Levelling the Fairways: Why golf needs more weekend warriors

Take a look at any club’s competition diary and you’ll see that the majority of men’s events happen at the weekend. There’s usually a mid-week Stableford or medal, but you’ll certainly not find any club Majors taking place on a, say, Tuesday morning.

And whilst I really thought the same applied to most women’s sections, our recent survey suggests otherwise. It seems that many women, by contrast, find themselves restricted to weekday tee times and competitions — if they can play at all.

I was genuinely really surprised by this; I’ve been a member at a few clubs over the years and have always had ample opportunity to play and compete at the weekend. So I feel a bit under-qualified to comment on this.

But the more I think about it, I guess it’s obvious that I would only join a golf club where I can play at the weekend.

Like so many women, my weekdays are filled with the juggling act of nursery runs, a career, and trying to keep my house clean and tidy (or as tidy as I can with a wild two-year-old). So when forced to play primarily on weekday mornings or afternoons, a vast majority of women find themselves excluded.

So, here’s my call to arms: We need more weekend warriors. More people to fight for equal access to tee times and competitions at the weekends for women.

I’m confident that that wouldn’t only make the sport more accessible, but it would help to retain and encourage a far more diverse membership base.

What comes first?

Would better access to the course at weekends increase the number of female golf club members? Almost undoubtedly so. But do we need more women members to warrant those tee times? Ideally, yes.

I’m aware that I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but so many of the obstacles women face in golf come down to this “what comes first?” challenge.

Catering to the needs of the majority makes financial sense, obviously (for now at least). And I know that keeping your current members happy versus growing and diversifying your membership base is a very tricky balance.

I also know that isn’t just driven by men – there are plenty of women who are happy to keep playing primarily during the week.

But ultimately for golf to thrive in the future, we need to attract and retain more women (especially under 40) and girls. And we’ll never do that if we expect them to play during the week.

More than just weekend tee times

Scheduling more competitions on weekends and enabling fair access to tee times for women on a Saturday and Sunday isn’t just a practical adjustment – it’s a statement that women’s golf matters.

It shows commitment to inclusivity and a willingness to break old habits for the sake of a more equitable future.

I know it’s a somewhat contentious issue at a lot of clubs, but I think most competitions should be mixed. Exclude the Majors or board competitions maybe, but otherwise open events up to both men and women. That gives everyone more opportunities to play, but it also enables members to mix and interact far more than they do now, helping to build a better community within the club.

Culture and connections

At one of my former golf clubs, I remember being called a “weekend lady” a few times. It makes me shudder now, but I’m sure the unwritten categorisation of women who play at the weekend and those who play during the week is still pretty common.

But that “us vs them” culture is dangerous, and I think it’s only exacerbated by a lack of opportunity to play during the weekend. Golf is about so much more than just the game – it’s about the community. And, much like my previous point, when there is any sort of segregation, it damages the opportunity to build connections and camaraderie.

More weekend competitions and tee times would allow women to forge stronger ties within the club, boosting engagement and fostering a sense of belonging.

I'd love to hear about your experience of this ... Do you have enough opportunities to play at the weekend? What day are women's competitions at your club? Have you left a club because of a lack of weekend tee times? I want to know everything! Email me at [email protected].