WHAT WOMEN TAKE AWAY FROM GOLF

The National Golf Foundation recently reported that women and girls have flocked to the game more than any other group over the past three years. For golf, this means a new generation of juniors, greater popularity of professional circuits and widespread ambassadorship. But beyond the statistics lies a deeper narrative of diversity, inclusivity and evolving perspectives.

There’s one intangible, yet highly impactful mindset that women are instilling in the game. And that’s how we talk about our rounds of golf.

This past January I attended a panel discussion at the PGA Show in Orlando where women from various fields within the golf industry shared observations and trends about the female golf audience.

Among all the insights, one idea particularly caught my attention: If you ask a man about how their round went, they’ll typically give you a full play-by-play about specific shots and their performance. To whose benefit? Their own. Unless they’re your golf instructor, no man or woman wants to hear about how well your driver was working or how cold your putter was. Maybe for a few seconds out of politeness, but no one needs the full recap.

On the other hand, women tend to talk about the social aspect and how the round made them feel. They reflect on the fellowship, the memories, the laughs and the time spent with their playing partners.

I notice this in my everyday interactions. Before a round, my dad always says, “Hit ’em straight,” while my mom says, “Have fun,” as I’m out the door. Afterward, my dad wants to know all the details — how well I played, how far I was hitting the ball and how many pars or birdies I made. But when I recount my round with a woman, they’ll simply ask about who I played with and if I had a good time.

I’m not here to cast sweeping generalizations but rather to speak to a palpable difference in how some men and some women discuss their rounds. This isn’t to suggest that women can’t be competitive, strive to improve or enjoy discussing their performance. When I played more competitive golf, I recognized that a focus on gameplay was crucial to becoming a better golfer. At the same time, some men do prioritize the social aspect of golf over their individual results.

This isn’t meant to criticize either gender but to shed light on a conversation that needs more attention and to call out a mindset shift that might help us all reflect on the things that truly matter at the end of the day.

Women are coming to golf in droves, and what they’re bringing is an appreciation for what makes the game so unique and special.

It’s hard to feel discouraged coming out of a bad round when you think about the time spent together outside and the conversations on the course that can’t be had anywhere else.

If women can learn from men, then men, too, should learn from women.