RLCGA “Growing Girls Golf” Initiative
As I am sure many of you are aware girls are very much in the minority when it
comes to golf and in Renfrewshire that is no exception.
The SLGA, the governing body of Ladies Golf
in Scotland actively encourage clubs to allow girls to play in Ladies competitions and indeed there
are penalties if your club does not allow girls to compete in SLGA competitions at your club.
Please refer to your copy of the SLGA handbook.
7.17.7.1 All female playing members, including juniors, with CONGU Competition Handicap are
eligible to compete and win.
7.17.14.2 Juniors
Any club that does not allow a female junior member with a CONGU handicap to compete in and win
SLGA Medal Competitions shall not be entitled to receive a Silver and Bronze Medal. In addition the
club cannot be represented at the Medal Finals in the following year.
We would also hope that the few girls that play golf would be encouraged to play and win all Ladies
competitions, stroke play, matchplay, team matches and open and invitation days at your club. Can I
remind everyone that there is no duty of care when playing with a junior girl in a competition nor do
you need to have disclosure, however we would encourage clubs to try to play a 3 ball when junior
girls are also competing.
In Renfrewshire we have 27 clubs with just under 100 girls who have club membership. Compare this
to the boys in the county who with slightly different boundaries and fewer clubs have well over 1000
boys. The Scotland wide Clubgolf initiative has helped by introducing more girls and boys to golf at
school and golf clubs but there is still a long way to go.
At RLCGA we are doing our very best to encourage girls in the County to play Golf by arranging
subsidised coaching and team matches. We also run The Campbell Clock each year at Whitecraigs
for all levels of players and arrange a Girls Matchplay Championship.
Girls are invited to be members of RLCGA when their handicap reaches 24 which is exactly the same
as Ladies who wish to join the county. Girls membership is free until they are 23 to encourage them
to stay with golf whilst at University, college etc.This is in line with many clubs youth policy as many
older teenagers are lost to golf in those years.
I am asking if the clubs could help more by allowing junior girls to play in all competitions as
mentioned already and also to allow any Adults & Junior girls to introduce another junior girl from
another club to play free of charge. This would allow girls and parents to make friends with girls at
other clubs and encourage play between their clubs. I would ask if you could take this to your
committees and make it known to your membership that you are in support of Girls Golf.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the clubs who have been outstanding at supporting
junior girls by hosting medals and matchplay events over the years and also for encouraging junior
girls without prejudice. Your continued support is greatly appreciated and anything further you can
offer to help this “Growing Girls Golf” initiative would be welcomed.
Lets do away with the outdated image that sadly lots of golf clubs have and move on with a forward
thinking sport that embraces all.
I look forward to your comments and response.
Regards
Janette McCartney
RLCGA Junior Secretary
email:
janmcc@btinternet.com
janettemccartney@themabassadors.com
