Golf gives us so much, don’t you think? It challenges us, gets us outside in the fresh air for a few hours, offers plenty of health benefits, and, let’s be honest, one of the best parts is the 19th hole, where we can relax and enjoy the friendships we’ve made along the way.
You only have to scroll through the Women’s (Ladies) Golf Lounge Facebook group to see how much fun so many women have on and off the course, whether it’s at away-days or on golf holidays. As I write this, I’m feeling a little jealous - six fellow members from my club are on a golf trip in Morocco. I’ve never been, but it seems to be one of the in-places to play right now, so I can’t wait to hear all about it.
Nobody understands the value of golf more than Ana Browne, a member at Finchley Golf Club. In 2020, she underwent a life-saving double lung transplant. Post-surgery, she needed a safe sport - something that worked with her immunosuppression medication, which she’ll be on for life. That’s when she discovered golf.
“Golf is my therapy. The joy I feel being outside, being able to walk again, and taking in the beauty of the course is incredible,” she enthuses. “It makes me feel alive and free, and it takes away the anxieties that life brings. Golf is my recovery. It gives me a sense of purpose and significantly improves my physical and mental health,” says Ana.
Last year, Ana won a silver medal at the British Transplant Games, earning her a place on Team GB for the 25th World Transplant Games in Dresden, Germany, this summer. What an incredible achievement. Her story is just one of many where golf plays a life-changing role, and I love sharing them. They remind us why we play this beautiful, frustrating game!
Sorry to bring the mood down, but not all women are feeling the love at their clubs. While scrolling through all the fun and positive posts in the Women’s (Ladies) Golf Lounge, I came across one from a woman who feels completely isolated in her ladies’ section because it’s too cliquey.
Many women shared that their clubs are incredibly welcoming, but unfortunately, just as many had similar negative experiences. It quickly became clear this is a widespread issue, so I decided to write this piece for Golf Monthly, focusing on how we need to make the weekly ‘ladies’ day as inclusive and welcoming as possible.
It’s not an easy fix - wherever you have big groups of people, cliques will always exist. It’s only natural that women want to play golf with their friends, or those players they feel most comfortable with. But it’s important to be aware of how our actions, or inactions, might affect others. At the end of the day, we all play this game for the same reasons, so let’s make sure kindness is one of them.
Alison Root
Women's Editor
Golf Monthly