Golf is a game loved by so many women, played by so many women, yet does this game that has for so long been designed for men actually put these women at risk?
In The Line Of Fire
Women are often hit by golf balls, not because they’re in the wrong place, but because people don’t realise how much shorter women hit on average to men.
Yes, women tee off from the forward tees, but that doesn’t mean they reach where the guys hit in from. Often they’re still within reach, and I hear more and more women being driven through by groups behind. They’re not slow; they just need to hit two shots to get to where the longest hitter in the clubhouse bombs it to.
The Physics Of Impact
Women being hit by balls will result in greater damage and longer recovery times. Women have 30% less neck strength and girth than men, so a ball to the head is felt more violently.
A study by the University of Utah revealed that female athletes are far more susceptible to concussion, down to thinner skulls and smaller neck muscles. The physical damage a golf ball can do is simply far higher if you’re a woman.
The Etiquette Breakdown
This physical reality increases the urgency to shout loudly when a ball heads towards another group. Yet most women I’ve spoken to who have been hit in the last year felt the call was late or non-existent. Were the guys who hit the balls embarrassed about calling to a group of women, or is the safety etiquette of golf being forgotten?
Women who suddenly need to shout “Fore!” often struggle to project their voices unless professionally trained as actors or singers! Women have shorter vocal cords than men, yielding a higher pitch. Being able to properly blast the word “Fore!” is hugely important. If you can practice shouting fore, do it as a fun activity for your women’s comps or meet-ups. It’s essential you throw that word down the fairway as early as possible - you could save a life.
Beyond The Fairway
Ready Golf can see your playing partners head on up the hole while you’re still hitting your ball. Please make sure you know you’re not at risk and don’t assume you’ll miss them.
The danger of being hit isn’t restricted to the course. The driving range offers its own hazards, and I’ve been hit by a ball bouncing off a wall from a few bays over more than once while coaching.
Playing Solo
The joys and benefits of playing golf alone are undeniable. The headspace, ability to focus on your game, and simple peace and quiet are unbeatable on a summer’s evening. But if your course is remote, bordered with woodland, and easily accessed, a quick 9-hole loop carries distinct risks.
Only last year, a woman shared an account on Reddit about being approached in broad daylight by a man and chased off the course all the way back to her car. Back in 2018, 22-year-old Celia Barquin Arozamena, an Iowa State women’s golf team member, was killed on the course while practicing alone. A golf course is often a remote area of land that leaves a lone golfer isolated and vulnerable. A solo male golfer simply doesn't carry the same fears or face the same level of threat.
A Call for Change
Unless the golf course is completely fenced in, you can be a long way from the pro shop with little or no mobile signal. Many female golfers feel vulnerable to unmonitored trespassers. Personal alarm brands like She’s Birdie are often recommended for women playing alone in the States, but how well does that work when you’re over a mile away from the nearest pair of ears?
It makes me wonder if we do enough in pro shops to warn women of these hazards and help them feel safer. As a golf coach, I even think about my own safety when giving playing lessons on remote parts of the course. Our buggies are tracked, but there are still times when safety measures fall short.
Isn’t it time to step out of the dark ages and provide women with a truly safe and equal environment to enjoy this game?
