BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS
GOLF can be an intimidating game for first-time players, especially women. This might explain why the number of Australian women playing golf is not as high as it possibly should be.
But a Golf Australia program for women called Swing Fit is reversing that trend. The program introduces women to the basics of golf in an interactive way, as well as providing simple conditioning and movement exercises.
Swing Fit can also help increase your range of movement and flexibility, improve upper, mid and lower body conditioning and even your cardiovascular health.
For example, one Swing Fit program being run in Sydney’s southern and eastern suburbs has seen more than 220 graduate and take up the game socially, while nearly 10 percent have gone on to join local golf clubs.
Community golf instructor Andrea McGann started with the Swing Fit program in September 2016, introducing women to the game at Randwick, Woollahra, Bardwell Valley and East Lakes golf clubs. There are currently 55 women enrolled in the weekly sessions.
“This program eliminates the intimidation factor for women,” McGann said. “For women to start from scratch learning about golf they need to be nurtured. “In my program we do a six-week beginner program, following on from that I take them through a six-week intermediate program were they go out onto the golf course and learn about etiquette and pace of play. By the end of that they are ready to go and play with their friends or join a golf club.
“I also take them to a golf shop where they have fitting sessions, try the clubs and see what works for them. So it’s a matter of holding their hand right through a threemonth period and then they are raring to go.” McGann said without this program women would be thrown into the golfing deep end and told to swim and that “simply doesn’t work”.
“Can you imagine deciding to take on a new activity in life, and most of the ladies are 40 plus, and being told there is the 1st tee, there are your clubs … there you go. It’s too intimidating for them because it is a male dominated sport,” she said.
Swing Fit graduate Carolyn Weller said she had previously restricted her golf to the
occasional visit to the driving range but the program had given her the confidence to play on a course and, ultimately, join a golf club.
“I did the beginners six week course and really enjoyed it,” she said. “I bought some clubs did the intermediate course and from there a group of us joined Randwick Golf Club.
“We were then encouraged to play in the competitions and I have since won my division twice and my handicap is down to 36. And I only started doing to Swing Fit program last August.
“I now have the confidence to play with good players, which I would never have been able to do before.”
For further information on Swing Fit visit swingfit.com.au. You can also check out @swingfitau on Instagram and Facebook.