Could par-3 and short courses be the key to helping more women stick with the game in the UK?
Across the Atlantic, women’s golf is experiencing a surge in participation — but that growth has revealed a challenge as well as an opportunity. In the U.S., where women now account for one-third of all golf participants, only about half of them are actually playing traditional on-course golf. The rest engage through off-course formats like driving ranges, simulators, and “golfertainment” venues.
This so-called “crossover gap” is significant. According to recent research from the National Golf Foundation (NGF), just 49% of female golf participants in the U.S. played on a course in 2024, compared to 65% of male participants. Even more concerning is that women who do start on-course golf are dropping out at higher rates than men. Their transition from casual or beginner to committed player is much less consistent.
So, what’s missing?
It Starts with Fun—and Real Course Play
The NGF’s findings suggest that enjoyment and early exposure to “real” golf experiences are critical. Women who stuck with the game overwhelmingly reported positive introductions and more regular early rounds—especially with consistent playing partners. Meanwhile, women who left the game described their early experiences as stressful, infrequent, or simply not much fun.
One important detail stands out: women who stayed were nearly twice as likely to have played on a course at least three times early on, and significantly more likely to have formed regular playing partnerships.
But many women never reach that point—and the NGF believes a key reason is a lack of suitable stepping stones between off-course formats and the full 18-hole experience.
The Case for Short-Form Golf
Enter “transitional facilities”: par-3 courses, executive layouts, and shorter formats that provide a real golf experience without the physical or psychological demands of a full-length course. These venues are easier to walk, less expensive, less time-consuming, and much less intimidating. Crucially, they allow players to enjoy the authentic thrills of golf—like seeing a putt drop or hitting that perfect shot—without the steep learning curve.
Yet the data shows many women aren’t even aware these courses exist. In the U.S., just one-third of female participants are familiar with par-3 courses, and only 9% have ever played one. Among men, 60% know about them, and nearly four in ten have played on one. That’s a striking disparity—and a missed opportunity.
A Lesson for the UK?
Here in the UK, we face similar challenges: how to move more women from taster sessions and range visits into sustainable playing habits. We know that retention—especially in the transition from beginner to regular player—is fragile. Shorter formats may be the bridge we need.
The infrastructure already exists. Across the UK, there are dozens of nine-hole, par-3, and municipal courses that could serve as the perfect launch pad for female newcomers. But how often are they promoted as such? How many clubs view their short course as an essential part of their women’s development programme?
If we want to see lasting gains in female participation, perhaps it’s time to reframe how we think about these spaces—not as junior courses or beginner areas, but as vital gateways to long-term engagement.
The NGF’s upcoming focus on this subject could offer more insights for UK golf bodies, clubs, and coaches. But the early lesson is already clear: if we want more women to stay in the game, we need to give them different places to start- and stay.
