Women Golfers Blog

The Golf Course Gold Standards for Women Golfers

Here we have Golf Magazine’s Top Ten Golf Courses to Watch. It is important to note, however, that out of the 100-judge panel, Golf Magazine only saw fit to invite four women golfers (yes, only four) to participate. Upon this discovery, we thought that their results might be a tad bit skewed, so we have taken it upon ourselves to give you the skinny on whether these courses are under par on our Golf Course Gold Standards for Women Golfers Rating Scale. The following are the five categories against which these golf courses were held as they relate to women golfers:

• The Beginning Golf Experience

• Game Options

• The Pro Shop

• Forward Tees

• Equal Accessibility of the Course

Erin Hills Golf Course

4½ Star Golf Course

Located in Erin, Wisconsin, this golf course was designed by Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry and Ron Whitten. With its spectacular farmland backdrop and four-tee hole layouts, Erin Hills was awarded the 2008 Women’s Amateur Public Links before the golf course was completely built. This is a very good sign.

Sunday River Golf Course

4¾ Star Golf Course

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., this Newry, Maine golf course offers multiple game options, a four-tee hole layout, an impressive practice facility and a wide range of instructional choices for beginner women golfers.

Marquette Golf Club

5 Star Golf Course

Marquette boasts two separate golf courses – the Heritage and Greywalls, from designer Mike DeVries. Greywalls has our optimum 5-tee layout as well as a fantastic pro shop that offers high quality apparel and equipment for both men and women golfers.

Red Tail Golf Club

4¾ Star Golf Course

Located in Devens, Massachusetts, the Red Tail Golf Club offers a four-tee hole layout, extensive beginner instruction and practice facilities for women golfers, not to mention the fact that this golf course has been awarded the 2009 Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship. Another very good sign.

The Tribute Golf Club

4 ½ Star Golf Course

The Tribute Golf Club in The Colony, Texas is exactly that. All 18 holes are designed after British golf courses such as St. Andrews, Muirfield, Turnberry and Carnoustie. However, there is a four-tee layout at every hole as well as an extremely well-equipped pro shop which is much better for women golfers than some of the Tribute’s inspirations.

Coral Canyon Golf Course

5 Star Golf Course

Designer Keith Foster hit a hole in one with this beautiful, five-tee layout golf course. In addition to numerous game options and an extensive collection of apparel for women golfers, Coral Canyon Golf Course has one of the most personalized golf instruction opportunities available.

Circling Raven Golf Club

5 Star Golf Course

If a five-tee hole layout, detailed and individualized instruction and five onsite restaurants are not enough, this Idaho golf course is adjacent to the Coeur D’Alene Casino. Talk about a hole in one!

Apache Stronghold Golf Club

4¾ Star Golf Course

Designed by Tom Doak, this San Carlos, Arizona is just an hour away from Phoenix and certainly well worth the trip! With its onsite golf school that offers every imaginable kind of golf instruction and its four-tee hole layout, Apache Stronghold is a desert oasis for women golfers.

Farm Neck Golf Club

3 ½ Star Golf Course

This Geoffrey S. Cornish designed golf course in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts has a driving range, individual and group lessons available and four sets of tees. However, Farm Neck is known for its difficult bunkers and massive pond that follows the golfer for nine holes. This might not be a good golf course for women golfers.

Atlantic City Country Club

3 Star Golf Course

We’re not terribly impressed with Harrah’s golf course. With only three tees at each hole, the Atlantic City Country Club is quite proud of its century of history. Unfortunately, that history precedes the whole men-and-women-are-equal thing. Women golfers may want to get married here for the beautiful surroundings and the fabulous catering, but we’re quite sure this is not a women-friendly golf course.

More Golf Course Gold Standards for Women Golfers!

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Ladies golf bags have come a long way. When I began playing two years ago I decided that I absolutely had to have the best golf clubs. If they were too advanced for me, I’d grow in to them. So I bought a set of Lady Callaways. But here’s the thing. I spent all that money on the clubs and then I realized how UGLY the golf bag was (it came with the clubs). Besides - it had Callaway written all over it. If I’m going to carry anything with a name - I want Chanel or Louis Vuitton! (Yes ladies they make golf bags too but the price is off the charts as you can imagine - the Louis is over $8k.)

So I went out and scoured the market and internet for ladies golf bags. If you’re going to buy golf clubs or if you already own them, you absolutely must have a great bag. It’s just part of our nature to love nice things, look great and show our individuality. Make sure, however that you don’t choose your bag solely on its style. With that in mind, here are some things to consider – you want your bag to work well for you on the course.

Ladies Golf Bags – Cart Bags:

• Cover
  Be sure there is a zippered hood with or without a snap attachment. After you’ve finished for the day, you’ll more than likely leave your clubs outside when you go to the 19th hole. You don’t want to leave your expensive clubs exposed.



• Storage
  • You’re going to have lots of stuff to stow away from extra balls, tees, towels, a glove, markers, a ball finder just for starters. So unless you want to carry a tote bag, this is important.
    
  • Be sure there are plenty of pockets and even an inside pocket (which is weather proof) for valuables.
  • Check where the pockets are! If your bag is in the cart, you don’t want to have to lift it and rifle around looking for something. The Ladies Couture collection from Bennington features pockets which are all in the front for easy access.
  • Make sure there is a segregated aerated pocket or space for a wet dirty ball.
  • Don’t forget a convenient pocket for your cell phone and another one for a water bottle.
  • Don’t forget the umbrella and
  • You’ll need a place for a scorecard and pencils.
• Dividers
  • You’re going to want enough dividers inside the bag to keep your clubs from knocking together and stay in place. Since you can carry a max of 14 clubs on the course, use that as your guide. I find that I don’t need that many clubs (yet) so I can give a little on this. Most bags are accommodating on this anyway.
  • Make sure the dividers are full length and not just on the top!
    
• Putter Well – This is great – it keeps your putter easily accessible and in view. A great feature on a good bag.
• Weight – since you won’t be carrying this bag (at least yourself) this may or may not be a feature you care about. Just remember that if you’re like me, you’ll have your clubs at the back of your car – ready to go when someone is looking to complete a foursome. Make sure there is a good grab handle and shoulder strap as you will still have to lug them to the club. Most cart bags weigh in the 8.5 lb range. That’s just the bag. So make sure you consider this. If that’s too heavy, opt for a lighter bag in a stand bag range.

For more on ladies golf bags with a great selection of our favorites, be sure to visit our Women Golfers website.

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I realize that this blog is in its infancy and I wanted to keep things light. But in attempting to write about some pertinent and informative stuff, I googled “women golfers” just to see what people are looking for on the subject. What a shock.

Looking at the results and regardless of the fact that we’re the fastest growing market in the industry; or that it’s 2008; or that we’re holding stronger executive positions than ever before in history; or that the women pros are playing just as well - if not better - than the men - we’re reduced to this:

“Hot Naked Women Golfers”

“Nude Women Golfers”

“Sexiest women golfers”

“Sexy cars and women golfers”

“Republicans hate women golfers” - LOL!

If that weren’t enough, there are lots more eyeopening stereotypes in the Groups section of Google with men complaining about the way women play - it’s not fair that we can tee off from the reds - we don’t take enough practice swings - we’re too slow - fat women golfers shouldn’t be allowed on the course - we don’t leave our bags 40 yards back down from the green - and my personal favorite . . . we don’t give each other a high five when sinking a putt!

But here’s the question - do we enjoy these stereotypes and are we playing in to them?

If you do a search on Google Images for women golfers, the first few that come up are of beautiful women posing in sexy attire and appearing to be golfers because they’re holding a club. That includes some of the best players on the pro circuit. So why are we doing it?

Most of us want to be beautiful, young and sexy. We’re women! And proud of it! But do we need to take our clothes off to prove that? Where does that belong on the golf course? There are some really talented designers coming to market with fabulous new golf clothes for us which are practical, functional and great looking. Some of them are sexy too. No problemo. But none of them have our boobs flopping out of the top of the dress. I don’t know about you but there is NO WAY I could swing with that happening! There is such a thing as “too much”! Not to mention good taste.

We’d really like to hear your opinion on this subject.

Golf is our sport, our leisure and our lifestyle. Our aim is to be a one-stop resource for all women golfers and we’ve tried to do that on our full web site at www.women-golfers.com. Now we want to add some fun and different info via our blog.

Our mission is to help women nationally and internationally get more out of their golf through knowledge and enjoyment. Golf does become an obsession, why? Because it gives you everything you need – healthy exercise, companionship, challenge and success. We want to see more women on the course and women’s golf go from strength to strength. With so many ways to enjoy the game – why wouldn’t you want to become a woman golfer?

Join us on our quest and let us guide your way to find more fun, better stats and other like-minded women who have brought this wonderful game into their lives.

GOTTA GET:

Jack Canfield - coauthor of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series and noted expert of “The Secret” writes with coauthors about the fabulous future of women’s golf - from existing pros’ experiences, Hall of Famers, humor and tons of inspiration. A smart group have realized that women golfers are not only here to stay - but we’re the fastest growth market in the industry! Join in on the fun and get this book!

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