Golf has long been associated with business networking, client meetings, and professional relationship-building, earning a reputation as one of the last remaining “old boys’ clubs.” While opportunities for women in the sport have expanded significantly over the past several decades, many female golfers say the culture remains overwhelmingly male, creating challenges both on the course and in the workplace.
Laura, an avid golfer who has played since childhood, says she has spent most of her golfing life as one of the only girls in the room. Introduced to the game by her father at age five, Laura progressed from hitting balls at the driving range to playing full rounds of golf. She later attended golf camps, participated in training programs, and competed on multiple teams throughout her school years.
Growing Up in a Male-Dominated Sport
At nearly every level, Laura found herself surrounded primarily by boys. Her junior league teams typically included only one or two girls, with the rest of the roster boys. Golf camps reflected a similar imbalance. Even during high school, when boys’ and girls’ varsity teams competed separately, participation numbers differed sharply. According to Laura, roughly 40 boys tried out for the boys’ team compared to about 17 girls for the girls’ team.
The pattern has continued into college, where she is currently the only woman on a club golf team of approximately 25 players.
Laura says being the lone female competitor can be intimidating despite describing herself as naturally outgoing. Although her teammates have made efforts to include her, she sometimes feels isolated and misses the camaraderie that came with having other women on previous teams.
She has adapted by joining conversations about professional golf and sports while building relationships with teammates through humor. Demonstrating her ability on the course has also helped break down assumptions.
Laura says many male golfers initially expect her to be less skilled because she is a woman. After watching her play, however, those perceptions often change, leading to greater respect from teammates and competitors.
Different Treatment Beyond the Golf Course
Laura’s experiences extended beyond competition while working as cart staff at a golf course alongside another female golfer. The pair became the first women to hold the position at their club.
According to Laura, customers frequently treated them differently than their male coworkers. The women often received substantially larger tips, with some customers giving $10 for carrying a golf bag when male employees might receive little or nothing for performing the same task.
The additional income, however, often came with unwanted attention. Laura recalls that some male golfers commented on the women’s appearance, while others refused to let them carry their bags altogether. She says the women generally laughed off the remarks rather than confront customers, fearing it could affect their tips.
She also points to expectations within professional golf that she believes differ for men and women. On the LPGA Tour, female players have often faced greater attention to their appearance and attire, while comparable scrutiny is not typically directed at male golfers.
A Changing Game With Lingering Barriers
Golf also has a history of formal exclusion. While most clubs today admit women, some of the sport’s most prestigious institutions resisted change for decades. Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters Tournament, admitted its first female members in 2012 after years of criticism over its membership policies.
Supporters of expanding access argue that golf’s role in business networking gives the issue significance beyond recreation. Corporate outings, client meetings, and informal business discussions often take place on the golf course, creating opportunities to build professional relationships outside the office.
Although women’s participation in golf has increased over time, Laura’s experience reflects the challenges many female golfers say still exist. From being one of the few women on competitive teams to navigating different expectations on and off the course, they argue that the sport still carries elements of a culture traditionally dominated by men.
