An innovative programme aiming to introduce more younger women into the game has proved a huge success – with more than half the women involved in the pilot at Ravensworth progressing into newly developed academy club memberships.
The free programme included introductory golf sessions and a mix of social activities in the clubhouse. Sessions were delivered by community golf instructors – a new programme training volunteers to deliver group, game-based golf activities to support beginners.
Each session took place for one hour over six weeks and these included Putting & Prosecco; Chipping, Dipping & Sipping with wine and cheese tasting; Pitching & Our Kitchen with canapes in the clubhouse; an Afternoon Tee session on driving; Iron Maidens week, which coincided with the club’s buskers’ night; and an introduction to the Drive to 45 programme – Ravensworth’s new competency level programme which supports beginners to progress over nine holes on the golf course.
England Golf club and county support officer and Ravensworth member Neil Burke, who created and ran the programme, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the programme we’ve developed, and its first run has proved very successful.
“Building on the success of programmes like Get into Golf and the Women in Golf Charter enabled us to tailor this new programme for younger women, and allowed us to break down some of the barriers that remain for those starting out in the game – in particular going into the clubhouse and being an active part of a golf club while enjoying playing. The response from the women who took part was overwhelmingly positive, with lots of strong feedback on the off-course activities as well as the golf-specific elements. In particular, the friendships built within the whole group were fantastic to see.
“Having completed the six weeks of sessions, more than half of the women involved have taken up one of the four new categories of academy membership, and are now engaged in our six-week on-course programme utilising England Golf’s Women on Par initiative. Having the new range of academy memberships is an important part of what we’ve created, allowing the women to choose a membership which fits their competency levels and personal life and continue their golfing journey at our club.
“The appetite for this kind of programme is clear as we drew people from an incredibly wide geographical area to Ravensworth and I have no doubt that our programme will continue to bring in new golfers and boost membership at our club. It’s fantastic that the board will be investing in delivering the programme in 2026, and I’m looking forward to seeing it succeed again next year.”
The pilot was funded by the Golf Innovation District project which is being run in Tyne & Wear, and is being led by England Golf.
For more information, including how you can access the resources Neil has created to deliver a programme at your club, email neil.burke@englandgolf.org
