Add nurseries and gyms to golf clubs to encourage more women to tee off, says report

GOLF clubs should consider installing on-site nurseries to encourage more women to take up the sport, a report has suggested.

The study, carried out by the University of Edinburgh, suggests organisations add gyms, walking routes and childcare to increase membership.

Martin Slumbers, the chief executive of the world’s oldest golf club, The R&A, warned that the sport had become “flat” as he launched a drive to increase female membership.

The UK golf industry is worth £2 billion annually but historically the game has not been welcoming to female players.

The tide has changed in recent years, with an increase in the number of clubs now allowing women. Four years ago, The R&A voted in favour of female membership for the first time.

Experts believe past reluctance to accept new members has led to stagnating levels of participation in the sport. The number of regular golfers in the UK has remained at the same level as 20 years ago, with an estimated four million playing 12 times or more a year.

The number of people playing once a year has fallen from 1.54million in 2007 to 1.13million in 2016.

Researchers from the university questioned international golf experts to investigate ways to attract new participants. Among the suggestions were adding features to existing clubs such as childcare facilities and gyms.

Lead researcher Dr Andrew Murray, from the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre at the University of Edinburgh, said: “Golfers stand to gain physical health, mental health and longevity benefits by playing the sport regularly. We advise golfers to play often, to walk the course and to warm up properly, which can help improve their score and decrease the chance of injury.

“We hope the consensus will contribute to an improved understanding of golf ’s potential benefits, and aid the industry in making decisions that improve well-being across society.”

The study is published in time for this week’s Ryder Cup, and appears in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

The research also recommends initiatives to support the development of golf in places where it is a relatively new sport, and suggests that price structures should be developed with entry-level players – rather than club members – in mind.