The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Is golf losing its appeal for young ladies and what can be done?
IN recent times a lot has been written and spoken about the dwindling numbers of young girls coming into the game of golf, which has recently prompted the R&A to try to increase participation in golf among women and girls by providing funding to support the appointment of new development managers in Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and even in Australia.
Working with its various affiliates around the world to enhance golf’s appeal, the investment forms part of the governing body’s latest drive to encourage more women, girls and families to play golf on a more regular basis and eventually go on to become members of golf clubs.
An initial three-year funding package of £75,000 per nation has been agreed between the R&A and the various unions of the five countries involved to cover the cost of the recruitment and appointment of experienced sports development staff who will work to deliver solutions and campaigns aimed at boosting female participation. Irish international Maria Dunne from Skerries has taken up such a post here in Ireland, having decided to call time on her International career at the end of last season.
Announcing the recent funding, Duncan Weir, Executive Director of Golf Development at The R&A, said: “We are aware that women and girls continue to be an under-represented group throughout golf across the world and that more work needs to be done to attract a higher number of females into the sport at a time when there are concerns around declining participation levels. We believe that a great opportunity exists, working with our affiliates, to develop inclusive and inspiring participation initiatives which position golf as a fun and enjoyable leisure activity that can provide many social and health benefits for women and families.”
Let’s look at what’s available for young ladies in our own area of Kerry or even the province of Munster. A few weeks back I listed the various tournaments for the 2018 season for under-age boys and it was like a European Tour schedule with something on literally every week once the schools break up for the summer in June. Is there anything for the girls? Not that I’m aware of here in Kerry anyway. There are a small handful of ILGU events in Munster but apart from that nothing!
The boys have the Kerry Junior League, where they get to play every single course in the county over the season, but there’s nothing to attract young girls into the game or to cater for the small handful that play the game here in Kerry.
Were there such an event like a Kerry Junior League for Girls, could each of our clubs manage to field a team to participate? I seriously doubt it, so therein lies the problem.
Perhaps this new scheme will begin to attract bigger numbers and maybe one day down the road we will see a county league for girls.