Female Golf Reaches Fifty at Hennerton

Warren Harris, PGA Professional at Hennerton Golf Club in Wargrave tells us about Female Golf - a new initiative that Warren launched in July to get more women playing golf. 

In July this year, Warren set up the Female Golf coaching programme, an initiative that he hoped would encourage more women to get into the game. The coaching sessions are strictly women-only and are suitable for all ages and abilities, from total beginners to experienced players. Women can choose from group or individual lessons, short-game masterclasses, supervised practice sessions and course management sessions on the course. 

By the end of October, more than 50 ladies will have enrolled in a Female Golf session, of which just over half are either beginners or returners to the game.

"The mission for me is to get more women playing golf".

"Group coaching sessions are a great place to start, but I also want to make sure that the people who attend these sessions have the opportunity to play regular golf too, and eventually become members at a club."

The idea for Female Golf started as part of the golf club's #welovegolf campaign. "When we started #WeLoveGolf, I realised that there didn’t seem to be many women-only coaching programmes, at least not in our area. I had been coaching a large portion of the ladies at Hennerton GC through clinics or individual lessons but I wanted to expand on this by offering more beginner, improver and ‘returner’ sessions. I wanted to give women an opportunity to get into golf and a way to stay in the game."

"I use the ColourPath Golf kit which are great for providing simple, visual learning aids and to keep the sessions. I see a lot of coaches that confuse players with overly technical jargon, and that is something that I really wanted to avoid. With the beginner and improver sessions, I award a bronze, silver and gold ball marker as women progress. Ladies also get a hat clip and ball marker once they have attended at least two sessions, whether that's a clinic, roll-up or individual lesson."

Twice a month, Warren hosts a 9-hole roll-up where members and non-members can meet for a game and meet new friends.

"It's a great way for new golfers to ease their way into playing golf".

"I also play with the ladies, playing a few holes with each group offering a few hints and tips on the way round. We even had one lady score a hole in one on our last roll up!"