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Women in Golf

© Russell G. Bell

My reason for sharing this last story is to ask the courses to set aside a men's day if they are going to have a ladies-only day. I probably would not take advantage of such a day as I prefer to play golf with my wife but fair is fair.

It has been my observation that most courses do not give the ladies enough advantage on where they place the red tee boxes. Let's face facts, most and I emphasize most women do not hit the ball nearly as far as the men. Off the tee box I hit a drive twice as far as my wife yet she usually has only a fifteen to thirty yard advantage in the placement of the red tee box. Perhaps the answer is a new tee box for the ladies on the long par 4 and par 5 holes. This would make them more competitive and speed up the game. With regards to the women who are now learning the game as teenagers, as they come on board and they become more proficient in their game they could move back one tee box at a time to keep pace with their abilities.

I thought I was doing my wife a favor when I bought her a set of "Ladies" clubs and now it turns out the main difference between them and a Mens' set is in the length which also equates to a lighter set of clubs. Recent studies by major golf manufacturers have shown this concept to be invalid and they are developing "Ladies" sets which are truly designed to accommodate the women golfers. I for one say it's about time, as it appears they have been playing with clubs "designed" for them that are about equal to using field hockey sticks on the course. Field hockey may be an over-simplification but it does point out the need for them to have the advantage of proper equipment. Perhaps when the new clubs become available we, as male chauvinist golfers, may want the courses to do away with the red tee boxes altogether as we find the ladies driving just as far and just as straight.

It would be a hoot to have my wife beat me at my own game; it would also force me to rethink my game and work harder at improving.