Real problems for female golf

No one looks at the real problems for female golf membership on P.E.I. In most cases, golf has been an upper class sport. The women and men I have known who have golf memberships have few or any worries about the cost of memberships. Very often their children have lessons early on and they also have memberships. They can afford all the equipment and women in these social class frequently own cars, have maids, childcare and more.

The middle social-class of men and women are usually employed full-time. Without children, many of the women can afford the fees and time spent on the course. However, mostly the men golf and the women look after the children, the household, school work and more, after working all week. In some cases men help in the home but many men do not. Males more often than females are taught to play golf in youth.

The lower social-class of women are usually minimum income workers and often do not get any benefits on the job. P.E.I. women have moved to other provinces for full-time employment and higher pay. Some younger women are in university, training courses and have large loans. Single, divorced, widowed and retired women too often have all they can do, to put food on the table. Fifty dollars for one day of golf will buy a lot of Kraft dinners. It is not always the women’s fault that they are in this social class; it is just the way life goes for many females.

The greatest problems are: rare financial breaks for women, no child care facilities at golf courses, golf equipment rentals are high and on it goes. Flora Jean Thompson, Charlottetown