Women volunteers around Wales help golf clubs become more inclusive, it has been shown as part of Women and Girls Week.
Wales Golf has launched Women and Girls Week, with the chance to focus on volunteers today (Tuesday) and the contribution they make to golf clubs round Wales.
Wales Golf Volunteer of the Year Donna Grimshaw sums up those benefits at South Pembrokeshire, but female volunteers cover all areas such as Patricia Neilson who has recently qualified as a level two referee.
The increase in numbers of female volunteers has helped change the make-up and approach of golf clubs, with females and families playing a large role in golf club membership growing across Wales.
“Golf is changing, certainly in the three years I have been involved, it is much more inclusive,” said Grimwood, chair of marketing at South Pembrokeshire golf club as well as being heavily involved in organising their New2Golf schemes.
“The club has always been very welcoming. When I started the directors were all male, but that has changed, Mel John is house manager and there are five ladies on the club committees, including people on the greens committee and match and handicap committee.
“There are seven of us on the marketing committee and five are ladies.
“We have been working towards getting the R&A Women and Golf Charter and that has helped bring home how inclusive we have become.”
Wales Golf Director of Development Hannah McAllister added, “Volunteers are the lifeblood of every golf club and the women volunteers are an increasingly important part of that.
“It helps to encourage more women and girls into the game if there are female volunteers already involved.
“We know that women and girls golf membership is going up in Wales and actually the rate is exceeding our targets. Women volunteers are a big part of that and it is nice to be able to thank them in Women and Girls Week.”