Iron lady Jenni’s drive to get more women and girls into golf
SHE’S one of Scotland’s favourite TV and radio presenters – but Jenni Falconer is swapping the screen for the green in a bid to get more women and girls involved in golf.
Glasgow-born Ms Falconer, 46, who took up golf in 2019, now plays regularly with her parents, her husband James Midgley and their ten-year-old daughter Ella Rose – and has even considered turning professional.
She said: ‘I would love that. I love golf and it’s an area I never thought would become part of my professional life. Since I took up golf three years ago, it’s changed my life. I just want to go on the golf course as often as I can.
‘Golf’s brilliant for the whole family.
I play once a month with my uncle. I play with my mum and my dad. My husband has seen how much fun I get out of it and so he has taken up the game and we play together.
‘Our little girl is ten years old, has a set of junior clubs and, annoyingly, whenever she hits the ball it goes exactly where she wants it to.’
Now the Smooth Radio breakfast host is joining up with the global governing body for golf, the R&A, for its new campaign #FOREeveryone, which sets out to make golf more inclusive.
‘For a long time women weren’t allowed in certain clubs which is such an antiquated idea now,’ Ms Falconer said. ‘Things are changing and they have to change. It’s
2022 and it’s nice to look to the next generation like my daughter who doesn’t see any limits to what she can do.’
According to the R&A, the number of people playing golf in the UK is up by
10 per cent since 2019.
‘The biggest hindrance, especially with women playing golf, is getting the confidence to do it,’ Ms Falconer said. ‘Golf is all about being active, being healthy, being away from technology, getting out there and enjoying the fresh air and being in nature.’
She added: ‘I just wish I’d taken it up earlier. I’d encourage anyone to give it a go. I’ve got a lot of male friends who play, so the drive at the moment is to get more of my girlfriends to take it up.’
For more information go to FOREeveryone.com.