the Women in Golf Charter principles into its national strategy.

Leadership and Representation

Notably, Wales Golf is led by a female Chief Executive, Hannah McAllister, whose leadership reflects a modern, inclusive approach to sports governance.
The Board also includes a strong representation of women in senior roles, ensuring that women’s perspectives and expertise continue to shape the direction of Welsh golf.

Under this leadership, Wales Golf has become recognised as a model of gender equality in sport governance — proving that structural integration need not erase women’s influence but can, when handled thoughtfully, amplify it.

Commentary: Senior Women’s Golf in Wales

Unlike Scotland or England, Wales does not have a formally constituted national senior women’s golf association.
While Wales Golf oversees Senior Men’s competitions and rankings under its main structure, senior and veteran women’s golf remains organised informally, sustained through local and county groups rather than a single governing body.

These senior women — many of whom are former county or national players — continue to play an active role as organisers, referees, and competitors within their own regions.
Events such as the South Wales Senior Women’s Championship, North Wales Senior Women’s matches, and inter-county fixtures preserve the competitive spirit and fellowship of earlier veteran traditions, even without dedicated online presence or formal association status.

Their contribution is largely invisible in official records, yet it remains vital to the continuity of women’s golf in Wales — a living network of experienced volunteers and players who uphold the traditions of the game quietly and consistently, outside institutional frameworks.