7. Clubs, Communities & the Next Generation of Women Golfers
Why the future of golf depends on the communities women create — and the environments clubs cultivate
Overview
Golf clubs are not just sporting facilities.
They are communities, social ecosystems, and for many women, they are among the few places where identity, friendship, autonomy, and emotional support intersect in meaningful ways.
Across 135 years of women’s golf history, one pattern is unmistakable:
Women thrive in environments where community is strong — and drift away when it weakens or disappears.
This page explores the role of clubs in shaping women’s participation, why community is the central engine of the women’s game, and what the next generation of women golfers needs from the places where they play.
Why Clubs Matter So Much in Women’s Golf
Because for women, golf is never “just a sport.”
It is:
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a social anchor
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a wellbeing space
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a multi-generational network
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a place of belonging
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a site of identity and expression
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a community hub
Historical records — from the early LGU era to interwar diaries, post-war women’s sections, and modern senior networks — all show the same truth:
Women stay in golf when they stay connected.
Clubs are the primary source of that connection.
Historical Foundations
1. Early women’s sections built the roots of community.
The fishwives of Musselburgh, early LGU pioneers, and the first club women’s committees created a culture of:
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shared responsibility
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collective improvement
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friendship
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local identity
2. Interwar clubs became social spaces for female autonomy.
Women travelled, competed, laughed, supported each other, and built lifelong bonds around courses and clubhouses.
3. Post-war women’s sections thrived because clubs became social lifelines.
At a time when women’s work and social mobility were limited, clubs offered:
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routine
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belonging
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intergenerational friendships
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competitive play
4. Senior women inherited these traditions and continue to carry them.
Their opens, matches, away days, and friendships remain among the strongest cultural structures in modern golf.
These communities are not incidental — they are foundational.
Modern Realities for Clubs
The contemporary woman golfer faces a different world:
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careers are demanding
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domestic responsibilities remain unequal
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time is fragmented
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childcare and commuting reduce weekday availability
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mid-life social networks often weaken
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weekend access is variable
This creates gaps in continuity precisely where clubs have the most power to intervene.
What the Next Generation of Women Golfers Needs
1. Visibility
Women and girls need to see:
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senior women celebrated
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mid-life women included in teams
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young women represented in club communications
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women’s competitions shown as core, not peripheral
Visibility creates belonging.
2. Flexible Structures
Modern women require structures that adapt to life stages:
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weekend competitions
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mixed formats
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short-form events
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return-to-golf programmes
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multi-tee and multi-ability competitions
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childcare-aware scheduling
Flexibility equals access.
3. Community, Not Just Membership
Membership is transactional.
Community is relational.
Women need:
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informal groups
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social rounds
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mentorship from senior women
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mixed socials
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intergenerational events
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inclusive communication
Community equals retention.
4. Emotional Continuity
Women stay when the emotional thread stays intact through:
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education
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work
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marriage
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parenthood
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career change
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relocation
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ageing
Clubs must build touchpoints for women at all stages — not just at entry.
5. Pathways for Every Life Stage
Including:
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juniors
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students
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early professionals
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mid-life women
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senior and super-senior golfers
Without these layers, women fall out during transition points.
Implications for Clubs
1. Clubs must treat women’s golf as a core part of their identity, not an add-on.
Women are essential to club sustainability — culturally, socially, and financially.
2. Senior women are key to welcoming and supporting new generations.
They are natural community builders.
3. Weekend access must be recognised as equity, not convenience.
Without it, the mid-life gap cannot be closed.
4. Clubs should build modern communication channels.
WhatsApp groups, mentoring networks, integrated calendars, flexible sign-up systems — all reduce friction and increase connection.
5. A thriving women’s community strengthens the whole club.
It improves:
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financial stability
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social cohesion
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intergenerational balance
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club culture
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reputation and attractiveness
Why This Matters for the Future
Golf is entering an era where community and wellbeing will be as important as performance.
Women — across all ages, but especially seniors — excel at creating the social structures that:
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retain members
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build club culture
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generate intergenerational belonging
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support emotional wellbeing
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attract newcomers
The future of golf depends on clubs shifting from a facility mindset to a community mindset.
The Core Insight
Women’s golf grows strongest where community grows strongest.
Clubs are the most powerful place to build that future.