Do a search for the phrase "golf has a reputation", and you'll see this kind of thing:
"...for being anachronistic in its social attitudes and etiquette."
"...for being a very white sport..."
"...for being elitist and traditionalist and ladies, in particular, can find it difficult getting involved in the sport."
"...of causing problems in marriages rather than assisting in reconciliation."
"...as a rather snooty sport enjoyed primarily by the upper-class."
"...for being slow, boring, uptight, and for senior citizens or tightly-wound people trying to do deals."
And those are some of the nicer ones. Golf is a wonderful sport that celebrates nature and unites all kinds of people, but the fact is, the game gets a lot of guff, some of it... admittedly... deserved.
The controversial, lightning rod side of golf was featured in an Forbes.com post by Meghan Casserly yesterday that suggests women are feeling increased pressure to learn and play golf in order to be more like "one of the guys" ...and have a chance of acceding to upper echelons of the corporate world. It's an interesting read and one that had lots of people
Seems to me these reputations all disappeared in the 80's and 90's when the golf boom was in full effect and the game became a working class sport on public tracks. As far as women learning the game to join the "boys club" in corporate circles, that may be true to a very small extent. I still see the majority of new players stemming from the abundance of courses and the extreme low costs of public vs private clubs.
ReplyDeleteI see what SH is saying. Golf is much more accessible these days than it was even 10 or 15 years ago, but I think the elitist reputation persists among those who don't play, and there are definitely certain companies and professions where golf is a big part of the culture and where you'd probably be at a disadvantage if you didn't play.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if golf is really important for women's career advancement but there sure seems to be the perception that it is. I've been looking to get my game back in gear after a long hiatus for health reasons and came upon tons websites, books, meet-ups, classes etc. for women, specifically geared to "business golf". Those definitely we're around when I started playing in the 80s.
ReplyDeleteThe one about golf "causing problems in marriages rather than assisting in reconciliation" is spot-on.
ReplyDeleteWorking in sports, I can say that golf is the slowest to adapt to change. Up here in the Bay Area there was a course that had a "Ladies Day" and gave preferential tee times and rates to women golfers. Male members of the club threw a tantrum and took Ladies' Day off the calendar.
ReplyDeleteI believe that women and children hold the future of golf. They are the most under supported group out there and courses do not do enough to cater to them.
I agree with sean, there is definitely an untapped market in women's and young persons golf so i'm not surprised the perception of the game hasn't improved much.
ReplyDeleteSadly I think many people want to keep that elitist image!
.
ReplyDeletehere IN so FLA, golf is inevitably a part of the "social" aspect of work
i don't know of a recent example whereby if the "girl" was less advanced as a "golfer", that she wasn't helped along by the group out on the course
an advanced girl golfer may be too good to have the guys invite her and be embarrassed by a girl out on the course
anyway, that the extra-ciricular activity and the politics enters into the golf has nothing to do with golf, per se
i do NOT agree that golf is the lubricant to power, sex, job promotions, hook-ups, business opportunity or blossoming friendships ANY MORE THAN many many other venues outside of the office environment
golf is 600 years old, but adultry, industry, work and play, love and lust are thousands of years old or more
to be the "guy's girl" typically DOES mean availability, despite one's skill level, or more specifically having the uninterupted time, to pursue a leasurely and often a lenghtly day exclusively out on the course - which leaves one plenty of time to impress and influence another, as well as make an a$$ out of oneself - no ?
we have some strong women players, and by my observation, they would rather play with other women, and it's the women beginners who seek the advise of the men
frankD
ftliquordael soFLA 33316
Golf sure does have a lot of hangups. Like "grass ceiling" term. Clever.
ReplyDelete"Show must go on !"
ReplyDeleteTo get involved faster ladies can start learning the art of the game, differences between men's and ladies equipment and techniques, pick up an efficient training program.
With my best wishes,
Michael from Cheap Ladies Golf Clubs.
Golf Needs a new exciting image. I do like the direction that Long Drive Golf has taken the sport. With a similar effect to Homerun derby. I wish there were more events being held that made it on ESPN.
ReplyDeletewww.bombtechgolf.com