Forget about solving a problem like Maria? Solving the problem of female golf participation in Scotland would have the Nonnberg Abbey nuns in a warbling fankle.
It’s not all doom and gloom, of course. From women in golf charters to a raft of junior initiatives, there’s plenty of positive work being done around the country in an effort to capitalise on a potentially fertile market.
This September’s Solheim Cup at Gleneagles, meanwhile, is an opportunity to showcase the best that female golf can offer.
As an ambassador for the game in its cradle, there’s no one better to spread the golfing gospel than Catriona Matthew and, as the European skipper for this year’s biennial battle with the USA, she is urging the country’s clubs to get involved with a Club Ambassador Programme to help promote the Solheim Cup ahead of its return to this neck of the woods for the first time since 2000. The message is clear.
“I’d love to see more girls playing but it is a challenge,” said the 49-year-old, as she launched the scheme in her own backyard of North Berwick. “I have two daughters and we are trying to get them into it but it’s difficult. You can’t push them. There are so many other things on that they can try.
“My daughters are perhaps not that keen on playing golf as they have seen that it takes me away from home a lot. But if they come to something like the Solheim Cup and see how exciting it can be then that can only be good.
“Anything that can inspire one or two players has to be beneficial. If we get a couple more to take up golf and get on tour then great.”
With females making up just about 14 per cent of golf club membership in this country, that statistic remains about as uplifting as a court summons.
“For the home of golf, it’s not a good figure,” the well-travelled Matthew conceded. “That figure can vary depending where you go. In the up and coming places like Thailand and Korea, female participation is great. The rest of the world and the more established golf nations are trying to catch up. In the Far East, the women golfers are treated like superstars.
“But there has been a shift in attitude in general toward women’s sports in this country. To be fair, I never had any problems in golf when I was growing up but I know others who did. But it is changing with the times and for the better.
“We need to keep pushing to get golf family friendly. We would like a magic answer to the question of ‘how do we get more women and girls into golf?’ But everyone is trying.”
Trying to make this year’s Solheim Cup the biggest and best yet is a focus too. “I think they are pleased with how ticket sales are going ... but they can always sell more,” she said
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