Golf started as a “gentleman’s sport.” It was a sport solely for men of society, with women rarely taking part in the events. However, in the past couple of years, women have made their way onto the golf course not just to relax, but also to compete. Their continuous victories bring plenty of people to platforms such as GGBet India and beyond, where they show their trust and support through sports gambling. 

Women bring a fresh energy and perspective, with people all over the world rooting for their success. 

History of Golf for Women

Throughout history, women rarely had access to golf courses, with plenty of clubs going as far as prohibiting their access. The first woman golfer recorded in history was Mary, Queen of Scots, who regularly played at St. Andrews. She was the one to normalize golf for women, even coining the term “caddy.”

The Ladies’ Club of St Andrews was formed thanks to her influence. Later, in 1893, Issette Pearson also founded the Ladies Golf Union (LGU), allowing women access to championships. Issette also created the fold handicapping system, used to this day when beginners want to step up their game.

It wasn’t until the ‘30s that women golfers would make headlines. Helen Hicks was the first to win two major tournaments: the Women’s Western Open in 1937 and the Titleholders’ Championship in 1940. Babe Zaharias was also writing history alongside Hicks, competing in the LA Open. She was the first woman to play in a PGA Tour event.

What’s the Status of Women’s Golf Today?

Golf for women has evolved quite a lot over the past few decades, with many female golfers making headlines. Most of these names are undisputed champions with a great fan base. 

Some reputable names today include the following:

• Jenno Thitikul: A golfer from Thailand, she reclaimed her World No.1 Spot this past August. Her consistent performances at events such as the Mizuho Americas Open and HSBC Women’s World Championship deemed her a force to be reckoned with.  
• Nelly Korda: Like Thitikul, Nelly also received the World No.1 status in 2021. Still, this didn’t stop her from giving it her best during competitions, snatching the Olympic Gold medal during her winning spree.
• Ruoning Yin: Born in China, Yin was the second Chinese woman golfer to win a major tournament, snatching the 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She became an inspiration for Chinese players, men and women alike, as this was a great milestone.

These players are not just breaking barriers on the green, but also taking names while they’re at it. Their success inspired plenty of women golfers to pursue this path, to the point where 40% of the junior golfers are now female. This shows that golf is becoming increasingly inclusive, no longer a mere “gentleman’s sport.”

What We Can Expect from the Future

Golf is transforming due to the tenacity and determination of women, but men still dominate the golf course. That said, if this trend continues, we might see more women joining, especially as the incentives are becoming quite attractive. 

For example, in the past, men received higher prize money for playing in tournaments, despite most of them having similar tournaments for men and women. This issue remains the same for some major tournaments such as the U.S. Open, where men’s winner prizes were more than double the women’s prizes. 

The Victorian Open in Australia was the one to set the precedent, where prizes for men and women were set at the same level.

National initiatives to make golf more inclusive also open up paths for women. Women’s Golf Day was introduced in 2016, taking place in the first week of June. 

Mixed-gender tournaments have also become a common occurrence, and a woman winning the men’s PGA tour is no longer as strange. This shows that gold has become a top sport for women and that the industry is evolving!

Women’s golf is constantly changing, and that’s a good thing. With professional players breaking stereotypes, women and men in golf are slowly but surely reaching the same level. It might take some time until it’s fully leveled, but judging by the popularity, we can expect it in a few years.