Helpful Resources & Tips for Women Golfers

By: Nancy Berkley


It is still golf season in much of the U.S. and still time to plan Southern vacations for the coming winter. It's also time to think about learning to play golf, taking some lessons, improving your game or finding friends to share the game with. This article is intended to provide women with more helpful resources about learning and enjoying the game. It is by no means everything you need to know. But, hopefully, it will answer some questions and encourage you to become a golfer and play more often.

I believe that all women can learn to play golf and enjoy the game at their own comfort level. The opening line on my website is: "Be Healthy, Be Happy, Live Longer, Play Golf." I really believe that's what golf offers women!

I took my first golf lessons in college and have played for more decades than I usually admit. During my professional work as a lawyer and marketing executive, I always kept a couple of sleeves of golf balls on my desk as paper weights. They've made for good conversations with clients and colleagues. I knew that the most important papers were under the most expensive golf balls!

Ten years ago, Cybergolf, an official partner of CBSsports.com and an early leader in website design for golf facilities, invited me to establish and write articles for a new section devoted to women's golf. Cybergolf receives 2.5 million monthly visitors and many of my articles are included in newsletters at golf facilities that have websites built by the company. And, with the additional help of Internet search engines, I am very lucky to reach so many readers.

The over 100 articles I have written for Cybergolf cover a broad range of topics and are all archived and available on www.cybergolf.com/womensgolf. Several articles receive very frequent visits and are also among my favorites: "For Never-Ever Golfers - Invest 36 Hours and Learn to Play Golf," and "Just Say 'Yes' to That Golf Invitation."

Every now and then I include an article about men's golf. A recent article about why the U.S. team lost its 2014 Ryder Cup match was one of the first published articles that raised the issue of Tom Watson's leadership failures. The article closes with a message to Juli Inkster, captain of the U.S. Solheim Cup team that will play it matches against the women's European team next September in Germany.

The Internet is now loaded with information for golfers. In fact, new video devices allow you to film your swing and send it to an instructor who can provide tips without ever meeting you in person. And that is just the beginning of what and how new online resources will become available for golfers.

Following is a list of selected resources that I think will be of particular help to female golfers. At the bottom of the article is a full list of the links to the referenced websites. The first section lists and explains the major U.S. golf organizations and associations including their website information. The second section offers specific Internet publications and websites for female golfers. The third focuses on where to find other women to enjoy the game with you. And the fourth section contains some final thoughts.

Part I: U.S. Golf Organizations Important for Women Golfers

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). The LPGA is the oldest female professional sports association in the world. The LPGA website is very well organized and easy to navigate. If you are looking for an instructor and want a female golf instructor, click on the top tab "Teaching and Club Pros" and search by zip code to find out if there is a female instructor near you. There are about 1,200 LPGA certified instructors in the U.S. I have had both excellent male and female teachers. I have taken group lessons and private lessons. My favorite lessons both individually and in a group are "playing lessons" on the golf course.

One of the primary roles of the LPGA is its oversight of the LPGA Tour and the developmental Symetra Tour for newer professional female players. (Click the "Tournaments" tab at the top of the LPGA.com website.) The LPGA website includes a calendar of all Tour events, including when they are televised and biographies of all the players. The biographies of LPGA players are very interesting and fun to read.

The LPGA weekly e-mail newsletter is a good way to keep up-to-date on news about women's golf, and it's free. With the decline in paper magazines for women golfers online media is essential. The LPGA newsletter includes tournament results along with personal interviews and video clips of women's events from all over the world. To sign up for the LPGA newsletter, go to bottom of the LPGA.com home page and fill out the newsletter request form.

If you are interested in finding a good program for a young lady, see the LPGA's girls' golf section. The LPGA and the United States Golf Association have worked together to establish a highly successful program for girls. They work closely with the First Tee, which offers hundreds of programs across the country for young golfers. First Tee is a leader in providing opportunities for children to learn to play golf along with learning the values of the game such as honesty and responsibility. More than a third of First Tee golfers are girls.

The PGA of America will celebrate its 100th birthday in 2016. It currently has about 27,000 members. About 1,000 PGA members are women - 250 of whom are also members of the LPGA. Members of the PGA have been well trained in all aspects of running a golf facility including certification as an instructor. The PGA.com website is one of the best. It has many features, from locating a golf course near you to finding an instructor.

The PGA of America also maintains another helpful website at Play Golf America. A few years ago the PGA and other members of the industry introduced a great program for new golfers called "Get Golf Ready." It consists of a series of five lessons priced usually around $100 and includes on-course instruction. About 60 percent of the participants in Get Golf Ready are women so it also is a good place to meet women that share your interest in golf. Go to their website to find a program near you.

The PGA Tour is often confused with the PGA of America. The two associations are completely separate with completely different missions. The PGA Tour sponsors most of the men's professional tournaments that millions of Americans watch on television. Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els - to name just a few - are familiar names to millions of Americans because of their victories on PGA Tour events.

The USGA is the primary governing organization of golf in the United States. It sets the official rules of the game, the official equipment that may be used and the major handicap system used in the U.S. In addition, the USGA sponsors major tournaments such as the U.S. Open and Women's U.S. Open along with many amateur tournaments.

Every golfer can become a member of the USGA. In fact, the USGA has more members than any other golf organization in the nation. The membership fee is small and with it comes a hat and a bag tag with your name on it. I like that USGA tag on my golf bag. It shows that I care about the game and allows the golf course staff to learn my name. Just click the "membership" tab on the USGA.org site for more information.

The USGA established the USGA Handicap SystemŽ to create a level playing field so players can compete fairly with other players who are better or worse. The USGA.org website has a complete and technical explanation about handicaps. It's a good idea to ask a golf professional to explain handicaps as well and to explain how the scorecard is marked for handicap purposes. Also ask your instructor to explain the "rating" and "Slope" of the set of tees you are playing. An Internet search will also turn up many sites that explain how handicaps work.

It is not necessary to have an official handicap unless you want to compete with players with different abilities. For example, if you and a friend are going out for nine holes and play just about the same, you can have a match based on your total score, or decide just to count putts or whatever makes the round fun for you. Or you can forget about your score and enjoy what I call "stress-less golf" with friends and family

Part II: Other Internet Golf Resources

NBC and Golf Channel. Many readers may think the Golf Channel (TGC) just broadcasts golf tournaments. But its website offers excellent golf instruction and news. And the website is very user-friendly.

If you can handle the annoying advertisements that precede the Golf Channel lesson videos, you will discover some excellent teachers explaining the golf swing in simple easy-to-understand terms. And, what you will notice is that almost every instructor uses a different favorite "tip" or swing thought. The differences confirm what all women should remember: There is no one swing that works for everyone. As women become more fit with yoga and exercise but also as we age and have more physical limitations, our swings need adjustments. Just stick with it. There is a swing that will work for you.

There are good female instructors that offer lessons on Golf Channel. But unfortunately, there is not a dedicated daily show specifically for women. (If only Oprah, Ellen or Martha Stewart played golf, we might have that hosted show.) In fact, the only show on Golf Channel that is specifically for and about women golfers is "The Big Break" women episodes. Excellent non-professional female golfers compete weekly in a series of golf challenges that they hope will get them the recognition they need to become professional LPGA golfers. The golfers often wear microphones so that viewers can hear what they are saying to themselves or other players, which can be instructional in itself.

There are many online tee time services. Just Google the name of a city and "golf tee time" and you will most likely see a list of courses. But if the website does not show you the scorecard or list the length of all tees, you are on notice that the management may not really be interested in attracting women golfers. It takes a confident woman golfer to enjoy golfing in that environment.

Play Golf America. An alternative way to make a tee time at a public or semiprivate course is by using the Play Golf America website. The site has a very good search engine for courses by zip code - generally public or semi-private courses. Scorecards are displayed and telephone numbers provided. Don't hesitate to call the pro shop and see how they respond to your inquiry. You can even ask if they consider themselves a "women-friendly" course. In addition to the length of the tees, other key questions are: "Do you offer group lessons for women?" and "Do you have ladies rest rooms on the course?"

Another suggestion for finding a friendly golf course is to go to the national Executive Women's Golf Association's website. Even if you are not a member (which is something you should consider), they have a search engine that allows you to find courses in your area that the EWGA uses for its programs. Those courses will have friendly sets of tees and will most likely welcome women golfers. (More about the EWGA below.)

A further resource is the "Best Practices" tab on my website which lists over 50 features that a truly women-friendly golf course facility should offer.

Golf Digest for Women. We all miss Golf for Women magazine, which is no longer published and was a sister magazine of the monthly Golf Digest magazine published by Conde-Nast. The next-best resource is the Golf Digest website for women. One of the best golf writers in the industry writes for golf-digest-woman, Stina Sternberg, who was senior editor at Golf for Women magazine. Her "Ask Stina" columns deal with real questions like "What if your partner is cheating?" We need more "Ask Stina" questions and answers! The golf-digest-woman site also includes instruction tips. Some of the archived articles are out-of-date, but they can still be helpful. The "Golf Digest 50 Top Courses for Women" is a couple of years old but is still a good resource.

Golfweek. Another top writer for women's golf is Beth Ann Baldry, who after her recent marriage writes as Beth Ann Nichols. She covers women's golf for GolfWeek magazine, which still has a weekly paper magazine as well as an Internet site. If you click on Beth Ann's photo in the contributor section of the web site, you will be able to read all of her recent articles. She always seems to get the inside scoop on the news about women's golf especially about the LPGA.

National Women's Golf Alliance. This group was formed by three important leaders in women's golf. They are: Pam Swensen, executive director of the EWGA; Debbie Waitkus, president and founder of Golf for Cause; and Jan Bel Jan, golf course architect. The goal of the NWGA is to "certify" courses as women friendly based on a set of criteria including tee length, amenities and customer service.

Suzy Whaley is one of the top teachers in the U.S., with certification by both the LPGA and the PGA of America. She is highly respected and a member of the PGA of America Board of Directors. She is also noteworthy for being the first woman (since Babe Zaharias) to qualify and play in a PGA Tournament - the Greater Hartford Open in 2003. Suzy is currently nominated and in the running for the position of secretary of the PGA Board of Directors which would put her line to be the first female President of the PGA of America. Visit Suzy at her website and tab "Instruction" to watch Suzy's Quick Tips and Videos. Suzy wrote the introduction to my first book, "Women Welcome Here," published by the National Golf Foundation in 2003, so if I could vote, she would have it!

Golf for Women. Arthur D. Little and wife Jann Leeming bought a golf course in Vermont several years ago and learned quickly that if they wanted women to play there, they had to make changes. That led to their personal investment in building new sets of tees and offering different types of programs (including babysitting) that would attract women golfers. Their website outlines their changes and includes important research about women's golf. They also have postings by experts (I am one of them) that further discuss what makes a course attractive to women golfers. In the way of background: The Arthur D. Little family established one of the first very successful management consulting firms in the early 1900's. The golf industry is fortunate that Arthur and Jann use their resources to promote women's golf.

Barbara Hanson. Hanson, the former head of the Minnesota Women's Golf Association, has maintained a newsletter for many years. She writes about rules and the Do's and Don'ts that women golfers really need to know. Her articles are archived on her website. Her new book Hit It Alice has received excellent reviews especially by new women golfers.

Part III: How and Where to Find Other Women Golfers

If you are lucky enough to be a member of a golf facility, then finding friends to play with is easier. My advice it to take lessons, join the women's golf association and participate in the women's golf programs. If you are a working woman and can only play golf or take lessons after work or on the weekend, it will be more challenging to find programs that fit your time schedule. Talk to your golf professionals and think about establishing a clinic or three-hole scramble on-course lesson at the end of a work day. If the facility is not cooperative, take your issue to a member of the governing board. Read my article "Advice to Women Golfers and It is Not About Hitting the Ball" on my website for advice on navigating the politics of a golf club.

If you are not a member of a golf club, find one by using the Play Golf America website. Alternatively, try an Internet search for "golf course" and your zip code. And don't forget to look for a "Get Golf Ready" program where you are sure to meet other women golfers.

Also, read your local newspapers including the free ones at the grocery store and ones left in your mailbox or driveways. Often golf facilities advertise in these periodicals because advertising rates are more affordable. You might be pleasantly surprised to see an ad for a local course you didn't even know about. Give them a call, make an appointment for a lesson or tee time or just stop by to check out the facility and see how it stands up to my list of Best Practices.

Another avenue for meeting other women who share an interest in playing golf is to join one of the national women's golf associations. Here are two to consider:

The Executive Women's Golf Association (EWGA) was founded in 1990 with the mission to provide a helpful and friendly introduction to the game at a facility that welcomes women. Visit the EWGA's website. There are 41 states that have an EWGA chapter and just use the "locations" tab on the website to find one near you. The EWGA chapters are very well organized with very dedicated and welcoming women golfers. Membership fees are reasonable and lessons for all skill levels are available plus friendly stress-less tee times and tournaments. The name "Executive" is a little misleading. Although EWGA programs do focus on how to use golf as a business advantage, you do not have to have a current high-level management position to join. Women working for not-for-profits (which may include volunteer work) should consider membership in the EWGA.

Women on Course. This group was established by Donna Hoffman, its president, about 10 years ago. The mission of Women on Course was not only to provide a positive playing experience for women golfers but to promote business networking. Recently, Women on Course was purchased by Billy Casper Golf, a large golf-facility management company in the U.S. Women on Course currently has 41 locations. Its events do not always involve playing golf. For example, an event may be a wine-tasting where women who share an interest in golf can network. Hopefully, they will arrange for some tee-times, ideally at Billy Casper-managed facilities.

In closing this section, a question I often hear is "How good do I have to be in order to play a round of golf especially with someone I just met?" I have come up with a simple answer: If you can play nine holes by yourself and finish the nine holes in 90 minutes, you play quickly enough to play with most golfers. Just remember to keep moving forward!

Part IV: Some Final Thoughts

Public, semiprivate and municipal golf courses are often run by golf-management companies. Municipal courses, for example, would have a difficult time funding all the different resources needed to maintain and efficiently manage a single golf course. Golf management companies are increasingly recognizing that they must be women-friendly facilities if they want to be profitable! ClubCorp, a large golf management company, has hired Cathy Harbin, experienced in golf course programming, to among her other duties, oversee that their courses attract and retain women golfers of all skill levels. That's a trend that portends a brighter future for all women golfers.

The golf industry knows that it must grow women's golf. It is increasingly devoting resources to accomplish that goal. I am a member of a small group of women organized by the World Golf Foundation, which is tasked with coming up with solutions. A major goal that has emerged is making sure that more women (and girls) can find the resources they need to learn the game and to play it regularly. The Internet will probably play a big role in making that happen.

In closing, there are lots of topics this resource guide did not cover. For example, what are the "do's and don'ts" on the golf course? What is good green etiquette? How short can my shorts be? What is new in golf attire? Can I just pick up my ball and tee it up again on the next hole? What if I can never get out of the sand bunker? How many women golfers are there? What's a "scramble?" Many answers can be found on my website or in Cybergolf articles.

But if you still can't find that answer, I offer a free help line on my website. If you have a quick question that I can answer in an email in less than 15 minutes, it's my gift to you and to the game. Go to the "FREE HELP LINE" tab on the left side of my website.

And remember: Be Happy, Be Healthy, Live Longer, Play Golf. Play often and have fun!

Useful Links for Women's Golf

LPGA - www.lpga.com
LPGA's Girls' Golf Section - http://www.girlsgolf.org/
First Tee - www.firsttee.org
PGA of America - www.pga.com
Play Golf America - www.playgolfamerica.com
Get Golf Ready - www.getgolfready.com
PGA Tour - www.pgatour.com
USGA - www.usga.org
Golf Channel - www.thegolfchannel.com
Executive Women's Golf Association - www.ewga.com
Golf Digest for Women - http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-digest-woman
Golfweek & Beth-Ann Baldry - http://golfweek.com/staff/beth-ann-baldry/
National Women's Golf Alliance - www.nationalwomensgolfalliance.com
Suzy Whaley - www.suzywhaleygolf.com
Golf for Women - www.golfwithwomen.com
Barbara Hanson - www.corporategolfservices.com
"Advice to Women Golfers and It is Not About Hitting the Ball" - http://nancyberkley.com/1755759.html
Women on Course - www.womenoncourse.com
World Golf Foundation - www.wgf.org
Cybergolf's Women's Golf Section - www.cybergolf.com/womensgolf
Nancy Berkley's Free Help Line - http://nancyberkley.com/676305.html

Nancy Berkley, President of Berkley Golf Consulting, is an expert on women's golf and junior-girls golf. She is a frequent contributor to www.cybergolf.com/womensgolf. Her book, "Women Welcome Here! A Guide to Growing Women's Golf," published by the National Golf Foundation, is an industry reference on marketing golf to women and spotting trends within the industry. She offers information and advice about the golf industry on www.berkleygolfconsulting.com and is often quoted in national publications. She was a contributing editor of "Golf for Women" magazine and a founding advisor of "Golfer Girl Magazine." Her interviews with women in the golf industry now appear on www.golfergirlcareers.com. Nancy lives in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Harvard University and Rutgers Law School. After a business and legal career, she decided to write about the game she learned and loved as a teenager. She describes herself as a good bogey golfer with permanent potential.