The Rise of Women in Golf: Celebrating the Game’s Leading Ladies
Once upon a time, golf was known as the gentleman’s game. But not anymore… While it’s still elegant, and sophisticated, and holds a level of respect other sports don’t quite reach, it’s no longer exclusive to gentlemen.
Say hello to the game’s leading ladies. Women’s golf has been on the rise for decades, but it hasn’t received the same level of attention or respect as the men’s game until recently.
These talented women can outplay most guys out there! Let’s dive into the rise of women in golf and how they’ve changed the face of the game.
Breaking the Grass Ceiling: A Journey of Excellence
We can trace women’s participation in golf back to the 19th century. Back then, women weren’t recognized as official players in tournaments and such, but there are records of them enjoying a round or two for recreation, relaxation, and a bit of friendly competition!
The earliest structured golf format for ladies was the Ladies’ Golf Union, created in the UK in 1893. This was a big thing for female golfers—in a time marked by ladies challenging what society considered normal, golf became one of the earliest symbols of gender equality in the world of sport.
In the early 1900s, women’s golf clubs began to spring up in the United States, followed by exclusive women’s golf tournaments. The sport continued to grow in popularity, helped along the way by some excellent, hard-fought golf!
Early Beginnings: Pioneers of the Fairway
Women’s golf began to blow up in the early 20th century. Suddenly, female golfers were breaking both stereotypes and records! This was an exciting time for the ladies’ sport, with some big players emerging and some very significant steps taken.
One of the biggest achievements of this era was the establishment of the LPGA. A number of prominent female players of the time were instrumental in the creation of the association, and it was a huge step forward for the structure and professionalism of women’s golf.
Key Players
Patti Berg was the first president of the LPGA and one of its founding members. During her golfing career, she won 15 major championships, firmly cementing her into women’s golf history!
Another well-known and much-loved name in the female golfing world is Babe Zaharias. This fantastic lady gained All-American status in basketball, excelled in baseball, and set four world records in track and field, taking home multiple Olympic medals in 1932.
She only started playing golf in 1935. After being denied amateur status, she did something unthinkable at the time: she entered a men’s PGA Tournament. Although she missed the cut (not by much), she gained notoriety and a huge fandom!
Zaharias was also a founding member of the LPGA and won 10 LPGA championships during her career. A true pioneer!
The Trailblazers: Breaking Stereotypes
Since Babe changed the world of golf for women, we’ve seen a huge influx of talent worldwide. Ladies from all countries and backgrounds have risen to great heights and continue to showcase their skill and set new records. It’s a whole new world!
Key Players
Since the days of Babe and Patti, a few ladies have stood out as excelling in the golfing world. They’re certainly not the only ones, but these women are household names in the golfing world.
- Annika Sörenstam: The Swede racked up a total of 90 victories in her career, dominating the era. These included 72 wins on the LPGA Tour, 10 of those being majors. She also became the first woman to play in a PGA Tour since 1945! And to add to her achievements, she received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Trump in 2021. She still tops the LPGA Career Money list ($22 million+), despite retiring in 2008!
- Lorena Ochoa: This talented Mexican golfer holds two LPGA records: being the top-ranked women golfer in the world for 158 weeks (both total and consecutive). She was also the first Mexican golfer ever to be ranked number one, and is still considered the best Mexican/Latin American female golfer of all time. Ochoa was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2017.
- Inbee Park: The South Korean golfer hasn’t officially retired yet, but after having her first child in April 2023, it might be on the cards. She’s one of the most successful women golfers of the age, with numerous records to her name. These include holding the number one position on four separate runs, winning three majors in the same calendar year, and winning an Olympic gold medal in the women’s individual golf tournament—the first since 1900.
The Future: Bright and Unbounded
The future of women’s golf is bright! Global interest continues to grow, with increasing support, bigger sponsorships, and continuous work towards equality in men’s and women’s sports.
Global Diversity
We’re seeing female golfers swing in from all over the world, including nations that aren’t traditionally known for golf. It’s an exciting time for ladies’ golf and we love how it’s bringing the world together.
We’ve also seen global fashion trends emerge. Today’s lady golfers are stylish! Golf apparel manufacturers are also using new tech to create smart apparel for both men and women, without sacrificing looking great on the course.
Increased Professional Opportunities
Women’s golf has come a long way, but it’s still growing! The expansion of the LPGA Tour and the introduction of new associations, initiatives, and tours keeps things exciting and moving forward.
Things like the ANNIKA Foundation and others like it are providing more opportunities for young female golfers. And as the sport evolves, we can also expect to see better prize money and more robust sponsorship deals.
Plus, today’s female golfers are fitter than ever, elevating them to new heights in the golfing world backed by more power, speed, and strength.
Media and Commercial Interest
Media interest has increased noticeably over recent years. Women’s golf tournaments receive almost as much coverage as the men’s, and the rise of social media has contributed to its visibility.
While it’s still behind the men’s sports in this area, it’s become much more accessible, leading to increased recognition of and respect for the wonderful ladies of the game.
However, as we continue in the internet age, we expect for women’s golf to be easily accessible for viewing, although we hope to see it given the same attention on the media stage as men’s golf.
Advocacy for Equality
While Patti and Babe paved the way for women’s golf to thrive, many modern-day female golfers have been vocal about gender equality in sport.
While the gap may seem to be less in golf than it is in other sports, it’s still an ongoing issue, from pay to sponsorships and even representation and respect. We can expect to see more advocacy going forward.
Rising Stars to Keep an Eye On
The women’s golf world is full of established champions, but there’s also fresh faces coming up. Here are some phenomenal talents to keep an eye on in 2024 and beyond!
- Rose Zhang: The first golfer since 1951 to win her professional debut tournament on the LPGA tour! She only went pro at the end of May 2023, but we’re expecting great things from her.
- Frida Kinhult: Could this Swede be the next Annika? She reached top spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in 2019, and turned pro soon thereafter. We’re hoping to see more of her in 2024.
- Hyo-Joo Kim: Despite her young age, Kim joined the LPGA Tour in 2015 and has since won 4 titles. She’s due for a big win and we might see her fulfill that this year!
Conclusion
Women’s golf is still on the rise, although it’s the best and brightest it’s ever been right now! As we go forward from here, we can look forward to more and more ladies swinging their clubs, taking advantage of golf technology, and continuing to change the face of the sport.
Know a great golfing lady? Surprise her with a golf-related gift and give her all the support you can… She could become a champion!
About the Author
Jordan Fuller is a retired golfer and businessman. When he’s not on the course working on his own game or mentoring young golfers, he writes in-depth articles for his website, Golf Influence.